Fluid Volume Format for Precise Liquid Dispensing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensing technologies, such as inkjet printing, lack the ability to accurately control and specify the volume of fluid dispensed onto or into precise areas of a substrate, which is critical for applications like medical sample analysis and micro-manufacturing, where precise fluid deposition is essential.
Innovation Solution
The development of a data format called FVF (Fluid Volume Format) that processes data in an image-like format, allowing for scalable representation of fluid volumes across multiple channels and layers, enabling precise control over fluid dispensing by representing each channel as a separate plane and using a unique algorithm to distribute droplets accurately over a specified area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional inkjet printing technology is used for fluid dispensing, then the device complexity is low and ease of operation is good, but the manufacturing precision and volume control accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the data representation parameter from traditional raster image format to a volume-based format that explicitly encodes fluid volume information. This allows the system to control dispensing volume accurately while using standard inkjet hardware, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary software layer that translates between conventional image data and volume-controlled dispensing instructions. This mediator processes the data to achieve precise volume control without requiring complex hardware modifications, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving manufacturing precision.
2Productivity
If manual pipetting or high-end automated pipetting devices are used, then the fluid volume control accuracy is high, but the productivity is low and device complexity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pipetting system with a digital control system that uses software algorithms to calculate and distribute fluid volumes. This substitution enables high-throughput automated processing while maintaining accurate volume control through computational methods rather than mechanical manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calculations of fluid distribution requirements before dispensing begins. The system pre-processes the data to determine exact volume allocations for each location, enabling high-speed automated dispensing without sacrificing precision during the actual deposition process.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional inkjet printing is used, then the ease of operation is good and device complexity is low, but the volume of fluid dispensed per unit area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a volume dimension to the traditional two-dimensional image data structure. By encoding volume information as a third dimension in the data format, the system can control the quantity of fluid dispensed at each location without complicating the operational interface, thus increasing fluid volume capacity while maintaining ease of use.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for ejecting one or more fluids from a digital dispense device. The method includes a) inputting to a memory a volume per unit area for each of the one or more fluids to be ejected from the digital dispense device; b) matching the volume per unit area to a device resolution for the digital dispense device; c) formatting fluid ejectors for the digital dispense device for the device resolution; and d) ejecting fluid from the digital dispense device to provide the volume per area for each of the one or more fluids.