Particle transporter

Abstract

A particle transporter based on travelling-wave dielectrophoresis is provided. The particle transporter includes a first collection electrode and a second collection electrode on a substrate. The first collection electrode has a first dentate portion. The second collection electrode is located adjacent to the first dentate portion of the first collection electrode. The second collection electrode has a second dentate portion at a side adjacent to the first dentate portion. Where, a particle collection space is formed around tips of the first dentate portion and the second dentate portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A particle transporter, comprising:
 a power supply unit, for providing power signals to electrodes in the particle transporter;   a first collection electrode, disposed on a 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.   
     
     
         2 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein any dentation of the first dentate portion and the second dentate portion has an acute angle or a right angle. 
     
     
         3 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a tip of any dentation of the first dentate portion and the second dentate portion is approximately aligned to a same straight line. 
     
     
         4 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein dentations of the first dentate portion and the second dentate portion are arranged in a finger shape. 
     
     
         5 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         6 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the phase difference is 180 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . 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.   
     
     
         8 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 7 , 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. 
     
     
         9 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein lengths of the transport electrodes are approximately the same. 
     
     
         10 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the power signals are AC signals, and the AC signals of any two adjacent electrodes of the transport electrodes have a phase difference. 
     
     
         11 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the phase difference is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The particle transporter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board (PCB).