Patent ID: 7057704
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: B01L,G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for programmably generating an illumination pattern superimposed on an electrode, said electrode displaying lowered impedance in regions or its surface where it is illuminated, said illumination pattern having a predetermined arrangement of light and dark zones, said apparatus comprising: a first substantially planar electrode in substantially parallel arrangement with another substantially planar electrode, with said electrodes being serrated by a gap, and the gap containing an electrolyte solution which is in contact with said electrodes and which contains suspended colloidal particles; an illumination source capable of selectively illuminating a surface of the electrode, whereby upon application of an AC voltage to the electrode, the electric field in the illuminated regions of the surface is greater than in the non-illuminated regions of the surface, and wherein the illumination pattern is projected onto said first electrode so as to control the assembly and lateral motion of said colloidal particles, said assembly and lateral motion being induced by the AC voltage applied between said electrodes; a reconfigurable mask composed of an array of pixels, said pixels being actively controllable and directly addressable by a computer-controlled circuit and computer interface, said computer-controlled circuit providing temporal control of the intensity of illumination emanating from said pixels so as to form the illumination pattern; a projection system suitable for imaging the reconfigurable mask onto the electrode; and an imaging and recording system capable of viewing and recording said electrode with superimposed illumination pattern.