Drop dispenser device
AssigneeCommissariat a l'Energie Atomique
InventorsYves Fouillet, Dorothee Jary
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid dispensing device includes first and second substrates, with the first substrate including an opening for introduction of a fluid, and the second substrate including a multiplicity of electrodes. The device includes a transfer electrode, located at least partially opposite to the opening, at least two drop-forming electrodes, and a reservoir electrode, located between the transfer electrode and the drop-forming electrodes, and with an area that is at least equal to three times the area of each drop-forming electrode.
Claims23
A liquid dispensing device comprising:
- first and second substrates, wherein the first substrate includes an opening for introduction of a fluid, and the second substrate includes a multiplicity of electrodes that include:
- at least one transfer electrode, located at least partially opposite to the opening,
- at least two drop-forming electrodes, and
- at least one reservoir electrode, associated with the transfer electrode and with the drop-forming electrodes, and with an area that is at least equal to three times an area of each drop-forming electrode, wherein the reservoir electrode can be activated without activation of the transfer electrode, and vice versa.
A liquid dispensing device comprising:
- first and second substrates, wherein the first substrate includes an opening for introduction of a fluid, and the second substrate includes a multiplicity of electrodes that include:
- at least one transfer electrode located at least partially opposite to the opening,
- at least two drop-forming electrodes, and
- at least one reservoir electrode, associated with the transfer electrode and with the drop-forming electrodes, and with an area that is at least equal to three times an area of each drop-forming electrode, wherein the reservoir electrode can be activated without activation of the transfer electrode, and vice versa;
- and
- means for moving drops by electro-wetting, the means forming a loop.
A liquid drop dispensing process that uses a device that includes,
- first and second substrates, wherein the first substrate includes an opening for introduction of a fluid, and the second substrate includes a multiplicity of electrodes that include
- at least one transfer electrode, located at least partially opposite to the opening,
- a plurality of drop-forming electrodes, and
- at least one reservoir electrode, associated with the transfer electrode and with the drop-forming electrodes, and with an area that is at least equal to three times an area of each drop-forming electrode, wherein the reservoir electrode can be activated without activation of the transfer electrode, and vice versa,
- wherein the method comprises:
- forming a liquid reservoir opposite to the at least one reservoir electrode;
- ejecting a drop of liquid by activation of n of the drop-forming electrodes, wherein n>2;
- and
- then de-activating at least one of the electrodes from among the n−1 electrodes that are closest to the at least one reservoir electrode.
A liquid drop dispensing process comprising:
- using a device to dispense a drop, said device including
- first and second substrates, wherein the first substrate includes an opening for introduction of a fluid, and the second substrate includes a multiplicity of electrodes that include
- at least one transfer electrode located at least partially opposite to the opening,
- at least two drop-forming electrodes, and
- at least one reservoir electrode, associated with the transfer electrode and with the drop-forming electrodes, and with an area that is at least equal to three times an area of each drop-forming electrode, wherein the reservoir electrode can be activated without activation of the transfer electrode, and vice versa;
- and
- means for moving drops by electro-wetting, the means forming a loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.