Monolithic Fluidic Pump Onboard Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic pumps face challenges due to bulky circuitry required for control lines, which hinders their adoption in applications where size is a critical factor.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic pump on a monolithic chip with onboard control circuitry that connects energizers or heaters to a controller via minimal external connections, allowing for timed sequences and direction control with only three pins: power, ground, and enable, using an internal oscillator and sequencer for self-firing and cycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If control lines are provided for each energizer along the channel, then each energizer can be independently controlled, but the circuitry becomes bulky and the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control lines are merged into a single control line that carries sequential control signals. The onboard controller receives a single control signal and generates the necessary control sequences for multiple energizers through internal logic circuitry, thereby reducing the number of external control lines from multiple individual lines to a single multiplexed line.
Solution Approach 2:
The onboard controller automatically generates control sequences for multiple energizers based on a single external control signal. The controller includes internal logic that sequentially activates energizers in the correct order without requiring external coordination, making the system self-sufficient in generating its own control patterns.
2Loss of time
If multiple control lines are used to connect each energizer to the controller, then precise timing control is achieved, but the overall pump device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control architecture transitions from spatial multiplexing (multiple parallel control lines) to temporal multiplexing (single control line with sequential signals in time). The onboard controller uses internal timing circuits to generate precisely timed control pulses for each energizer in sequence, achieving accurate timing control through the time dimension rather than requiring multiple simultaneous spatial connections.
3Area of stationary object
If a monolithic chip design is used with minimal external connections, then device size is reduced, but control complexity must be managed on-chip
Solution Approach 1:
The onboard controller is designed as a multi-functional integrated circuit that performs multiple functions: receiving external control signals, generating sequential control patterns, providing timing synchronization, and driving multiple energizers. This universal controller module consolidates what would otherwise require separate dedicated circuits for each function, reducing overall device area while maintaining full control capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluidic pump on a monolithic chip. A closed length of channel is disposed on the chip, with a plurality of energizers disposed along the length of the channel. Each energizer is associated with a unique energizer designation. An first controller and energizer fire control lines are also disposed on the chip. One each of the energizer fire control lines is electrically connecting one each of the energizers to the first controller. Inputs are electrically connected to the first controller, for connecting the first controller to an second controller that is not disposed on the chip. The inputs include a power input, a ground input, and an enable input. The first controller has circuitry to (a) receive from the second controller an enable on the enable input, (b) send a timed sequence of fire commands on the energizer fire control lines to a selected number of energizers that is greater than one, starting with a stored starting energizer and ending with an ending energizer, and (c) update the stored starting energizer with the designation for the energizer next following the ending energizer.