Patent ID: 8628648

Claim:
An apparatus for manipulation of a micro component, comprising: a gripper subsystem for lifting, holding, and releasing a micro component, comprising: a base substrate having a work side and an opposing side; a positive electrode secured to the work side of the base substrate; a negative electrode suitably spaced from the positive electrode and secured to the work side of the base substrate, such that the positive and negative electrodes are coplanar with each other; a dielectric layer formed over the work side of the base substrate and the positive and negative electrodes; and a hydrophobic layer comprising a hydrophobic material with predictable electrowetting behavior formed over the dielectric layer such that the dielectric layer is between the work side of the base substrate and the hydrophobic layer, wherein the base substrate, positive and negative electrodes, dielectric layer, and hydrophobic layer are constructed and arranged such that a DC voltage applied to the positive and negative electrodes can be adjustably controlled in conjunction with providing a liquid droplet to the hydrophobic layer, such that the liquid droplet extends over the positive electrode and the negative electrode, so as to change a capillary force between the liquid droplet and the micro component in order to i) lift the micro component at a lift voltage after moving the gripper subsystem to an initial position of the micro component, ii) hold the micro component at a voltage level within a hold voltage range while the gripper subsystem is moved from the initial position to a delivery position, and iii) release the micro component at a release voltage while at the delivery position, the release voltage being less than the lift voltage and the hold voltage range being between the lift voltage and the release voltage.