Feedback control system for large scale 2D digital microfluidic platforms

Abstract

Abstract As a promising candidate of point-of-care devices (POC), digital microfluidic (DMF), driven by the electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD), has been developed quickly in recent years. However, flourishing functions require more controlled electrodes, i.e. , a large-scale EWOD. Limited to cost, complexity and flexibility, existing control techniques lack strength in meeting the need of controlling increasing number of electrodes. Here, inspired by the active matrix electrowetting-on-dielectric (AM-EWOD), we present a “direct-address based on cross-control” (DACC) method, which can easily realize N + M pins controlling N × M electrodes and guarantee the control flexibility meanwhile. Moreover, combining with impedance detection technique, we set up a cheap and portable cyberphysical system. The system’s software, written in JAVA, has a user-friendly interface and can sense all sites of the DMF in real-time and auto-design routes for droplets to bypass barriers. This novel integrated digital microfluidic system shows great potential for developing low-cost, portable, and automated EWOD DMFs in large-scale.