Grouped MEMS Flow Units for Precise Fluid Discharge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturized fluid devices face challenges in transportation efficiency and precise fluid discharge due to their small size, which complicates control and affects performance in electronic and medical applications.
Innovation Solution
The fluid device is manufactured using a micro-electro-mechanical-system process, with flow guiding units divided into groups that are electrically connected to a control module, allowing asynchronous driving to control fluid discharge efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the fluid device is miniaturized using micro-electro-mechanical-system process, then the device size is reduced, but the transportation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid device is divided into multiple flow guiding units that are grouped into multiple groups. Each group can be controlled independently to transport fluid asynchronously. This segmentation allows the miniaturized device to maintain efficient fluid transportation by enabling parallel operation of multiple units, thereby resolving the contradiction between small size and transportation efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If the flow guiding units are controlled individually, then the control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flow guiding units are electrically connected and grouped together, with each group controlled by a single control module. This merging approach allows precise control of fluid discharge by selectively activating specific groups, while reducing control complexity compared to individually controlling each unit. The grouping strategy achieves a balance between control precision and system complexity.
3Productivity
If adjacent flow guiding units are driven simultaneously, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
Adjacent flow guiding units are driven asynchronously with periodic alternation. Instead of simultaneous operation, the units are activated in alternating sequences, which prevents interference between adjacent units while maintaining continuous fluid transportation. This periodic action ensures both high productivity and operational reliability by eliminating harmful interactions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a control method of a fluid device. The control method includes the steps of (a) providing the fluid device, which includes a plurality of flow guiding units manufactured by a micro-electro-mechanical-system process; (b) dividing the flow guiding units into a plurality of groups, which are electrically connected to and controlled by a control module; and (c) generating a driving signal by the control module for a corresponding one of the groups, wherein the control module generates a high level signal to a specific one of the groups, so that the flow guiding units of the specific one of the groups are driven to transport fluid, and thereby controlling the fluid device to discharge a specific amount of fluid.