Chip Substrate with Integrated Pressure Detection for Digital Microfluidics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital micro-fluidic chips lack the ability to monitor the position and moving path of droplets, leading to issues such as droplet stagnation, which complicates complex biochemical reactions and hinders the advancement of digital micro-fluidic technologies.
Innovation Solution
A chip substrate with control regions featuring driving electrodes and integrated pressure detecting elements, including force sensitive resistors and Wheatstone bridges, that detect pressure changes to determine the position and movement of droplets, enabling precise control and monitoring of droplet movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital micro-fluidic chips are used to drive droplet movement, then droplet operations such as fusion and separation can be achieved, but the position and moving path of droplets cannot be monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressure detecting element with the driving electrode structure by integrating the force sensitive resistor into the opening of the driving electrode. This merging approach allows position monitoring capability to be added without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the detection function is embedded within the existing driving structure rather than being added as a separate component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pressure detection (mechanical field) to monitor droplet position instead of optical or electrical detection methods. The force sensitive resistor converts mechanical pressure from the droplet into electrical signals, enabling position monitoring through mechanical-substitution principles that simplify the detection system while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If pressure detecting elements are integrated into each control region, then droplet position can be accurately determined, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pressure detecting elements locally within each control region rather than uniformly across the entire chip substrate. The force sensitive resistor is positioned specifically in the opening of each driving electrode where droplet interaction occurs, providing localized detection capability that maintains measurement precision while avoiding unnecessary complexity in regions where detection is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving electrode structure serves dual functions: it drives droplet movement through electrical actuation and simultaneously detects droplet position through the integrated force sensitive resistor. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate detection structures, as the same component performs both driving and sensing roles.
3Measurement precision
If force sensitive resistors are placed in openings of driving electrodes, then droplet pressure can be detected, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the driving electrode with openings预先 (in advance) during the fabrication process, and the force sensitive resistor is subsequently integrated into these pre-formed openings. This preliminary action of creating the opening structure first simplifies the overall manufacturing process by providing a ready-made integration path for the pressure detecting element, reducing the need for additional complex fabrication steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The force sensitive resistor is nested within the opening of the driving electrode structure, with the detection element positioned inside the existing electrode geometry. This nested arrangement allows both components to be fabricated in an integrated manner using sequential deposition and patterning steps, simplifying manufacturing by eliminating the need for separate assembly operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate determination of droplet position and path, preventing stagnation and improving the precision and reliability of digital micro-fluidic operations, particularly in complex biochemical reactions.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure detecting element in each of the control regions over the first base substrate, and configured to detect a pressure from the droplet
Implementation Method 2
a driving electrode in each of the control regions over the first base substrate, the driving electrode being configured to drive a droplet to move
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a chip substrate and a digital micro-fluidic chip and belongs to the field of digital micro-fluidic technology. The chip substrate provided by the disclosure has a plurality of control regions spaced apart from each other, the chip substrate including: a first base substrate; a driving electrode disposed in each control region over the first base substrate, the driving electrode being configured to drive a droplet to move, wherein the chip substrate further comprises a pressure detecting element provided in each control region over the first base substrate, and configured to detect a pressure from the droplet, so that the chip substrate determines a position of the droplet according to the pressure.