Virtual channel platform

Abstract

A virtual channel platform is disclosed. Said virtual channel platform comprises two spaced electrode plates, which can provide an electric field, and a voltage source electrically connected to the two electrode plates. Said plates define a virtual reservoir and a virtual channel. When the voltage source provides a voltage between the electrode plates, the electric field generates a force to drive a driven fluid streaming from the virtual reservoir to the virtual channel, allowing the virtual channel to be filled with the driven fluid fully.

1 . A virtual channel platform, comprising:
 a first and a second electrode plates spaced for forming an electric field, the first electrode plate having a first substrate and a conductive layer disposed on the first substrate, the second electrode plate having a second substrate and a patterned conductive electrode disposed on the second substrate, wherein the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode define a virtual reservoir and a virtual channel in communication with the virtual reservoir;   a voltage source electrically connected to the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode; and   a main driven fluid and a surrounding fluid arranged between in the first and the second electrode plates, wherein the surrounding fluid is immiscible with the main driven fluid, and the main driven fluid is arranged in the virtual reservoir;   wherein when the voltage source provides a voltage between the conductive layer and the patterned conductive electrode, the electric field generates a force in driving the main driven fluid from the virtual reservoir to the virtual channel, allowing the virtual channel to be filled with the main driven fluid fully.   
     
     
         2 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive electrode has at least one of a strip-shaped electrode, a rectangle-shaped electrode, a tapered electrode, and a meander-shaped electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive electrode has at least one strip-shaped electrode, and the conductive layer and the at least one strip-shaped electrode define the virtual channel. 
     
     
         4 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the length of the strip-shaped electrode divided by the width of the strip-shaped electrode is greater than 5.0. 
     
     
         5 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the patterned conductive electrode has at least one rectangle-shaped electrode, and the conductive layer and the rectangle-shaped electrode define the virtual reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operating frequency of the voltage is greater than the cutoff frequency of the virtual channel platform. 
     
     
         7 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a dielectric constant of the main driven fluid is greater than that of the surrounding fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main driven fluid is an aqueous solution and the surrounding fluid is an air. 
     
     
         9 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main driven fluid is an aqueous solution and the surrounding fluid is an organic solution. 
     
     
         10 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main driven fluid is an organic solution and the surrounding fluid is an air. 
     
     
         11 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode plate has a first hydrophobic layer coated on the conductive layer. 
     
     
         12 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second hydrophobic layer. 
     
     
         13 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer and a second hydrophobic layer, wherein the second dielectric layer is coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate, and the second hydrophobic layer is coated on the second dielectric layer. 
     
     
         15 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode plate has a first dielectric layer coated on the conductive layer and a first hydrophobic layer coated on the first dielectric layer. 
     
     
         16 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second hydrophobic layer. 
     
     
         17 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer and a second hydrophobic layer, wherein the second dielectric layer is coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate, and the second hydrophobic layer is coated on the second dielectric layer. 
     
     
         19 . The virtual channel platform as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode plate has a first dielectric layer coated on the conductive layer and the second electrode plate has a second dielectric layer coated on the patterned conductive electrode and the second substrate.