A device (10, Fig. 1) for manipulating a substance, e.g. a liquid droplet or ice, comprises: a plurality of interdigitated electrode pairs 12; and a dielectric layer (15, Fig. 1) comprising one or more sub-layers disposed on the electrodes. The electrode pairs are selectively energisable such that a substance on a top surface (15a, Fig. 1) of the dielectric layer may be manipulated by the electric field. Each of a first electrode and a second electrode of each interdigitated electrode pair comprises a root 12a, a plurality of branches 12b that extend from the root, and a plurality of sub-branches 12c that extend from the branches. The dielectric layer can comprise a sub-layer comprising photosensitive epoxy resin, and/or a hydrophobic material comprising a hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer. 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. An assembly comprising a substantially translucent material having one or more of the devices embedded therein or affixed thereto is also described, wherein the translucent material can comprise a vehicle windscreen or an optical component.
Device for manipulating a substance
2024-02-28
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 / G02B Optische Elemente, Systeme oder Geräte , OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS |
European Patent Office | 2022
|European Patent Office | 2020
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