Resin Film Diaphragm for Microchannel Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microchannel chips with diaphragm valve structures have high manufacturing costs due to the use of elastomers, and when using resin films, it is difficult to completely block channels due to their high rigidity, requiring excessive pressure.
Innovation Solution
A fluid handling device comprising a first substrate with a channel, a valve body facing area, and a second substrate with a pressure chamber, integrated with a resin film having a spherical cap-shaped diaphragm portion that straddles the valve body facing area and comes into contact with a partition wall upon pressure increase, effectively controlling fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastomer is used to make the diaphragm wall elastic, then the channel can be completely blocked, but the manufacturing cost becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the diaphragm, specifically making it thinner and giving it a dome-shaped configuration. This allows a resin film diaphragm to achieve complete channel blocking capability without requiring expensive elastomer materials, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive elastomer materials with inexpensive resin film materials for the diaphragm. This substitution maintains the necessary blocking function while dramatically reducing manufacturing costs, aligning with the principle of using cheaper materials when they can fulfill the required function
2Ease of manufacture
If a resin film is used to manufacture the diaphragm, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the channel cannot be completely blocked due to high rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes key parameters of the resin film diaphragm: reducing its thickness and giving it a dome shape. These parameter changes reduce the rigidity of the resin film, enabling it to deform sufficiently under pressure to completely block the channel, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing cost and blocking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention gives the diaphragm a dome-shaped (spheroidal) configuration rather than a flat shape. This curvature allows the diaphragm to deform more effectively under pressure, enabling complete channel blocking with a thin, low-cost resin film material
3Ease of manufacture
If a thick resin film is used for the diaphragm, then the manufacturing is easier, but a very large amount of pressure is required to block the channel
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of the resin film, making it thinner rather than thick. This parameter change reduces the rigidity and the force required to deform the diaphragm, allowing channel blocking with moderate pressure while still maintaining ease of manufacture through standard thin-film fabrication processes
Solution Approach 2:
The dome-shaped configuration of the thin resin film diaphragm allows it to deform efficiently under pressure. The curved geometry distributes and amplifies the applied pressure, enabling complete channel blocking with much lower pressure than would be required for a thick, flat resin film
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
The solution allows for low-cost manufacturing and easy control of fluid flow in channels, reducing the need for expensive elastomers and overcoming the rigidity issues of resin films by using a resin film diaphragm that can reliably block channels with moderate pressure.
Implementation Method 1
when pressure in the pressure chamber is increased, the diaphragm portion is deformed so as to come into contact with a partition wall
Implementation Method 2
the diaphragm portion is deformed so as to come into contact with the partition wall
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid handling device has a first substrate, a second substrate, and a resin film disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a first channel, a valve body facing area having a substantially circular segment-shaped opening, a second channel, and a partition wall formed between the valve body facing area and an end on one side of the second channel. The second substrate includes a pressure chamber. The resin film includes a substantially spherical cap-shaped diaphragm portion. A radius of an outer edge of the diaphragm portion is smaller than a radius of a circular arc of the valve body facing area. The diaphragm portion is so arranged as to straddle the valve body facing area and the end on one side of the second channel.