Matrix electrode-controlling device and digital platform using the same

Abstract

A matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet includes a substrate, a dielectric layer positioned on the substrate, a plurality of control electrodes positioned in the dielectric layer in a matrix manner, and a ground electrode positioned at a predetermined position around the control electrodes without generating electromagnetic shielding effect. The control electrodes in the same row are electrically connected to form a plurality of lateral controlling rows and the control electrodes in the same column are electrically connected to form a plurality of longitudinal controlling columns. The droplet is driven to move on or above the dielectric layer by biasing the ground electrode to the ground voltage and applying a predetermined voltage to one of the controlling rows and/or to one of the controlling columns to undergo the predetermined assaying operation.

1 . A matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet, the device comprising:
 a substrate;   a dielectric layer positioned on said substrate;   a plurality of control electrodes positioned in said dielectric layer in a matrix manner, said control electrodes forming a plurality of controlling rows and a plurality of controlling columns; and   a ground electrode positioned at a predetermined position around said control electrodes without generating electromagnetic shielding effect;
 wherein the droplet is driven to move on or above said dielectric layer by applying a predetermined voltage to one of the controlling rows and/or to one of the controlling columns. 
   
     
     
         2 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layer has a rough surface. 
     
     
         3 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 1 , wherein the control electrodes have an edge of a sawtoothed or irregular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hydrophobic layer positioned on said dielectric layer, said droplet being moved on a surface of said hydrophobic layer.   
     
     
         5 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 1 , wherein the control electrodes in the same row are electrically connected in an alternate manner to form the controlling rows, and the control electrodes in the same column are electrically connected in an alternate manner to form the controlling columns. 
     
     
         6 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a circuit layer positioned on said substrate, said circuit layer comprising a plurality of connecting wires electrically connected to the control electrodes of the controlling rows and the control electrodes of the controlling columns, applying the predetermined voltage thereto.   
     
     
         7 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 6 , wherein the connecting wires of the circuit layer connect the control electrodes substantially in a vertical manner. 
     
     
         8 . A matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet, comprising:
 a substrate;   a dielectric layer positioned on said substrate;   a plurality of control electrodes positioned inside said dielectric layer in a matrix manner, each control electrode having a first conductive region and a second conductive region, wherein each first conductive region of the control electrodes in a same row are electrically connected to form a plurality of controlling rows, and wherein each second conductive region of the control electrodes in a same column are electrically connected to form a plurality of controlling columns; and   a ground electrode positioned at a predetermined position around the control electrodes without generating electromagnetic shielding effect;   wherein the droplet is driven to move on or above the dielectric layer by applying a predetermined voltage to one of the controlling rows and/or to one of the controlling columns.   
     
     
         9 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 8 , wherein the dielectric layer has a rough surface. 
     
     
         10 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a hydrophobic layer positioned on said dielectric layer, said droplet being moved on a surface of said hydrophobic layer.   
     
     
         11 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a circuit layer positioned on said substrate, said circuit layer comprising a plurality of connecting wires electrically connected to the control electrodes of the controlling rows and the control electrodes of the controlling columns for applying the predetermined voltage thereto.   
     
     
         12 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 11 , wherein the connecting wires of the circuit layer connect the control electrodes substantially in a vertical manner. 
     
     
         13 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first conductive regions and each of the second conductive regions are positioned on the same plane. 
     
     
         14 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first conductive regions and each of the second conductive regions substantially surround one another. 
     
     
         15 . The matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet of  claim 8 , wherein the control electrodes have an edge of a sawtoothed or irregular shape. 
     
     
         16 . A digital platform for assaying a fluid, comprising:
 a matrix electrode-controlling device for driving a droplet as claimed in  claim 1 ;   a probing device electrically connected to the matrix electrode-controlling device; and   a control unit electrically connected to the matrix electrode-controlling device and the probing device, wherein the control unit is configured to control the droplet to undergo a digital operation via the matrix electrode-controlling device, and to control the droplet to undergo a digital probing process via the probing device.   
     
     
         17 . The digital platform for assaying a fluid of  claim 16 , wherein the control unit is a computer.