Particle transporter

Abstract

A particle transporter based on travelling-wave dielectrophoresis is provided. The particle transporter includes a common electrode, a plurality of left switch electrodes and a plurality of right switch electrodes. The left switch electrodes and the right switch electrodes are respectively disposed adjacent to different ends at one side of the common electrode. The left switch electrodes are disposed on the substrate along a first straight-line direction. The left switch electrodes are parallel to the common electrode and provide a left switch channel to transport a plurality of particles. The right switch electrodes are disposed on the substrate along a second straight-line direction. The right switch electrodes are parallel to the common electrode and provide a right switch channel to transport the particles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A particle transporter, comprising:
 a power supply unit, for providing power signals to electrodes in the particle transporter;   a common electrode, disposed on a substrate;   a plurality of left switch electrodes, disposed on the substrate along a first straight-line direction and disposed adjacent to a first end at one side of the common electrode, wherein the left switch electrodes are parallel to the common electrode, and provide a left switch channel to transport a plurality of particles; and   a plurality of right switch electrodes, disposed on the substrate along a second straight-line direction and disposed adjacent to a second end at said one side of the common electrode, wherein the right switch electrodes are parallel to the common electrode and provide a right switch channel to transport the particles,   wherein a common end of the left switch channel and the right switch channel is formed at the common electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the common electrode, the left switch electrodes and the right switch electrodes respectively have a rectangular shape, wherein a width of any electrode of the left switch electrodes and the right switch electrodes is a, and a space between any two adjacent electrodes in the left switch electrodes and the right switch electrodes is b, then 0.5a<b<1.5a. 
     
     
         3 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein lengths of the left switch electrodes are different, and lengths of the right switch electrodes are different. 
     
     
         4 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first straight-line direction extending from the first end of the side of the common electrode does not intersect with the second straight-line direction extending from the second end of the side of the common electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the power signals are AC signals, the AC signals of any two adjacent electrodes in the left switch electrodes have a first phase difference, and the AC signals of any two adjacent electrodes in the right switch electrodes have a second phase difference. 
     
     
         6 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first phase difference and the second phase difference are 90 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first collection electrode, disposed on the substrate, and having a first dentate portion; and   a second collection electrode, disposed on the substrate and located adjacent to the first dentate portion of the first collection electrode, and having a second dentate portion at a side adjacent to the first dentate portion,   wherein a particle collection space is formed around tips of the first dentate portion and the second dentate portion.   
     
     
         8 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein any dentation of the first dentate portion and the second dentate portion has an acute angle or a right angle. 
     
     
         9 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein a tip of any dentation of the first dentate portion and the second dentate portion is approximately aligned to a same straight line. 
     
     
         10 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein dentations of the first dentate portion and the second dentate portion are arranged in a finger shape. 
     
     
         11 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the power signals are AC signals, and the AC signals of the first collection electrode and the second collection electrode have a phase difference. 
     
     
         12 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the phase difference is 180 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of transport electrodes, disposed on the substrate along a third straight-line direction, wherein the transport electrodes are parallel to each other and provide a straight-line channel for transporting the particles.   
     
     
         14 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the transport electrodes respectively have a rectangular shape, wherein a width of each of the transport electrodes is a, and a space between any two adjacent electrodes of the transport electrodes is b, then 0.5a<b<1.5a. 
     
     
         15 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein lengths of the transport electrodes are approximately the same. 
     
     
         16 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the power signals are AC signals, and the AC signals of any two adjacent electrodes of the transport electrodes have a phase difference. 
     
     
         17 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the phase difference is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board (PCB).