Electromagnetically actuated microshutter

Abstract

The invention relates to an electromagnetically actuated microshutter comprising: a moveable plate that can rotate about an axis, connected to a stationary frame by two arms aligned on both sides of the plate to said axis, and comprising on its periphery a conductive loop and below the assembly formed by the stationary frame and the moveable plate, a group of magnets having distinct magnetic orientations, arranged in such a manner so as to create, with respect to the moveable plate, a lateral magnetic field, in the plane of the frame, oblique in relation to the axis of rotation.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a frame disposed in a first plane;   a first pair of arms coupled to the frame;   a moveable plate coupled to the first pair of arms and arranged to rotate about an axis; and   a group of magnets disposed proximate to the frame, the group of magnets arranged in a second plane, the second plane parallel to the first plane, each magnet of the group of magnets to generate a lateral magnetic field, the lateral magnetic fields to cooperate to rotate the moveable plate about the axis.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the group of magnets comprising a first magnet, the lateral magnetic field of the first magnet having a first magnetic orientation substantially parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , the first magnetic orientation substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , the group of magnets comprising:
 a second magnet, the lateral magnetic field of the second magnet having a second magnetic orientation substantially orthogonal to the first plane; and   a third magnet, the lateral magnetic field of the third magnet having a third magnetic orientation substantially orthogonal to the first plane and opposite to the second magnetic orientation.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , the first magnet disposed between the second and the third magnet. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the frame is rectangular and wherein the arms extend from the middle of two opposite sides of the rectangle. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the moveable plate comprising a reflective surface. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus comprising:
 a frame disposed in a first plane;   a first pair of arms coupled to the frame;   a moveable plate coupled to the first pair of arms and arranged to rotate about an axis, the moveable plate comprising a conductive path;   a group of magnets disposed proximate to the frame, the group of magnets arranged in a second plane, the second plane parallel to the first plane, each magnet of the group of magnets to generate a lateral magnetic field; and   a power source coupled to the conductive path to generate a current in the conductive path, the lateral magnetic fields to cooperate with the current to rotate the moveable plate about the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , the group of magnets comprising a first magnet, the lateral magnetic field of the first magnet having a first magnetic orientation substantially parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , the first magnetic orientation substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , the group of magnets comprising:
 a second magnet, the lateral magnetic field of the second magnet having a second magnetic orientation substantially orthogonal to the first plane; and   a third magnet, the lateral magnetic field of the third magnet having a third magnetic orientation substantially orthogonal to the first plane and opposite to the second magnetic orientation.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , the first magnet disposed between the second and the third magnet. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the frame is rectangular and wherein the arms extend from the middle of two opposite sides of the rectangle. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , the moveable plate comprising a reflective surface. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus
 a frame comprising at least one channel disposed in a first plane;   a fluid disposed in the at least one channel, the fluid comprising a plurality of magnetic microbeads; and   a group of magnets disposed proximate to the frame and arranged in a second plane, the group of magnets comprising:
 a first magnet to generate a first lateral magnetic field having a first magnetic orientation substantially parallel to the first plane; 
 a second magnet to generate a second lateral magnetic field having a second magnetic orientation substantially orthogonal to the first plane; and 
 a third magnet to generate a third lateral magnetic field having a third magnetic orientation substantially orthogonal to the first plane and opposite to the second magnetic orientation, the lateral magnetic fields of the magnets of the group of magnets to cooperate to move at least one of the plurality of magnetic microbeads within the fluid. 
   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , the magnetic microbeads of the plurality of magnetic microbeads comprising a diameter of between 50 nanometers and 3 micrometers. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , the magnetic microbeads of the plurality of magnetic microbeads comprising particles to capture one or more targets. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , the fluid comprising a number of targets of the one or more targets. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , the lateral magnetic fields of the magnets of the group of magnets to cooperate to move the plurality of magnetic microbeads in a rate proportional to a gradient of the lateral magnetic fields and whether the magnetic microbeads captured ones of the one or more targets. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , the magnetic microbeads of the plurality of magnetic microbeads comprising iron oxide.