Patent ID: 7147763
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: B01F,B01J,B01L,C40B,G02B

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: depositing a first liquid droplet and a second liquid droplet on a surface with a spacing between said first liquid droplet and said second liquid droplet; applying voltages to a set of two or more electrodes under said surface, said voltages causing one or both said first liquid droplet and said second liquid droplet to deform toward each other across said spacing; in response to said voltages, said deformed droplets contacting each other and merging; and wherein said first liquid droplet and said second liquid droplet support ion migration, each of said first and second liquid droplets having an adjacent surface, said adjacent surfaces being oppositely charged resulting from said ion migration responsive to said voltages, and the deformation of said first liquid droplet and said second liquid droplet responsive to an electrostatic force between said adjacent surfaces.