Nonlinear Dual-Phase Multiplexing in Digital Microfluidic Architectures

A 16 x 16 digital microfluidic multiplexer is demonstrated. The device makes use of dual-phase AC activation in a bi-layered electrode structure for actuating microdrops independently. A switching arrangement is employed to localize two out-of-phase AC waveforms in one overlapped region of the two-dimensional multiplexer grid. The superimposed AC waveforms overcome the threshold voltage for motion of a local microdrop. The demonstrated dual-phase activation and nonlinear threshold-based motion overcomes the previously-reported microdrop interference effect, as it successfully actuates individual microdrops in systems with multiple neighbouring microdrops. The device is demonstrated with an integrated centre-tap transformer using a 10.0 Vrms input voltage and minimal power consumption.