Fluidic valve having a bi-phase valve element

A method for switching a state of flow of a fluid in a fluid communication channel of a fluid guiding structure, comprising at least one of two sets {(a) and (b)} and {(c) and (d)}:

• (a) heating a bi-phase valve element that clogs the fluid communication channel, the heating causing a change a state of the bi-phase valve element from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state;
• (b) pushing at least a portion of the bi-phase valve element into a sink chamber of the fluid communication channel by an application of pressure to the fluid while the bi-phase valve element is in the low viscosity state, wherein the portion pushed into the sink chamber is sufficient to unclog the fluid communication channel;
• (c) heating a bi-phase valve element that is in a valve element source chamber fluidically coupled to the fluid communication channel, the heating causing a change a state of the bi-phase valve element from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state;
• and
• (d) pushing at least a portion of the bi-phase valve element from the valve element source chamber into the fluid communication channel by using a pumped fluid while the bi-phase valve element is in the low viscosity state, wherein the portion pushed into the fluid communication channel solidifies and clogs the fluid communication channel.

A fluidic valve for switching a state of flow of a controlled fluid, comprising:

• a fluid guiding structure
• a fluid communication channel having at least one fluid inlet port and one fluid outlet port;
• and
• at least one of
• a bi-phase valve element source chamber having a pump inlet, fluidically coupled to the fluid communication channel and
• a bi-phase element sink chamber that is an expanded portion of the fluid communication channel.

A fluidic valve having a state that can be one of opened or closed, comprising:

• a fluid guiding structure;
• a fluid communication channel, formed within the fluid guiding structure, and fluidically coupling a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port;
• a valve element source chamber, formed within the fluid guiding structure, fluidically coupled to the fluid communication channel and having a-pump inlet port;
• a bi-phase valve element that is in the valve element source chamber while the fluidic valve is in an initial state that is the opened state;
• and
• a heat source that can change the state of the fluidic valve by heating the bi-phase valve element.

A fluidic valve having a state that can be one of opened or closed, comprising:

• a fluid guiding structure;
• a fluid communication channel, formed within the fluid guiding structure, fluidically coupling a fluid inlet port to a fluid outlet port;
• a sink chamber, formed within the fluid guiding structure as an expanded portion of the fluid communication channel;
• a bi-phase valve element that is in the fluid communication channel between the fluid inlet port and the sink chamber while the fluidic valve is in an initial state that is closed;
• and
• a heat source that can change the state by heating the bi-phase valve element.

A fluidic valve having a state that can be one of opened or closed, comprising:

• a fluid guiding structure;
• a fluid communication channel, formed within the fluid guiding structure, fluidically coupling a fluid inlet port to a fluid outlet port;
• a valve element source chamber, formed within the fluid guiding structure, fluidically coupled to the fluid communication channel and having a pump inlet port;
• a sink chamber, formed within the fluid guiding structure as an expanded portion of the fluid communication channel;
• a bi-phase valve element that is in the valve element source chamber while the fluidic valve is in an initial state;
• and
• at least one heat source that can change the state of the fluidic valve by heating the bi-phase valve element.

A fluidic valve that has a state that can be one of a first state and a second state, comprising:

• a fluid guiding structure;
• a fluid communication channel, formed within the fluid guiding structure, having a first branch that fluidically couples a fluid inlet port to a first fluid outlet port, and a second branch that fluidically couples the fluid inlet port to a second fluid outlet port;
• a valve element source chamber, formed within the fluid guiding structure, fluidically coupled to the first branch of the fluid communication channel and having a pump inlet port;
• a sink chamber, formed within the fluid guiding structure as an expanded portion of the second branch of the fluid communication channel;
• a bi-phase valve element that is in the valve element source chamber during the first state in which fluid can only flow from the fluid inlet port to the first fluid outlet port;
• a blocking bi-phase valve element is in the second branch of the fluid communication channel, between the sink chamber of the second branch and a junction of the first and second branches, during the first state;
• and
• at least one heat source that can change the state of the fluidic valve by heating one or both of the bi-phase valve element and the blocking bi-phase valve element.

A fluidic valve having a state that can be one of a first or second state, comprising:

• a fluid guiding structure;
• a fluid communication channel, formed within the fluid guiding structure, having a first branch that fluidically couples a first switched fluid port to a common fluid port, and a second branch that fluidically couples a second switched fluid port to the common fluid port;
• a valve element source chamber, formed within the fluid guiding structure, fluidically coupled to the first branch of the fluid communication channel and having a pump inlet port;
• a sink chamber, formed within the fluid guiding structure as an expanded portion of the second branch of the fluid communication channel;
• a bi-phase valve element;
• a blocking bi-phase valve element;
• and
• at least one heat source that can change the state of the fluidic valve by heating one or both of the bi-phase valve element and blocking bi-phase valve element.