Avoidance of bouncing and splashing in droplet-based fluid transport
US8389295B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 11, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 11, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2575
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for fluid transport is provided where a quantity of fluid is held in a reservoir. A droplet generator is employed to generate droplets from the fluid, for example a nozzle-based system or a nozzleless system such as an acoustic ejection system. A generated droplet has a trajectory whereby it arrives at a target. A circuit is used to modify one or more characteristics of the generated droplet in a way which increases the likelihood that the droplet will not splash or bounce when it arrives at the target. The circuit may in different embodiments control the speed of the droplet or the Weber number of the droplet. The circuit may create an electric field in an area of space where the droplet passes. The circuit may charge the droplet by causing it to contact ions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.