Detection of Faults and Barriers on Automated Large-Scale 2-D EWOD Digital Microfluidics

In lab on chip applications, on-chip detection of faults and barriers on electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) digital microfluidics (DMFs) shows great significance for precise results. In this paper, we develop a sensor-free all-electronic integrated system based on one set of impedance detection circuits for all electrodes. Calibration, precise, and real-time droplet detection and result exhibition are realized through the operating electronic hardware and software. A specific voltage transforming method is proposed for fast detection. A significant practice of cyberphysical coupling in digital microfluidics is demonstrated through a 10 × 10 DMF. The detection sensitivity and consistency of the system shows the feasibility of the system. The 100% agreement between the experimental results and the real map of droplets on DMF demonstrates the capability of the system applicable for large-scale 2-D EWOD DMFs, and provides preliminary requirements for auto-routing.