Methods, Systems, and Products for Conducting Droplet Operations

Abstract

The present invention provides modified droplet actuator systems, software, and software-executed methods for use in droplet actuator operation and droplet actuator systems that are configured and programmed to execute such software. The invention provides a computer readable medium storing processor executable code for performing a method, the method comprising receiving a selection of a function to be performed by a droplet actuator, associating the function to a predefined electrode element, associating the predefined electrode element to a grouping of one or more electrodes that perform the function, and adding the grouping of one or more electrodes to an electronic layout of the droplet actuator.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising a processor for executing code and a memory in communication with the processor, the system comprising code stored in the memory that causes the processor to:
 (a) receive a selection of a function to be performed by a droplet actuator;   (b) associate the function to a predefined electrode element;   (c) associate the predefined electrode element to a grouping of one or more electrodes that perform the function; and   (d) add the grouping of one or more electrodes to an electronic layout of the droplet actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the code further causes the processor to define the selected predefined electrode element as the function and at least one parameter. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the code further causes the processor to define a route within the electronic layout of the droplet actuator with a starting electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the code further causes the processor to avoid a defect in the droplet actuator when defining the route. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the code further causes the processor to define the route with an ending electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the code further causes the processor to select a shortest route from the starting electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the code further causes the processor to select a shortest physical route from the starting electrode to an ending electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the code further causes the processor to avoid an electrode that produces an adverse electromagnetic effect. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the code further causes the processor to define the route to include a one-way relationship between electrodes in the droplet actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the code further causes the processor to define the route to include a two-way relationship between electrodes in the droplet actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the code further causes the processor to display a map of the route from the starting electrode to an ending electrode.