A droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method, system, device and storage medium

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of droplet control based on the electrowetting effect, and particularly relates to a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method, system, device and storage medium; in the droplet detection stage, the gas-liquid interfacial tension is obtained; the gas-liquid interfacial tension and the droplet control voltage are analyzed to obtain the force and voltage relationship; in the electromagnetic wave detection stage, the reflection signal gain, the receiving signal gain and the transmitting signal intensity are obtained; the reflection signal gain, the receiving signal gain and the transmitting signal intensity are calculated according to the preset Friis transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal intensity; the multiplexing electrode array simplifies the structure, and the droplet position is accurately controlled by the electrowetting effect; the non-electrode area measurement avoids the electric field interference, the wideband detection is matched with the preset Friis transmission formula to adapt to various demands, and the detection accuracy, the adaptability and the integration are comprehensively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of droplet control technology based on electrowetting effect, and in particular to a method, system, device and storage medium for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal. Background Technology

[0002] Electrowetting actuation technology is a technique that precisely manipulates droplets by changing the voltage applied between the droplet and the solid surface to control the droplet's surface tension (i.e., wettability). The driving force for the droplet originates from the direct action of the electric field on the liquid-solid-gas three-phase contact line. This force is proportional to the square of the voltage, thus generating a relatively strong driving force to move the liquid even at small scales. Existing technologies have many shortcomings in the integrated application of droplet manipulation and dielectric property detection. In terms of droplet manipulation, traditional electrowetting technology relies on independent manipulation electrodes and detection components. The single function of the electrodes leads to complex system structures, low integration, and high manufacturing costs. In the detection stage, the measurement position often does not avoid the electrode area, and electric field interference causes distortion of the detection signal. Dielectric property detection often uses single-point frequency or narrow-band schemes, which have poor adaptability and cannot meet the requirements of efficient and accurate droplet dielectric property detection. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide a method, system and device for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signals.

[0004] The first aspect of this invention provides a method for measuring the intensity of a droplet reflection signal, applied to a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system. The droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system includes a multiplexed electrode array, a droplet, and a dielectric layer. The multiplexed electrode array is disposed below the dielectric layer, and the droplet is disposed above the dielectric layer. The method for measuring the intensity of a droplet reflection signal includes: controlling the multiplexed electrode array to apply a voltage according to a preset droplet manipulation voltage to move the droplet to a preset measurement position; determining whether to enter a droplet detection stage based on the measurement position; acquiring the gas-liquid interfacial tension during the droplet detection stage; analyzing the gas-liquid interfacial tension and the droplet manipulation voltage to obtain a force-voltage relationship; determining whether to enter an electromagnetic wave detection stage based on the force-voltage relationship; acquiring the transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal intensity during the electromagnetic wave detection stage; and calculating the transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal intensity according to a preset Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal intensity.

[0005] Furthermore, the analysis of the gas-liquid interfacial tension and the droplet manipulation voltage to obtain the force-voltage relationship includes: obtaining the static contact angle of the droplet before the voltage is applied to obtain the first static contact angle of the droplet; constructing the Lippmann-Young equation based on the first static contact angle of the droplet and the droplet manipulation voltage; and analyzing the Lippmann-Young equation and the gas-liquid interfacial tension based on the preset first optimization equation and the preset second optimization equation to obtain the force-voltage relationship.

[0006] Furthermore, the step of constructing the Lippmann-Young equation based on the first droplet static contact angle and the droplet manipulation voltage includes: constructing Young's contact angle equation based on the first droplet static contact angle, a preset solid-liquid interfacial tension coefficient, a gas-liquid interfacial tension, and a preset solid-gas interfacial tension coefficient; obtaining the droplet static contact angle after applying voltage to obtain the second droplet static contact angle; and constructing the Lippmann-Young equation based on the second droplet static contact angle, Young's contact angle equation, and the droplet manipulation voltage.

[0007] Further, the step of analyzing the Lippmann-Young equation and gas-liquid interfacial tension according to the preset first optimization equation and the preset second optimization equation to obtain the force-voltage relationship includes: obtaining the driving electrode area, the reference electrode area, and the electrode spacing area; determining whether the driving electrode area is equal to the reference electrode area and whether the electrode spacing area satisfies the preset minimum value condition; when the driving electrode area is equal to the reference electrode area and the electrode spacing area satisfies the minimum value condition, determining whether the electrode spacing area is less than the preset electrode size area; when the electrode spacing area is less than the preset electrode size area, analyzing the first droplet static contact angle, the second droplet static contact angle, the gas-liquid interfacial tension, the dielectric layer thickness, and the droplet control voltage according to the first optimization equation to obtain the force-voltage relationship; performing an addition operation on the driving electrode area, the reference electrode area, and the electrode spacing area to obtain the total electrode area; otherwise, analyzing the Lippmann-Young equation, the driving electrode area, the total electrode area, and the dielectric layer thickness according to the second optimization equation to obtain the force-voltage relationship.

[0008] Further, the step of calculating the transmit signal gain, receive signal gain, and transmit signal intensity according to the preset Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal intensity includes: obtaining the relative permittivity and calculating the relative permittivity according to the preset refractive index calculation formula to obtain the electromagnetic wave refractive index; and calculating the electromagnetic wave refractive index, transmit signal gain, receive signal gain, and transmit signal intensity according to the preset Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal intensity.

[0009] Furthermore, the step of calculating the relative permittivity according to the preset refractive index calculation formula to obtain the electromagnetic wave refractive index includes: splitting the relative permittivity to obtain the real part permittivity and the imaginary part permittivity; and calculating the real part permittivity and the imaginary part permittivity according to the preset refractive index calculation formula to obtain the electromagnetic wave refractive index.

[0010] Furthermore, the step of calculating the electromagnetic wave refractive index, transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal strength according to the preset Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal strength includes: calculating the electromagnetic wave refractive index according to the preset reflectivity calculation formula to obtain the reflection coefficient; and calculating the transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, transmitted signal strength, reflection coefficient, and the preset antenna-droplet distance according to the preset Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal strength.

[0011] Furthermore, a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system is provided, the system performing a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method as described above, the droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system comprising a multiplexed electrode array, a droplet and a dielectric layer, the multiplexed electrode array being disposed below the dielectric layer, and the droplet being disposed above the dielectric layer.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention provides a droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device, the droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device comprising: a memory and at least one processor, the memory storing instructions; the at least one processor calling the instructions in the memory to cause the droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device to perform the various steps of the droplet reflection signal intensity measuring method described above.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, implement the steps of a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method as described above.

[0014] In the technical solution of this invention, a multiplexed electrode array is used, which combines droplet manipulation and antenna functions, simplifying the system structure, improving integration, and reducing costs. Relying on the electrowetting effect, the droplet is precisely controlled by the droplet manipulation voltage to achieve micron- or even nanometer-level position and shape control. Combining the gas-liquid interfacial tension and the relationship between the droplet manipulation voltage and the derivation force and voltage improves the stability and accuracy of the control. The measurement position is set in a non-electrode region to avoid electric field interference and ensure the authenticity of the detection signal. The electromagnetic wave detection covers a wide frequency band, and the reflected signal intensity is accurately calculated with the preset Friesian transmission formula to adapt to the detection requirements of different droplet dielectric properties. The overall solution improves detection accuracy, adaptability, and integration, meeting the needs of efficient and accurate applications. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 A first flowchart of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 A second flowchart of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 A third flowchart of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 A fourth flowchart of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 A fifth flowchart of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 The sixth flowchart of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 7 A seventh flowchart of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] In the attached figure, 1-droplet; 2-dielectric layer; 3-multiplexed electrode array. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc. (if present) in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" or "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0027] For ease of understanding, the specific process of the embodiments of the present invention is described below. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for measuring the intensity of a droplet reflection signal, applied to a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system. The droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system includes a multiplexed electrode array. In the driving phase, the multiplexed electrode array acts as an electrowetting electrode array, to which a DC or low-frequency AC voltage is applied to generate an electric field force to precisely control the droplet position. In the detection phase, it acts as an electromagnetic wave antenna, transmitting and receiving high-frequency microwave / millimeter-wave signals to detect the dielectric properties of the droplet. Electrode multiplexing ensures that the distance between the antenna and the droplet is fixed and precisely repeatable during electromagnetic wave detection. Please refer to [link to previous text]. Figure 1 One embodiment of the method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal in this invention includes:

[0028] 101. The multiplexed electrode array is controlled to apply voltage according to the preset droplet manipulation voltage so that the droplet moves to the preset measurement position;

[0029] In this embodiment, rapid droplet control is achieved based on the principle of electric field driving. Applying a droplet control voltage to the multiplexed electrode array drives droplet movement through the electrowetting effect. By precisely controlling the magnitude of the droplet control voltage, continuous and precise micron- or even nanometer-level control of droplet shape, position, and interface curvature can be achieved. The electrode surface is covered with a hydrophobic insulating layer (the substrate has hydrophobic properties), maintaining hydrophobicity under low voltage conditions. Under high voltage conditions, the electrowetting force reduces the droplet contact angle, exhibiting hydrophilicity. The electrowetting force is mainly controlled by the electrode voltage difference, and the working voltage (droplet control voltage) is typically between 75V and 250V.

[0030] 102. Determine the entry point for droplet detection based on the measurement location;

[0031] In this embodiment, the measurement position is the non-electrode position. When the droplet is not at the electrode position, the droplet detection stage begins.

[0032] 103. During the droplet detection stage, obtain the gas-liquid interfacial tension;

[0033] In this embodiment, the gas-liquid interfacial tension is measured using a liquid surface measuring instrument;

[0034] 104. Analyze the gas-liquid interfacial tension and droplet manipulation voltage to obtain the force-voltage relationship;

[0035] In this embodiment, calculations are performed on multiple key parameters to ensure that the derivation results accurately meet the actual needs of droplet control, providing a quantitative basis for high-precision voltage control of droplets and effectively improving the stability and accuracy of droplet control.

[0036] 105. Determine the entry point for electromagnetic wave detection based on the relationship between force and voltage;

[0037] 106. During the electromagnetic wave detection phase, obtain the transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal strength;

[0038] 107. Calculate the transmit signal gain, receive signal gain, and transmit signal strength according to the preset Fries transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal strength;

[0039] In this embodiment, during the electromagnetic wave detection stage, a multiplexed electrode array is used as an antenna electrode. An electromagnetic wave radio frequency analog (composed of a front-end high-frequency oscillator, modulator, and power amplifier) ​​is controlled to apply an electromagnetic wave signal to it based on the electromagnetic wave reference wave (usually using 1GHz-80GHz, frequency modulation range). The frequency of the electromagnetic wave signal is in the range of 100MHz to 100GHz, and its response signal is detected to obtain the dielectric properties of the droplet.

[0040] In this embodiment, a multiplexed electrode array is employed, combining droplet manipulation and antenna functions, simplifying the system structure, improving integration, and reducing costs. Utilizing the electrowetting effect, droplets are precisely controlled via droplet manipulation voltage, achieving micron- or even nanometer-level position and shape control. By combining gas-liquid interfacial tension and the relationship between the droplet manipulation voltage and its derivation, the stability and accuracy of the control are improved. The measurement location is set in a non-electrode region to avoid electric field interference and ensure the authenticity of the detection signal. Electromagnetic wave detection covers a wide frequency band, and the reflected signal intensity is accurately calculated using a preset Friesian transmission formula, adapting to the detection requirements of different droplet dielectric properties. The overall solution improves detection accuracy, adaptability, and integration, meeting the needs of efficient and precise applications.

[0041] Please see Figure 2 In a second embodiment of the droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method of the present invention, step 104 specifically includes:

[0042] 201. Obtain the static contact angle of the droplet before the voltage is applied to obtain the first static contact angle of the droplet;

[0043] 202. Obtain the static contact angle of the droplet after the applied voltage is applied, so as to obtain the second static contact angle of the droplet;

[0044] In this embodiment, the static contact angle of the droplet before the voltage is applied can be directly measured using a contact angle measuring instrument or a wettability analyzer.

[0045] 203. The Lippmann-Young equations are constructed based on the static contact angle of the first droplet and the droplet manipulation voltage;

[0046] 204. Analyze the Lippmann-Young equation and gas-liquid interfacial tension based on the preset first optimization equation and the preset second optimization equation to obtain the force-voltage relationship;

[0047] In this embodiment, by integrating core parameters such as droplet static contact angle, gas-liquid interfacial tension, and droplet control voltage through the first and second optimization equations, the force and voltage relationship required for droplet control is accurately derived. This method can flexibly adapt to complex scenarios such as different electrode structures and spacing conditions, ensuring the comprehensiveness and adaptability of the derivation process. The core parameters included are directly related to droplet interface characteristics and key control variables, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the derivation logic and results, and providing a quantitative basis for high-precision voltage control of droplets.

[0048] Please see Figure 3 In a third embodiment of the droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method of the present invention, step 203 specifically includes:

[0049] 301. Based on the static contact angle of the first droplet, the preset solid-liquid interfacial tension coefficient, the gas-liquid interfacial tension, and the preset solid-gas interfacial tension coefficient, Young's contact angle equation is constructed.

[0050] In this embodiment, based on the static equilibrium characteristics of the solid-liquid-gas three-phase contact line, Young's contact angle equation is constructed, providing crucial foundational data support for subsequent derivation of force-voltage relationships and precise droplet control. The expression for Young's contact angle equation is: ,

[0051] In the formula, The solid-liquid interfacial tension coefficient. For gas-liquid interfacial tension, The solid-gas interfacial tension coefficient. The cosine value of the static contact angle of the droplet. The static contact angle of the droplet before the droplet control voltage is applied;

[0052] 302. The Lippmann-Young equation is constructed based on the static contact angle of the second droplet, Young's contact angle equation, and droplet manipulation voltage.

[0053] In this embodiment, the Lippmann-Young equation is used to describe the relationship between the contact angle and the voltage. The Lippmann-Young equation clarifies the magnitude of the change in the contact angle after applying a specific voltage. The expression for the Lippmann-Young equation is:

[0054]

[0055] In the formula, The static contact angle of the droplet after applying voltage (i.e., the second static contact angle of the droplet, which can be directly measured by a contact angle measuring instrument or a wettability analyzer). The vacuum permittivity, The relative permittivity, Where is the dielectric layer thickness, and U is the droplet control voltage. The 12V is boosted to 75V-250V through a boost circuit. For hydrophobic cases, a fixed voltage value (droplet control voltage) will be set in this range. This formula mainly illustrates that electrowetting force is positively correlated with voltage.

[0056] In this embodiment, based on the static equilibrium characteristics of the solid-liquid-gas three-phase contact line, Young's contact angle equation is constructed, laying a solid foundation for subsequent derivation. By obtaining the static contact angle of the droplet before the voltage is applied, the first static contact angle of the droplet is obtained. Combining the static contact angle of the droplet after the voltage is applied, Young's contact angle equation, and droplet control voltage, the Lippmann-Young equation is constructed. This can quantitatively clarify the correlation between voltage and contact angle change, and clearly demonstrate the positive correlation between electrowetting force and voltage, effectively ensuring the stability and accuracy of droplet control and supporting the efficient implementation of subsequent detection processes.

[0057] Please see Figure 4 In the fourth embodiment of the droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method of the present invention, step 203 specifically includes:

[0058] 401. Obtain the area of ​​the driving electrode, the area of ​​the reference electrode, and the area of ​​the electrode spacing;

[0059] In this embodiment, the operation integrates key dimensional information of the core working area of ​​the electrode, the overall structure, and the gap, and constructs a comprehensive area quantification benchmark, laying a reliable foundation for the subsequent derivation of the force-voltage relationship in the optimization equations for different scenarios.

[0060] 402. Determine whether the area of ​​the driving electrode is equal to the area of ​​the reference electrode and whether the area of ​​the electrode spacing meets the preset minimum value condition.

[0061] 403. When the area of ​​the driving electrode is equal to the area of ​​the reference electrode and the area of ​​the electrode spacing meets the minimum value condition, then determine whether the area of ​​the electrode spacing is less than the preset electrode size area.

[0062] In this embodiment, the minimization condition refers to the area corresponding to the electrode spacing being minimized. This electrode spacing area can be approximately ignored (considered as 0) because the electrode spacing is on the order of micrometers, and the corresponding spacing area is also on the order of micrometers, while the area of ​​the electrode itself is on the order of millimeters. The difference in scale between the two is enormous. Therefore, the electrode spacing area is negligible compared to the driving electrode area, simplifying the calculation process. Here, the electrode spacing value is about 5-10 micrometers, which is 1000 times different from the electrode size of millimeters. When the driving electrode area is equal to the electrode spacing area and the electrode spacing area satisfies the minimization condition, the maximum angle change range can be obtained, improving the flexibility and adjustment range of droplet manipulation, and laying a reliable foundation for the subsequent accurate derivation of the force-voltage relationship and high-precision control of droplets.

[0063] 404. When the area of ​​the electrode spacing is smaller than the preset electrode size area, the static contact angle of the first droplet, the static contact angle of the second droplet, the gas-liquid interfacial tension, the dielectric layer thickness and the droplet control voltage are analyzed according to the first optimization equation to obtain the force-voltage relationship.

[0064] In this embodiment, the expression for the first optimization equation is as follows: In the formula, To determine the dielectric layer thickness, the first optimization equation is used to derive the force-voltage relationship, providing a precise force-voltage correlation basis for high-precision voltage control of droplets, effectively improving the stability and accuracy of droplet manipulation, and laying a solid foundation for subsequent detection processes;

[0065] 405. Perform an addition operation on the area of ​​the driving electrode, the area of ​​the reference electrode, and the area of ​​the electrode spacing to obtain the total electrode area;

[0066] 406. Conversely, the Lippmann-Young equation, driving electrode area, total electrode area, and dielectric layer thickness are analyzed according to the second optimization equation to obtain the force-voltage relationship.

[0067] In this embodiment, the expression for the second optimization equation is as follows:

[0068]

[0069] In the formula, For driving electrode area, For reference electrode area, For electrode spacing area, The total area of ​​the electrodes. For scenarios where the area between electrodes is not less than the preset electrode size area, a second optimization equation that does not ignore the area between electrodes is used to derive the relationship between force and voltage, adapting to complex electrode structure scenarios, providing accurate quantitative basis for droplet manipulation, effectively improving the stability and reliability of droplet control, and laying a solid foundation for subsequent detection processes.

[0070] In this embodiment, the total electrode area is obtained by integrating the area of ​​the driving electrode, the area of ​​the reference electrode, and the area of ​​the electrode spacing. A comprehensive quantitative benchmark is constructed to minimize the electrode spacing area to approximately 0, which simplifies the calculation and obtains the maximum range of contact angle variation, thereby improving the flexibility of droplet manipulation. Dedicated equations are adapted for different scenarios: when the electrode spacing area is small, the first optimization equation is used to focus on core parameters and ensure the accuracy of the derivation; when the electrode spacing area cannot be ignored, the second optimization equation is used to retain full-dimensional area information to compensate for interference. The overall design balances simplification and accuracy, adapts to different electrode structures, provides a reliable quantitative basis for the force-voltage relationship, improves the stability and accuracy of droplet control, and lays a solid foundation for subsequent detection processes.

[0071] Please see Figure 5 The fifth embodiment of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal in this invention, step 107 specifically includes:

[0072] 501. Obtain the relative permittivity and calculate the relative permittivity according to the preset refractive index calculation formula to obtain the electromagnetic wave refractive index;

[0073] In this embodiment, the relative permittivity is the core characterization parameter of the droplet's dielectric properties. The formulaic transformation realizes the accurate mapping of dielectric properties to quantifiable electromagnetic wave parameters, avoiding information distortion. The preset formula ensures the standardization and consistency of the calculation process, reducing human error. The output electromagnetic wave refractive index provides high-precision basic data for the subsequent derivation of the reflection coefficient and the intensity of the droplet reflection signal. This design effectively strengthens the quantitative support for the detection of droplet dielectric properties, improves the accuracy and reliability of the detection results, and helps to efficiently and accurately distinguish different droplets.

[0074] 502. Calculate the electromagnetic wave refractive index, transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal strength according to the preset Frisian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal strength;

[0075] In this embodiment, the refractive index of electromagnetic waves is directly related to the dielectric properties of droplets. Formulaic calculations enable accurate mapping of dielectric information to quantifiable signals, providing strong support for the accurate characterization of droplet dielectric properties and facilitating efficient differentiation and characteristic analysis of different droplets.

[0076] In this embodiment, based on the relative permittivity (the core characterization parameter of droplet dielectric properties), a precise conversion to the electromagnetic refractive index is achieved through a preset refractive index calculation formula. The formulaic mapping avoids information distortion, and the standardized process ensures calculation consistency, providing high-precision basic data for subsequent derivations. Furthermore, by utilizing the preset Friesian transmission formula, key parameters such as electromagnetic refractive index, transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal intensity are integrated to achieve efficient conversion of dielectric information into quantifiable reflected signal intensity, improving detection accuracy and result consistency. This enables precise capture of dielectric differences among different droplets, facilitating efficient and accurate droplet differentiation and providing stable and reliable technical support for droplet dielectric property detection.

[0077] Please see Figure 6 The sixth embodiment of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal in this invention includes step 501, which specifically includes:

[0078] 601. The relative permittivity is decomposed to obtain the real part and the imaginary part of the permittivity;

[0079] 602. Calculate the real and imaginary dielectric constants according to the preset refractive index calculation formula to obtain the electromagnetic wave refractive index;

[0080] In this embodiment, the expression for the preset refractive index calculation formula is as follows:

[0081] In the formula, , Let be the real part of the dielectric constant. The imaginary part of the dielectric constant. The relative permittivity, The dielectric constant represents the refractive index of the droplet to electromagnetic waves (i.e., the refractive index of the dielectric layer to electromagnetic waves (electromagnetic wave refractive index)); the real part and imaginary part of the dielectric constant reflect the droplet polarization characteristics and electromagnetic energy loss characteristics, respectively, realizing the fine decomposition of dielectric information, providing detailed data support for the subsequent accurate calculation of reflection coefficient and droplet reflection signal intensity, improving the pertinence and accuracy of droplet dielectric characteristic detection, and helping to achieve efficient and accurate differentiation and characteristic analysis of droplets;

[0082] In this embodiment, the relative permittivity is first decomposed into a real part and an imaginary part. The real part reflects the droplet polarization characteristics, while the imaginary part characterizes the electromagnetic energy loss characteristics, thus achieving a refined decomposition of dielectric information. Then, using a preset refractive index calculation formula, with the decomposed real and imaginary permittivity as inputs, the refractive index of the incident material to electromagnetic waves is accurately derived, ensuring that the refractive index result highly matches the actual dielectric properties of the droplet. This process provides detailed and reliable basic data for the subsequent accurate calculation of the reflection coefficient and the intensity of the droplet reflection signal, improving the targeting and accuracy of droplet dielectric property detection, effectively supporting the efficient and accurate differentiation of different droplets, and providing a strong guarantee for the in-depth analysis and application of droplet dielectric properties.

[0083] Please see Figure 7 The seventh embodiment of a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal in this invention, step 502, specifically includes:

[0084] 701. Calculate the refractive index of electromagnetic waves according to the preset reflectivity calculation formula to obtain the reflection coefficient;

[0085] In this embodiment, the expression for the reflectance calculation formula is as follows:

[0086]

[0087] In the formula, It represents the refractive index of a liquid droplet to electromagnetic waves (electromagnetic wave refractive index). The refractive index of the incident material to electromagnetic waves (i.e., the refractive index of the dielectric layer to electromagnetic waves) represents the refractive index of the dielectric layer to electromagnetic waves, which is determined by its dielectric constant. By using electrode reuse to keep the dielectric layer thickness constant, the incident distance of the electromagnetic waves remains constant, thus reducing the droplet's reflection coefficient. Based solely on the relative permittivity of the droplet Decide;

[0088] 702. Calculate the transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, transmitted signal strength, reflection coefficient, and preset antenna-droplet distance according to the preset Frisian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflected signal strength.

[0089] In this embodiment, during the electromagnetic wave detection phase, according to the preset Friesian transmission formula for wireless signals, the intensity of the reflected signal from the droplet target at a distance d received by the electromagnetic wave antenna is:

[0090] ,

[0091] In the formula, This refers to the signal gain of the transmitting antenna (transmit signal gain) for electromagnetic waves. The signal gain (received signal gain) of the receiving antenna for electromagnetic waves. This indicates the intensity of the emitted electromagnetic wave signal. This indicates the distance between the antenna and the droplet. The working wavelength is specified. During the electrode multiplexing process, the intensity of the droplet reflection signal received by the electrode antenna contains the unique dielectric constant information of the droplet. Therefore, the dielectric properties of the droplet can be detected in this way. Different liquids have different dielectric constants, which affect the absorption of electromagnetic waves. A larger dielectric constant results in greater absorption of electromagnetic waves. By utilizing the drive-detection multiplexing characteristics of the multiplexed electrode array, the distance between the antenna and the droplet is ensured to be fixed and accurately repeatable during electromagnetic wave detection, thus improving measurement stability. By using the preset Friesian transmission formula and combining parameters such as the transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal intensity, the intensity of the droplet reflection signal can be calculated, and the dielectric properties of the droplet can be accurately correlated.

[0092] In this embodiment, the reflection coefficient is derived from the refractive index of the droplet electromagnetic wave using the reflectivity calculation formula. Electrode reuse technology ensures a constant dielectric layer thickness, keeping the electromagnetic wave incident distance constant. This allows the reflection coefficient to be uniquely determined solely by the droplet's relative permittivity, improving detection specificity. Combined with the pre-defined Friesian transmission formula, parameters such as transmit signal gain, receive signal gain, transmit signal strength, reflection coefficient, and fixed antenna-droplet spacing are integrated to calculate the reflected signal strength. The electrode reuse characteristic also ensures a fixed and repeatable spacing, improving measurement stability. This solution accurately correlates the droplet's permittivity with the reflected signal strength, resulting in precise and stable measurements, providing strong support for reliable detection of droplet dielectric properties.

[0093] The above describes a method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal in an embodiment of the present invention. The following describes a system for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal in an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 8 One embodiment of the droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system of the present invention includes:

[0094] A droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system is disclosed, which performs a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method as described above. The droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system includes a multiplexed electrode array 3, a droplet 1, and a dielectric layer 2. The multiplexed electrode array 3 is disposed below the dielectric layer 2, and all electrodes are evenly distributed on the same substrate surface. It can be directly fabricated using standard microfabrication processes, exhibiting strong process compatibility. The droplet can move freely in a two-dimensional plane with an unrestricted path, providing high maneuverability. The droplet 1 is disposed above the dielectric layer 2. The multiplexed electrode array 3 includes interdigitated electrodes and coplanar waveguide electrodes. The droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system also includes a switch network, which includes a single-pole double-throw switch. At least a portion of the electrodes in the multiplexed electrode array are configured to operate as dipole antennas or patch antennas in measurement mode. The switch network is a radio frequency switch matrix, capable of selectively connecting radio frequency signal sources and measuring instruments to specific electrodes in the multiplexed electrode array.

[0095] This solution achieves the reuse of the electrode array and millimeter-wave radar antenna, and the following key technical points need to be considered: A common-aperture structure design should be adopted, and the transmission timing / frequency band of the electrode drive signal and the radar wave signal should be coordinated through time-division multiplexing or frequency-division multiplexing mechanisms; the electrode material must possess both high conductivity and electromagnetic wave transmission characteristics, and the use of metal mesh or ITO film is recommended; the antenna radiating element should be embedded in the electrode edge or adopt a hollow design to avoid affecting the touch detection accuracy; the signal processing module should integrate a dual-path algorithm for radar echo analysis and capacitance change detection, and a filter should be set to eliminate frequency band interference.

[0096] This multiplexed electrode array configuration is easier to integrate with microfluidic units, sensors or MEMS modules in a planar manner, which is conducive to the miniaturization and functional integration of devices and is suitable for integrated microsystems such as lab-on-a-chip and portable testing equipment.

[0097] Figure 9This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device 900 provided in an embodiment of the present invention. This droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device 900 can vary considerably due to different configurations or performance. It may include one or more central processing units (CPUs) 910 (e.g., one or more processors) and a memory 920, and one or more storage media 930 (e.g., one or more mass storage devices) storing application programs 933 or data 932. The memory 920 and storage media 930 can be temporary or persistent storage. The program stored in the storage media 930 may include one or more modules (not shown in the diagram), each module may include a series of instruction operations on the droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device 900. Furthermore, the processor 910 may be configured to communicate with the storage media 930 and execute a series of instruction operations in the storage media 930 on the droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device 900 to implement the steps of the droplet reflection signal intensity measuring method provided in the above-described method embodiments.

[0098] A droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device 900 may further include one or more power supplies 940, one or more wired or wireless network interfaces 950, one or more input / output interfaces 960, and / or one or more operating systems 931, such as Windows Server, MacOSX, Unix, Linux, FreeBSD, etc. Those skilled in the art will understand that... Figure 9 The illustrated structure of a droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device does not constitute a limitation on a droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device. It may include more or fewer components than illustrated, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0099] A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, implement the steps of a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method as described above.

[0100] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working process of the system, device, or unit described above can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0101] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0102] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for measuring the intensity of a droplet reflection signal, applied to a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system, the droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system comprising a multiplexed electrode array, a droplet, and a dielectric layer, wherein the multiplexed electrode array is disposed below the dielectric layer, and the droplet is disposed above the dielectric layer, characterized in that, The method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signals includes: The multiplexed electrode array is controlled to apply voltage according to a preset droplet manipulation voltage, so that the droplet moves to a preset measurement position; the measurement position is a non-electrode region. The droplet detection stage is determined based on the measurement location. During the droplet detection phase, the gas-liquid interfacial tension is obtained; Obtain the static contact angle of the droplet before the voltage is applied to obtain the first static contact angle of the droplet; The static contact angle of the droplet after the applied voltage is obtained to obtain the second static contact angle of the droplet; The Lippmann-Young equation is constructed based on the static contact angle of the first droplet, the static contact angle of the second droplet, and the droplet manipulation voltage. The Lippmann-Young equation and gas-liquid interfacial tension are analyzed based on the preset first and second optimization equations to obtain the force-voltage relationship, including: Obtain the area of ​​the driving electrode, the area of ​​the reference electrode, and the area of ​​the electrode spacing; Determine whether the area of ​​the driving electrode is equal to the area of ​​the reference electrode and whether the area of ​​the electrode spacing meets the preset minimum value condition; When the area of ​​the driving electrode is equal to the area of ​​the reference electrode and the area of ​​the electrode spacing meets the minimum value condition, it is determined whether the area of ​​the electrode spacing is less than the preset electrode size area. When the area between the electrodes is smaller than the preset electrode size area, the analysis is performed according to the first optimization equation to obtain the force-voltage relationship; the first optimization equation is: In the formula, This is the static contact angle of the second droplet. The static contact angle of the first droplet. The vacuum permittivity, The relative permittivity, For gas-liquid interfacial tension, Where U is the dielectric layer thickness and U is the droplet manipulation voltage; Conversely, the area of ​​the driving electrode, the area of ​​the reference electrode, and the area of ​​the electrode spacing are added together to obtain the total electrode area. The relationship between force and voltage is then analyzed according to the second optimization equation. The second optimization equation is: In the formula, For driving electrode area, For reference electrode area, For electrode spacing area, The total area of ​​the electrodes. ; This is the static contact angle of the second droplet. The static contact angle of the first droplet. The vacuum permittivity, The relative permittivity, For gas-liquid interfacial tension, Where U is the dielectric layer thickness and U is the droplet manipulation voltage; The electromagnetic wave detection stage is determined based on the relationship between force and voltage. During the electromagnetic wave detection phase, the transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal strength are obtained. The transmit signal gain, receive signal gain, and transmit signal strength are calculated based on the preset Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal strength.

2. The method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The calculation of the transmit signal gain, receive signal gain, and transmit signal strength according to the preset Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal strength includes: The relative permittivity of the droplet is obtained, and the relative permittivity is calculated according to the preset refractive index calculation formula to obtain the electromagnetic refractive index of the droplet. The electromagnetic wave refractive index, transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal strength are calculated based on the preset Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal strength.

3. The method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The step of calculating the relative permittivity according to a preset refractive index calculation formula to obtain the electromagnetic refractive index of the droplet includes: The relative permittivity is split to obtain the real part and the imaginary part of the permittivity; The real and imaginary dielectric constants are calculated according to the preset refractive index calculation formula to obtain the electromagnetic refractive index of the droplet.

4. The method for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signal as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The calculation of the electromagnetic wave refractive index, transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, and transmitted signal intensity based on the preset Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflection signal intensity includes: The electromagnetic refractive index of the droplet is calculated according to the preset reflectivity calculation formula to obtain the droplet's reflection coefficient. The transmitted signal gain, received signal gain, transmitted signal strength, reflection coefficient, and preset antenna-droplet distance are calculated based on the Friesian transmission formula to obtain the droplet reflected signal strength.

5. A droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system, characterized in that, The system performs a droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method as described in any one of claims 1-4. The droplet reflection signal intensity measurement system includes a multiplexed electrode array, a droplet, and a dielectric layer. The multiplexed electrode array is disposed below the dielectric layer, and the droplet is disposed above the dielectric layer.

6. A device for measuring the intensity of droplet reflection signals, characterized in that, The droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device includes: a memory and at least one processor, wherein the memory stores instructions; at least one processor invokes the instructions in the memory to cause the droplet reflection signal intensity measuring device to perform the various steps of the droplet reflection signal intensity measuring method as described in any one of claims 1-4.

7. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon, characterized in that, When the instructions are executed by the processor, they implement the various steps of the droplet reflection signal intensity measurement method as described in any one of claims 1-4.

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