Bidirectional electrowetting actuation with voltage polarity dependence
US8858772B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 18, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 19, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/005
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A novel electrowetting system for the smooth continuous movement of a droplet across a single circuit using a continuous applied voltage regardless of polarity. The actuation of the droplet is achieved by introducing a diode into the idealized electrical circuit of the electrowetting system. The diode is in parallel with a capacitor (dielectric) and effectively shorts the droplet on the side of a lower potential electrode so that the entire voltage drop is across the dielectric over the opposite electrode. This creates an energy imbalance that moves the droplet towards the higher potential. If the voltage polarity is reversed, the direction of actuation will reverse as well.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.