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US 6,655,924 B2Granted
Peristaltic bubble pump
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorQing Ma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pump comprises a chamber with an inlet and an outlet. A first heating element is located in proximity with the inlet, and a second heating element is located in proximity with the outlet. The first and second heating elements are configured when heated to form a bubble within the chamber. By controlling the first and second heating elements, fluid is expelled from the pump.
Claims18
A pump comprising:
- a chamber having an inlet and an outlet;
- a first heating element located in proximity with the inlet, the first heating element configured when heated to produce a first stationary bubble capable of completely blocking the inlet;
- a second heating element located in proximity with the outlet, the second heating element configured when heated to produce a second stationary bubble capable of completely blocking the outlet.
A method of pumping a fluid through a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the method comprising:
- creating a first bubble to block the inlet;
- and
- creating one or more second bubbles to expel fluid through the outlet;
- block the outlet with at least a portion of the one or more second bubbles;
- reducing the size of the first babble to unblock the inlet to allow fluid to flow in through the inlet;
- blocking the inlet wit a third bubble;
- and
- unblocking the outlet by reducing the size of the one or more second bubbles.
5 more elements
A method of pumping a fluid through a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the method comprising:
- heating a first heating element to create a first bubble within the chamber to substantially block the inlet;
- heating a second heating element to create a second bubble within the chamber to expel fluid through the outlet;
- heating a third heating element to create a third bubble to substantially block the outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.