Abstract: A software-controlled triangle-topology valve-cluster for use at taps or conduit junction points that facilitate fluid-based clearing, gas-based clearing, solvent-based cleaning, gas drying, small-volume burst formation, abandoned-material return, and other valuable operations is disclosed. The invention provides better contamination performance than simple passive or valve-chaperoned “T”-topology junctions. The valve-cluster arrangement can be implemented or approximated in various ways. For faster performance, simplified programming, or other reasons “macro” controllability can be provided for operating groups of valves in one or more of simultaneous operation, time-defined sequenced operation, or conditional operation, and such macros can further provide for conditional inputs or parameters. Such “macro,” “conditional-macro,” and “parameterized-macro” control could be implemented in software, firmware, and/or hard-wired logic.

Abstract: Although most contemporary and envisioned microfluidic systems are entirely passive or have limited control capabilities, future microfluidic systems require detailed sequenced control of valves and other elements. For this software-control of transport and processes for microfluidic systems under the control of temporal and/or event-driven scripts, script authoring and editing, functional libraries, and other development tools for process and configuration control are proposed with intent towards future standardization. Scripts can respond to external inputs and can comprise conditional-logic, temporal-logic, calculations, hierarchical structure, subroutines, macros, multi-thread and parallel execution operations, procedural calls, interrupts, real-time regulatory control calculations, and element resource allocation.