Abstract: A biological/chemical detector is disclosed that is capable of manipulating liquids, such as reagent droplets, without relying on microchannels. In a first embodiment, fluid flow is passed through the detector, thus causing particles wholly or partially containing an illustrative chemical compound or biological species to be collected on the tips of nanostructures in the detector. A droplet of liquid is moved across the tips of the nanostructures, thus absorbing the particles into the liquid. The droplet is caused to penetrate the nanostructures in a desired location, thus causing the chemical compound or biological species in said liquid droplet to come into contact with, for example, a reagent. In another embodiment, a fluid flow is passed through the nanostructured surfaces of the detector such that the chemical compound and/or biological species are deposited between the nanoposts of a desired pixel.

Abstract: A nanostructured substrate is disclosed having a plurality of substrate openings disposed between the nanostructures on the substrate. When a desired fluid comes into contact with the substrate, at least a portion of the fluid is allowed to pass through at least one of the openings. In a first embodiment, the fluid is caused to pass through the openings by causing the fluid to penetrate the nanostructures. In a second embodiment, the substrate is a flexible substrate so that when a mechanical force is applied to the substrate, such as a bending or stretching force, the distance between nanoposts or the diameter of nanocells on the substrate increases and the liquid penetrates the nanostructures. In another embodiment, a first fluid, such as water, is prevented from penetrating the nanostructures on the substrate while a second fluid is permitted to pass through the substrate via the openings in the substrate.

Abstract: A liquid electrical switch is disclosed that uses a plurality of droplets of conducting liquid to form an electrical path. In a first embodiment, at least a first voltage differential is used to create a separation distance between two droplets. The droplets are illustratively contained within a housing and surrounded by an immiscible, insulating liquid. In this embodiment, the at least a first voltage differential draws at least a portion of at least one of the droplets away from a second droplet, thus preventing electrical current from flowing from the at least one droplet to the second droplet. In another embodiment, the at least a first voltage differential is changed in a way such that at least one liquid droplet is made to come into contact with a second droplet, thus creating an electrical path between the two droplets.

Abstract: A liquid bearing is disclosed wherein a droplet of liquid separates a first surface having a plurality of nanostructures from a second surface which may or may not be nanostructured. In one embodiment, the liquid droplet is in contact with the nanostructures on the first surface and the second surface in a way such that friction is reduced between the first and second surfaces as one or both surfaces move laterally or rotationally. In one illustrative embodiment, the first surface of the bearing is a surface of a housing in a gyroscope and the second surface is a nanostructured surface of a mass adapted to rotate within the housing. Thus situated, the rotating mass moves with very low friction thereby permitting, for example, the manufacture of very small, highly precise gyroscopes.

Abstract: A battery having a nanostructured battery electrode is disclosed wherein it is possible to reverse the contact of the electrolyte with the battery electrode and, thus, to return a battery to a reserve state after it has been used to generate current. In order to achieve this reversibility, the nanostructures on the battery electrode comprise a plurality of closed cells and the pressure within the enclosed cells is varied. In a first embodiment, the pressure is varied by varying the temperature of a fluid within the cells by, for example, applying a voltage to electrodes disposed within said cells. In a second illustrative embodiment, once the battery has been fully discharged, the battery is recharged and then the electrolyte fluid is expelled from the cells in a way such that it is no longer in contact with the battery electrode.

Abstract: An implantable stent comprises a tubular member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, with a region of at least one of the surfaces being hydrophobic. The region is provided with an array of microstructures or nanostructures that covers first portions of the surface but leaves second portions exposed in the interstices of the array. These structures cause the region to have a dynamically controllable hydrophobicity. In one embodiment, a control device, which is affixed to the tubular member, varies the hydrophobicity of the region. In another embodiment, which is particularly applicable to the delivery of a medicinal substance to fluids in body vessels, the stent also includes such a medicinal substance that adheres to the exposed portions until the control device alters the hydrophobicity of the region and causes the substance to be released into a body fluid in contact with the stent. Various ways to load the stent are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a battery comprises an electrode having at least one nanostructured surface. The nanostructured surface is disposed in a way such that an electrolyte fluid of the battery is prevented from contacting the electrode, thus preventing discharge of the battery when the battery is not in use. When a voltage is passed over the nanostructured surface, the electrolyte fluid is caused to penetrate the nanostructured surface and to contact the electrode, thus activating the battery. In one illustrative embodiment, the battery is an integrated part of an electronics package. In another embodiment, the battery is manufactured as a separate device and is then brought into contact with the electronics package. In yet another embodiment, the electronics package and an attached battery are disposed in a projectile that is used as a military targeting device.

Abstract: A tunable microlens uses at least two layers of electrodes and a droplet of conducting liquid. Such a droplet, which forms the optics of the microlens, moves toward an electrode with a higher voltage relative to other electrodes in the microlens. When calibration of the microlens is desired, an equal and constant voltage is passed over the first layer of electrodes and a different, constant voltage is passed over the second layer of electrodes, which may, for example, be disposed in a star-like pattern. A driving force relative to each electrode in the second layer results and is proportional to the length of the circumference of the droplet that intersects with each of the electrodes. This driving force reaches equilbrium, and hence the droplet reaches its nominal centered position relative to the second layer of electrodes, when the length of intersection of the circumference of the droplet with each of the electrodes in the second layer is equal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the flow resistance of a droplet disposed on a nanostructured or microstructured surface is controlled. A closed-cell feature is used in a way such that, when the pressure of at least a first fluid within one or more of the cells of said surface is decreased to or below a desired level, a droplet disposed on that surface is caused to at least partially penetrate the surface. In another illustrative embodiment, the pressure within one or more of the cells is increased to or above a desired level in a way such that the droplet of liquid is returned at least partially to its original, unpenetrated position. In yet another embodiment, a closed-cell structure feature pattern is used to prevent penetration of the nanostructured or microstructured surface, even when the pressure of the fluid disposed on the surface is relatively high.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein nanostructures or microstructures are disposed on a surface of a body (such as a submersible vehicle) that is adapted to move through a fluid, such as water. The nanostructures or microstructures are disposed on the surface in a way such that the contact between the surface and the fluid is reduced and, correspondingly, the friction between the surface and the fluid is reduced. In an illustrative embodiment, the surface is a surface on a submarine or other submersible vehicle (such as a torpedo). Illustratively, electrowetting principles are used to cause the fluid to at least partially penetrate the nanostructures or microstructures on the surface of the body in order to selectively create greater friction in a desired location of the surface. Such penetration may be used, for example, to create drag that alters the direction or speed of travel of the body.

Abstract: A tunable optical beamsplitter is disclosed that uses electrowetting techniques to vary the propagation characteristics of one or more light beams. Specifically, electrowetting principles are applied to a region of fluid enclosed within an enclosure to form a plurality of liquid lenses. When a light beam is incident upon the plurality of lenses, the plurality of lenses transforms portions of the light beam in corresponding plurality of output split beams. The region of fluid is controllably moved within the enclosure to modify at least a first optical characteristic of at least a first lens in said plurality of lenses in order to change the propagation characteristics of at least one of the split beams.

Abstract: A tunable microlens uses at least two layers of electrodes and a droplet of conducting liquid. Such a droplet, which forms the optics of the microlens, moves toward an electrode with a higher voltage relative to other electrodes in the microlens. When calibration of the microlens is desired, an equal and constant voltage is passed over the first layer of electrodes and a different, constant voltage is passed over the second layer of electrodes, which may, for example, be disposed in a star-like pattern. A driving force relative to each electrode in the second layer results and is proportional to the length of the circumference of the droplet that intersects with each of the electrodes. This driving force reaches equilbrium, and hence the droplet reaches its nominal centered position relative to the second layer of electrodes, when the length of intersection of the circumference of the droplet with each of the electrodes in the second layer is equal.