A device 10 for manipulating a substance, e.g. a liquid droplet or ice, comprises: a plurality of interdigitated electrode pairs 12; and a dielectric layer 15 comprising one or more sub-layers disposed on the electrodes. The electrode pairs are selectively energisable and a first electrode of each pair is spaced from a second electrode of the pair by 100 µm or less. The dielectric layer has a thickness and composition such that an electric field at a top surface of the dielectric layer is at least 2 × 106 V/m when the plurality of electrode pairs are selectively energised by a voltage of 100V or less. The dielectric layer can comprise a sub-layer comprising photosensitive epoxy resin 14, e.g. SU8 photoresist, and/or a hydrophobic material 16 comprising a hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer including octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). A top sub-layer of the dielectric layer can include an oil-based lubricant. A liquid droplet may be caused to move across the top surface by selectively energising the electrodes. Alternatively, the electrodes may produce heat so that a frozen solid on the top surface is melted or sublimated. A vehicle, e.g. a windscreen of a vehicle, comprising one or more of the devices is also claimed.
Device for manipulating a substance
2020-12-09
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B03C Magnetische oder elektrostatische Trennung fester Stoffe von festen Stoffen oder flüssigen oder gasförmigen Medien , MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS / B08B Reinigen allgemein , CLEANING IN GENERAL / B60S SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR , Warten, Reinigen, Instandsetzen, Unterstützen, Anheben oder Rangieren von Fahrzeugen, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen |
European Patent Office | 2022
|European Patent Office | 2020
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