Microfluidic Chip Driving Circuit for High-Voltage Breakdown Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic chips are prone to high-voltage breakdown due to significant potential differences between adjacent electrodes, leading to low yield in digital microfluidic technology.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for driving microfluidic chips that control electrodes to be connected to a first power supply for a first period, then to a second power supply for a second period, and subsequently disconnects from both supplies, reducing the potential difference between adjacent electrodes by allowing charges to remain on one electrode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adjacent electrodes are connected to different power supplies with significant potential difference, then droplet movement and manipulation on microfluidic chip is achieved, but high-voltage breakdown occurs between adjacent electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by disconnecting the first electrode from both power supplies before connecting the second electrode to the first power supply. This sequence prevents simultaneous high potential difference between adjacent electrodes, thereby avoiding high-voltage breakdown while still achieving droplet movement through sequential electrode activation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through time-sequential control of electrode connections. The first electrode is connected to the first power supply for a first period, then disconnected and connected to the second power supply for a second period. This periodic switching pattern maintains droplet manipulation capability while preventing sustained high-voltage breakdown between adjacent electrodes
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electrodes are sequentially connected to different power supplies with time control, then high-voltage breakdown is reduced, but control circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the control of each electrode into independent switch circuits with separate control logic. Each switch circuit independently manages connection to the first power supply, second power supply, or disconnection state, simplifying the overall control architecture while enabling complex sequential operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces switch circuits as intermediary components between the power supplies and electrodes. These switch circuits act as mediators that implement the complex sequential connection logic, isolating the control complexity from the power supply and electrode systems while enabling precise timing 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 approach effectively reduces the likelihood of high-voltage breakdown, increasing the yield of microfluidic chips by minimizing the potential difference between adjacent electrodes.
Implementation Method 1
Digital microfluidic technology is a technology that uses a device for driving a microfluidic chip to realize preparation, detection, reaction and separation of droplet samples on the microfluidic chip
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a method for driving a microfluidic chip including: controlling a first electrode that currently carries a droplet to be electrically connected to a first power supply by a first switch circuit connected to the first electrode; after controlling the first electrode to be in electrical connection to the first power supply for a first period of time, controlling the first electrode to be in electrical connection to a second power supply for a second period of time; and after the second period of time, continuing to control the first electrode to keep disconnected from two power supplies.