# US 2010/0163129 A1 · Liquid conveying apparatus and liquid conveying method using micro-fluid device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0163129 A1 - Document ID: US20100163129A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/532,408 - Filed: 2008-03-28 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2007-04-03 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Toshinobu Tokita; Kosuke Fujimoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163129A1 ## CPC - G01N 35/08: using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis - B01L 3/50273: {characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids} - F04B 43/046: {with piezoelectric drive} - F04F 7/00: Pumps displacing fluids by using inertia thereof, e.g. by generating vibrations therein - B01L 2400/0439: ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements - B01L 2400/0496: Travelling waves, e.g. in combination with electrical or acoustic forces - G01N 2035/1034: {Transferring microquantities of liquid} - G01N 2035/1058: {for mixing} - Y10T 137/206: Flow affected by fluid contact, energy field or coanda effect [e.g., pure fluid device or system] - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - F04F: PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED {(evacuating by sorption F04B)}; SIPHONS {(conveying materials in bulk by flows of gas, liquid of foam B65G53/00)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus system for controlling liquid in a fluid channel in a micro-fluid device has an ultrasonic oscillator for conveying liquid. The ultrasonic oscillator oscillates with amplitude modulation. The apparatus system has a holding section for holding the micro-fluid device on the ultrasonic oscillator to allow a micro-fluid device to be removably fitted to it. A liquid conveying method and a liquid conveying unit showing an improved liquid conveying efficiency are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid conveying apparatus for driving liquid to move in a fluid channel of a micro-fluid device, comprising: an oscillator having a plurality of electro-mechanical energy converting devices; and a signal generator for applying at least two voltage signals to the oscillator such that the at least two voltage signals are (A) synchronized in terms of frequency and phase and (B) amplitude-modulated at one and the same frequency and in different phases. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding section arranged in contact with the oscillator, the fluid channel of the micro-fluid device being partly held by way of the oscillator and the holding section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising amplifiers for amplifying the at least two signals output from the signal generator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liquid conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oscillator is an ultrasonic stator having a two-phase oscillation source for generating ultrasonic standing wave oscillation. ### Claim 5 A liquid conveying method of driving liquid to move in a channel of a micro-fluid device, comprising a step of supplying at least two voltage signals to an oscillator having a plurality of electro-mechanical energy converting devices such that the at least two voltage signals are (A) synchronized in terms of frequency and phase and (B) amplitude-modulated at one and the same frequency and in different phases. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The liquid conveying method according to claim 5, further comprising: a holding step of holding the micro-fluid device by way of a holding section arranged in contact with the oscillator; and a frequency adjusting step for determining a resonance frequency by outputting a sinusoidal wave showing a constant amplitude and a varied frequency from a signal generator while observing oscillation of the micro-fluid device and/or a part of an apparatus system for driving liquid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The liquid conveying method according to claim 6, wherein a retry of the frequency adjusting step is repeated for a plurality of times and determination of a resonance frequency is finalized when the determined resonance frequencies and the amplitude are found within a predetermined range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The liquid conveying method according to claim 7, wherein when the determined resonance frequencies and the amplitude exceed the predetermined range, the retry number is counted such that the holding step is executed again when the retry number is less than a predetermined number whereas the micro-fluid device held by the holding section is collected by means of a carrier unit and a step of counting the retry number is further executed when the retry number is not less than the predetermined number.