The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 2013
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2008
Dirk DE Bruyker, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Ali Asgar Saleem Bhagat, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Alan G. Bell, Mountain View, CA (US);
Michael I. Recht, Mountain View, CA (US);
Francisco E. Torres, San Jose, CA (US);
Dirk De Bruyker, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Ali Asgar Saleem Bhagat, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Alan G. Bell, Mountain View, CA (US);
Michael I. Recht, Mountain View, CA (US);
Francisco E. Torres, San Jose, CA (US);
Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and device for merging and mixing at least two separate and distinct fluid drops on a substrate, includes a drop merging area on the surface, where a first magnetic material is placed at a first location. A first drop of fluid is then placed at the first location on the surface, resulting in the first magnetic material being at least partially positioned within the first drop of fluid. A second drop of fluid is then placed at a second location on the surface of the drop merging area. A magnetic field is applied by a varying magnetic field generator to at least a portion of the drop merge area of the substrate, which includes at least the first location on the substrate. The varying magnetic field will act on the first magnetic material to move the first magnetic material within the first drop of fluid, causing a stirring of the fluid. A drop merging force from a drop merging mechanism is applied to at least one of the first drop of fluid and the second drop of fluid within the drop merge area. This causes at least one of the first drop of fluid and the second drop of fluid to move toward the other and make contact. The internal stirring of the fluid in the first drop of fluid by the movement of the magnetic material enhances the mixing of the constituents of the first drop of fluid and the constituents of the second drop of fluid.