Systems, methods, and products for graphically illustrating and controlling a droplet actuator

A system comprising:

• (a) a processor;
• (b) a display device electronically coupled to the processor;
• and
• (c) software stored in memory that causes the processor to display a virtual representation of an electrowetting droplet microactuator that manipulates discrete droplets by electrodes, the virtual representation graphically illustrating droplet operations electrodes and droplet transport paths in the electrowetting droplet microactuator as an array of virtual electrodes, mousing over a virtual electrode corresponding to an electrode from a subset of virtual electrodes representing electrodes that are coupled to a common electrical output results in highlighting of all virtual electrodes corresponding to electrodes in the subset, and selecting a virtual electrode corresponding to an electrode from the subset results in activation of all electrodes in the subset.

A system comprising:

• (a) a controller communicating with memory;
• (b) an electrowetting droplet microactuator electronically coupled to the controller, the electrowetting droplet microactuator manipulating discrete droplets by successive activation of electrodes;
• (c) a display device displaying a user interface electronically coupled to the controller;
• and
• (d) software stored in the memory that causes the user interface to display a virtual representation of droplet operations electrodes arranged in droplet transport paths, the user interface indicating a set of virtual electrodes that correspond to electrodes in the electrowetting droplet microactuator having a common electrical connection to a control line, wherein mousing over a virtual electrode in the set results in highlighting of all virtual electrodes in the set, and selecting a virtual electrode in the set results in activation of all electrodes corresponding to virtual electrodes in the set.