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UM E-Theses Collection (澳門大學電子學位論文庫)

Title

Design and implementation of intelligent digital microfluidics systems

English Abstract

The manageable electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) behavior of microdroplets, under variable-charged surface electrodes, has inspired the development of digital microfluidic (DMF) systems for large-scale micro-reactors, which have underpinned a wide variety of chemical or biological applications in tiny droplet volumes. Reliability, robustness and efficiency are still great challenges of DMF-based micro-reactors due to the co-existence of different sorts of chemical reagents and biological species. It is particularly true for those containing sticky constituents, and the various irregular sample-originated surface damages, adsorption, and aging effects of the insulation and hydrophobic materials of the DMF chip. Firstly, this thesis presents the setup of DMF control system provides user-friendly operation, experimental repeatability, real-time multi-droplet actuation/sensing and upgradable human-control interface. Secondly, a wide variety of control-engaged droplet manageability is proposed and demonstrated through the operation of our DMF control system, which comprises: (i) rigid profiles ability of different droplet’s hydrodynamics under a real-time trajectory track of droplet-derived capacitance, permitting accurate and autonomous multi-droplet positioning without visual setup and heavy image signal processing (ii) fuzzy-enhanced controllability saving up to 21% charging time when compared with the classical approach, enhancing the throughput, fidelity and lifetime of the DMF chip, (iii) expert manipulability of multi-droplet routings under countermeasure decisions in real time, preventing droplet-to-droplet or task-to-task interference. Thirdly, a novel microdroplets control signal (nature discharge after pulse, NDAP) and cooperative electrode control (CE) are introduced and investigated, which enhance the droplet transportation independently of the composition of the droplet and therefore no calibration for each chemical solvent is required. ~26.8% lower RMS voltage and ~17.6% higher velocity are concurrently achieved under NDAP + CE, when compared to the classical way.

Issue date

2013.

Author

Chen, Tian Lan

Faculty

Faculty of Science and Technology

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Degree

M.Sc.

Subject

Microfluidics -- Design and construction

Supervisor

Mak, Pui-In

Vai, Mang I

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TOC & Abstract

Full-text

Location
1/F Zone C
Library URL
991005118209706306