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US 8,287,808 B2Granted
Surface for reversible wetting-dewetting
AssigneeAlcatel Lucent
InventorsThomas Nikita Krupenkin, Joseph Ashley Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus comprising a plurality of closed-cells on a substrate surface. Each of the closed-cells comprise one or more internal walls that divide an interior of each of the closed-cells into a single first zone and a plurality of second zones. The first zone occupies a larger area of the closed-cell than any one of said second zones and the first and second zones are interconnected to form a common volume.
Claims19
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of closed-cells on a substrate surface, each of said closed cells having external walls that enclose an open interior area on all sides except for the side over which a liquid could be disposed, while being in contact with top surfaces of one or more of said walls, and wherein:
- each of said closed-cells comprise one or more internal walls that divide said interior area of each of said closed-cells into a single centrally located first zone and a plurality of second zones that define said central first zone,
- said first zone occupies a larger portion of said interior area of said closed-cell than any one of said second zones,
- said first and second zones are interconnected to form a common volume among said first zone and said plurality of said second zones of said closed cell,
- said plurality of second zones are located proximate to said external walls of said closed-cell and,
- said first zone occupies a portion of the interior area that is at least about two times larger than said interior area occupied by any one of said second zones.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of closed-cells on a substrate surface, each of said closed cells having external walls that enclose an open interior area on all sides except for the side over which a liquid could be disposed, while being in contact with top surfaces of one or more of said walls, and wherein:
- each of said closed-cells comprise one or more internal walls that divide said interior area of each of said closed-cells into a single first zone and a plurality of second zones,
- said first zone occupies a larger portion of said interior area of said closed-cell than any one of said second zones,
- said first and second zones are interconnected to form a common volume among said first zone and said plurality of said second zones of said closed cell, and
- said plurality of second zones comprise open cells and said open cells include a single continuous internal wall that encloses a different portion of the interior area within the closed cell on all but one lateral side, and the side over which the fluid could be disposed.
2 more elements
A method comprising,
- reversibly controlling a contact angle of a liquid disposed on a substrate surface, comprising:
- placing said liquid on a plurality closed-cells of said substrate surface, each of said closed cells having walls that enclose an open area on all sides except for the side over which said liquid could be disposed, while contacting top surfaces of one or more of said walls, and wherein each of said closed-cells comprise one or more internal walls that divide an interior of each of said closed-cells into a single first zone and a plurality of second zones, wherein said first zone occupies a larger area of said closed-cell than any one of said second zones and wherein said first and second zones are interconnected to form a common volume;
- and
- adjusting a pressure of a medium located inside at least one of said closed-cells, thereby changing said contact angle of said liquid with said substrate surface.
1 more element
A method of manufacturing an apparatus, comprising:
- forming a plurality of closed-cells on a surface of a substrate, each of said closed cells having walls that enclose an open interior area on all sides except for the side over which a liquid could be disposed, while being in contact with top surfaces of one or more of said walls, and wherein:
- each of said closed-cells comprise one or more internal walls that divide said interior area of each of said closed-cells into a single first zone and a plurality of second zones,
- said first zone occupies a larger portion of said interior area of said closed-cell than any one of said second zones, and
- said first and second zones are interconnected to form a common volume among said first zone and said plurality of said second zones of said closed cell.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.