Jigsaw electrode design for electrowetting devices

Abstract

A new type of electrode design (jigsaw in shape) is presented for actuating inner electrodes in electrowetting-on-dielectric devices containing large two-dimensional array of electrodes. Electrodes are diagonally connected with one external pin to the voltage supply. Each electrode-pad is made by carving (or cutting) out two triangular sections from the sides and adding two triangular sections on the top and bottom of the traditional square electrode. This modification in electrode shape creates an imbalance of electromechanical force at the three-phase contact line on applying the supply voltage to the actuating electrode. Droplet moves towards either horizontal or vertical directions depending on the direction of the dominant force. The scheme requires a single layer of metal thin film deposition for device fabrication and also reduces the number of external pin connections to the power supply.