Patent ID: 9182618
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. A method of non-linear electrophoretic movement of a liquid droplet or a gas bubble comprising: providing a nematic liquid crystal between a pair of plates, said nematic liquid crystal having a director field in which the orientation of said director field proximate to said plates has a first alignment orientation; disposing a liquid droplet or a gas bubble having a surface in said nematic liquid crystal, such that the orientation of said director field proximate to said surface of said liquid droplet or said gas bubble has a second alignment orientation that is different from said first alignment orientation, whereby distortions in said director field are formed around at least part of said surface of said liquid droplet or said gas bubble; subjecting said liquid crystal to an AC (alternating current) electric field, such that said distortions around said liquid droplet or said gas bubble cause the velocity of mobile ions in said liquid crystal moving between said plates to be asymmetric; guiding said liquid droplet or said gas bubble along a three-dimensional path defined by an alignment layer disposed on one of said plates; and moving said liquid droplet or said gas bubble along said three-dimensional path through said nematic liquid crystal.