| 摘要 |
The invention is related to methods and apparatus that manipulate droplets in a microfluidic environment. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention manipulate droplets (108, 208) by controlling the electro-wetting characteristics of a surface (110) with light (114, 116), thereby inducing a gradient in the surface tension of a droplet (108, 208). The gradient in the surface tension propels the droplet (108, 208) by capillary force. A variety of operations, such as transporting, joining, cutting, and creating can be performed. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention obviate the need to create a relatively large and complex control electrode array. A plurality of photoconductive cells (308, 408) or a layer of a photoconductive material selectively couples an electrode (304, 404) carrying an electrical bias (112) to otherwise floating conductive cells (308, 408) in response to a beam of light (114, 116). The electrical bias (112) applied to the conductive cell generates a localized electric field, which can change the contact angle of the droplet (108, 208), thereby permitting the droplet (108, 208) to be propelled. |
