Sun Chemical Corporation

University of Cincinnati

Manjeet Dhindsa

Jason C Heikenfeld

Russell J Schwartz

Lisa Clapp

Stanislav G Vilner

Eric Kreit

April Milarcik

Stephanie Chevalliot

Electrowetting and electrofluidic devices and methods. The device includes a hydrophobic channel formed between first and second substrates and a polar fluid and a non-polar fluid contained in the channel. An electrode with a dielectric layer is electrically connected to a voltage source. A Laplace barrier within the hydrophobic channel defines a fluid pathway that is open to the movement of the polar fluid within the channel. The polar fluid moves to a first position when the voltage source is biased at a first voltage that is less than or equal to a threshold voltage. The polar fluid moves to a second position when the voltage source is biased with a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage.

Electrowetting and electrofluidic devices with laplace barriers and related methods

Colored conductive fluids for electrowetting or electrofluidic devices, and the devices themselves, are disclosed. The colored conductive fluid includes a polar solvent and a colorant selected from a pigment and/or a dye. The polar solvent has (a) a dynamic viscosity of 0.1 cP to 1000 cP at 25&#xb0; C., (b) a surface tension of 25 dynes/cm to 90 dynes/cm at 25&#xb0; C., and (c) an electrowetting relative response of 20% to 80%. The colored conductive fluid itself can have an electrical conductivity from 0.1 &#x3bc;S/cm to 3,000 &#x3bc;S/cm and can have no greater than 500 total ppm of monatomic ions with ionic radii smaller than 2.0 &#x212b; and polyatomic ions with ionic radii smaller than 1.45 &#x212b;. The colored conductive fluid should not cause electrical breakdown of a dielectric in the device in which it is employed. An agent for controlling electrical conductivity can optionally be added to the colored conductive fluid.

Colored conductive fluids for electrowetting and electrofluidic technologies

Growing community of inventors

Eindhoven, Netherlands

Manjeet Dhindsa