Patent ID: 8729460

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a container; first and second electrodes located on opposite sides of the container; a voltage source having an input, having an output connected to the first electrode, and having an output connected to the second electrode; a sensor oriented to sense a characteristic of particles at an interface between first and second immiscible fluids in the container; a processor connected to an output of the input device and connected to an input of the voltage source; a memory connected to the processor and including computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: determining a characteristic of the particles at the interface via the input device; determining whether the characteristic sensed satisfies a predetermined condition; sending control signals to the voltage source to apply an electric field perpendicular to the interface if the characteristic of the particles at the interface do not meet the predetermined condition; moving the particles vertically in the interface in response to the electric field; moving the particles laterally within the interface in response to the electric field and capillary forces; and maintaining the particles at the interface when moving the particles vertically and when moving the particles laterally.