Fluidic Latch Membrane Structure for Pressure-State Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluidic valves and systems lack efficient mechanisms for controlling fluid flows and pressures, limiting their ability to perform complex operations such as storing information or states in fluidic systems.
Innovation Solution
The development of fluidic latches and systems that utilize a flexible membrane to control fluid flow by expanding or contracting, creating a latch that can hold a state, with a design that includes input and output ports, pressure chambers, and contact protrusions to manage fluid pressure and flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional fluidic valves are used to control fluid flow, then the system can perform basic control functions, but the system cannot efficiently store information or states
Solution Approach 1:
The fluidic latch device uses the fluid pressure itself to maintain the state without requiring external power or control mechanisms. The flexible membrane remains in a position that blocks fluid flow until an external pressure signal is applied, at which point it switches state and maintains that state autonomously, enabling information storage in the fluidic system.
2Productivity
If a flexible membrane is used to control fluid flow and store state, then the device can hold a state with a single moving component, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane as the primary moving component to control fluid flow between chambers. This thin film element can deform under pressure to block or allow fluid passage, enabling state storage with a simple yet effective structure that avoids complex mechanical assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into separate chambers (first and second chambers) with distinct inlet and outlet ports, allowing independent control of fluid flow paths. This segmentation enables the system to store binary states by controlling which chamber is pressurized and which outlet is blocked.
3Loss of information
If the flexible membrane blocks the outlet to store state, then information can be retained, but the fluid flow control becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane dynamically transitions between blocked and open states based on applied pressure. When fluid pressure is applied to the first chamber, the membrane deforms to block the first outlet, retaining the state. When pressure is released or reversed, the membrane returns to its original position, restoring fluid flow. This dynamic behavior enables both state storage and efficient fluid control.
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 enables fluidic systems to efficiently control fluid flows, allowing for the storage of information or states, and provides a simple design capable of holding a state using a single moving component, enhancing the functionality of fluidic systems in various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible membrane that separates the pressure chamber and the additional pressure chamber and is configured to (1) block, when the flexible membrane is in an expanded state, the outlet of the pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A fluidic latch device may include an input port, an additional input port, an output port, an additional output port, a pressure chamber, an additional pressure chamber, and a flexible membrane. The pressure chamber may include an inlet coupled to the input port by a first fluid channel and an outlet coupled to the output port by a second fluid channel, and the additional pressure chamber may include an additional inlet coupled to the additional input port by a third fluid channel and an additional outlet coupled to the additional output port by a fourth fluid channel. The flexible membrane may separate the pressure chamber and the additional pressure chamber and be configured to (1) block, when the membrane is in an expanded state, the outlet of the pressure chamber and (2) block, when the membrane is in an additional expanded state, the additional outlet of the additional pressure chamber.