Micro-pump and method for generating fluid flow
US6460974B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 27, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 27, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/14
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Among the embodiments of the micro-pump herein described, the first includes an array containing a plurality of conductive elements. A plate covers the array and a controller supplies and controls current to the conductive elements in the array. In this embodiment, the plate can be, and preferably is, a photopolymer. Moreover, if a photopolymer is used, it is preferable to use a thin-film photopolymer having a sub-millimeter thickness. The conductive elements can have a current individually and sequentially applied therethrough or shut-off thereto by the controller. In addition, the controller operates to temporarily apply current to substantially all of the conductive elements in the array thereby enabling a fluid disposed on the plate to be separated into positively and negatively charged fluid molecules. Following this separation, the controller applies a current sequentially through selective of the conductive elements and shuts-off current thereto in a predetermined order to define a fluid flow path. A fluid disposed on the plate and separated into positively and negatively charged molecules is forced to move along the fluid flow path by a moving electromagnetic field generate…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.