Patent ID: 7604718
Filing Date: 2009-10-20
Classification: B01J,B01L,B03C

Abstract:
1. A dynamically configurable electrode comprising: a shielding layer located in a first region; a planar array of pixels in a second region such that the shielding layer isolates the planar array of pixels from a driving circuit on the side of the shielding layer opposite from the planar array of pixels, said planar array of pixels having an insulating layer thereon, said pixels individually addressable by a time-varying waveform voltage and, adjacent pixels receiving, at any instant in time, either the same voltage waveform or a different voltage waveform such that said planar array of pixels, upon receiving different voltage waveforms, forms a means for initiating recirculation of a polarizable liquid medium and movement of dipolar entities parallel to the planar array and towards one or more regions adjacent said planar array of pixels, wherein the double-layer capacitance at the polarizable liquid medium-pixel interface is smaller than the capacitance of the insulating layer, but is far greater than the stray capacitance between the planar array of pixels and the shielding layer, and wherein the dipolar entities reside in the polarizable liquid medium and can include dipolar molecules, ions, cells or polarized particles; wherein said polarizable liquid medium resides adjacent said insulating layer and between a planar electrode, lying parallel to the planar array of pixels and located in a third region, and wherein the planar electrode provides a reference voltage to the polarizable liquid medium.