Controlling Fluid Through an Array Of Fluid Flow Paths
AssigneePalo Alto Rersearch Center Incorporated
InventorsEric Peeters, Ashish Pattekar, Gregory B. Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of controlling fluid through a layer of a soft compressible (e.g., gel) material including an array of fluid flow paths. The fluid flow paths are normally open, allowing fluid flow. An electric field is applied in regions where fluid flow is undesirable. The electric field compresses the material closing the flow path thereby preventing further fluid flow.
Claims15
A method of controlling fluid through a layer consisting essentially of a soft compressible material defining an array of fluid flow paths, the method comprising:
- determining a first region of the layer including first group of said fluid flow paths of the array through which fluid flow is needed, and a second region of the layer including second group of said fluid flow paths of the array through which fluid flow is not needed;
- and
- applying electrical charges resulting in a net electrical field across the layer in the second region, thereby producing a compressive force in the layer that causes bowing of the walls of the second group of fluid flow paths in the second region, the bowing of the walls closing the fluid flow paths of the second group thereby preventing fluid flow through the second region.
A method of controlling fluid through a layer of soft, compressible material defining at least one microvalve, the microvalve including a first opening defined through a first surface of the layer, a second opening defined through a second surface of the layer, and a flow path defined through said soft, compressible material of the layer between the first and second openings, the method comprising:
- applying a differential pressure across the layer by causing a fluid against to press against the first surface of the layer with a first pressure, and applying a second pressure against the second surface of the layer, the first pressure being different from the second pressure;
- and
- controlling the at least one microvalve to be in one of an opened state an a closed state,
- wherein controlling the at least one microvalve to be in the opened state includes maintaining the soft, compressible material disposed around the flow path in a non-compressed state such that the flow path remains open to allow said fluid to flow from the first opening to the second opening, and
- wherein controlling the at least one microvalve to be in the closed state includes applying a first electrical charge having a first polarity near the first opening and applying a second electrical charge having a second polarity near the second opening, wherein the first and second electric charges are selected such that attraction between the applied first and second electric charges generates an electric field across the soft, compressible material disposed around the flow path, thereby producing a compressive force that compresses the layer and causes the flow path to close in a way that prevents flow of said fluid between the first opening and the second opening.
A method of controlling fluid through a layer of soft, compressible material defining an array of microvalves, each microvalve including a first opening defined through a first surface of the layer, a second opening defined through a second surface of the layer, and a flow path defined through said soft, compressible material of the layer between the first and second openings, the method comprising:
- applying a differential pressure across the layer by causing a fluid against to press against the first surface of the layer with a first pressure, and applying a second pressure against the second surface of the layer, the first pressure being different from the second pressure;
- and
- controlling the plurality of microvalves such that each of a first group of said microvalves is in an opened state and each of a second group of said microvalves is in a closed state,
- wherein controlling the first group of said microvalves includes maintaining the soft, compressible material disposed around the flow path of each of said first group of said microvalves in a non-compressed state such that the flow path remains open to allow said fluid to flow from the first opening to the second opening through each of said first group of said microvalves, and
- wherein controlling the second group of said microvalves includes applying a first electrical charge having a first polarity near the first opening of each of said second group of said microvalves and applying a second electrical charge having a second polarity near the second opening of each of said second group of said microvalves, wherein the first and second electric charges are selected such that attraction between the applied first and second electric charges generates an electric field across the soft, compressible material disposed around the flow path of each of said second group of said microvalves, thereby producing a compressive force that compresses the layer and causes the flow path of each of said second group of said microvalves to close in a way that prevents flow of said fluid between the first opening and the second opening through each of said second group of said microvalves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.