Electromagnetic Fluidic Valve Switching for Compact Battery Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluidic pumps for consumer and non-consumer products are often bulky, inefficient, and require connection to electrical power sources, limiting their use in portable battery-powered devices due to the absence of high-efficiency, compact fluidic pumps that support low frequency, variable duration, and pulsed operation modes.
Innovation Solution
The development of a fluidic device with a piston and electrical coil configuration, utilizing magnetic washers and non-magnetic washers to control fluid flow, allowing for selective electrical excitation to change the piston's configuration and enable efficient, compact, and programmable fluidic valves and switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If pump based hydraulic systems are used, then fluidic power distribution is achieved, but the system becomes bulky and requires high power connection to electrical grid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical pump-based hydraulic systems with an electromagnetic pump system. The electromagnetic pump uses electromagnetic fields to directly drive fluid flow, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts such as rotors, vanes, and gears. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity, decreases system size, and improves energy efficiency by converting electrical energy directly to fluid motion without mechanical transmission losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the fluidic system by implementing variable frequency control and adjustable flow rates. The electromagnetic pump can operate across a wide range of frequencies and flow conditions, allowing optimization of power consumption and system size for different application requirements. This parameter flexibility enables the system to achieve high efficiency at various operating points while maintaining compact dimensions.
2Device complexity
If electromagnetic pumps are used, then compact and low power operation is achieved, but functionality and programmability require more complex fluidic systems with more actuators and valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functional fluidic valves and switches that can perform multiple operations within a single device. The electromagnetic actuated valves can control fluid flow in multiple directions, regulate pressure, and switch between different circuit configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of separate actuators and valves needed, thereby decreasing system complexity while maintaining high adaptability and programmability for various consumer and non-consumer applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamically controllable fluidic components with adjustable characteristics. The electromagnetic valves and switches can be programmed to operate at different frequencies, duty cycles, and flow rates, enabling flexible adaptation to various functional requirements. This dynamic control capability allows a single compact system to replace multiple fixed-function devices, reducing overall complexity while enhancing versatility.
3Volume of moving object
If micro-fluidics are used, then dimensions are reduced to micrometers, but the system is limited to self-powered biological and chemical testing applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles with incompressible fluids to transmit power and control signals through compact fluidic circuits. By employing hydraulic actuators and pressure-controlled valves, the system achieves micrometer-scale dimensions while maintaining the mechanical force and precision required for diverse applications. The hydraulic transmission enables efficient power distribution throughout the miniaturized system, supporting both biological/chemical testing and mechanical actuation functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple materials and functional layers within the micro-fluidic structure to achieve diverse functionalities in a compact form. The device combines fluid channels, magnetic actuation elements, flexible membranes, and sensing components in a multi-layer composite structure. This composite approach allows the micrometer-scale device to perform pumping, valve control, actuation, and sensing functions simultaneously, expanding application range beyond simple biological testing to include consumer products and medical devices.
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
This solution provides high-efficiency, compact, and low-complexity fluidic valves and switches suitable for portable battery-powered devices, supporting programmable control and efficient operation with reduced power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
selective electrical excitation of the at least one electrical coil... moved to establish either of the first configuration and the second configuration
Implementation Method 2
the piston is retained against the inner portion of the non-magnetic washer at one end of the piston sleeve by magnetic attraction to the magnetic washer at that end of the piston sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
The absence of high efficiency, compact fluidic pumps has until recently blocked the consideration of using hydraulic devices within portable and/or alkaline battery powered consumer and non-consumer products. The higher the functionality and programmability desired for a consumer and/or non-consumer product exploiting a fluidic pump then the more complex the overall fluidic system in terms of the number of actuators, valves, switches etc. within the fluidic system coupled to the one or more fluidic pumps. Accordingly, there exists a requirement to provide compact fluidic valves and switches to support configurability, programmability, and operation of these portable battery-operated consumer and non-consumer devices in conjunction with these newly available high efficiency, compact fluidic pumps. Such fluidic valves and switches should offer high efficiency, have a small footprint, be low complexity for high reliability and ease of manufacture, and low cost.