Digital optical chemistry micromirror imager
AssigneeRoche Nimblegen, Inc.
InventorHarold R. Garner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for catalyzing a reaction on a substrate (24) comprising, a light source (12), a micromirror (16) positioned to redirect light (14) from the light source (12) toward a substrate (24) wherein the redirected light (14) catalyzes a chemical reaction proximate a substrate (24), is disclosed. A computer (18) is connected to, and controls, the positioning of mirrors within the micromirror (16) to specifically redirect light to specific portions of a substrate. The substrate (24) can be placed in a reaction chamber (50), wherein the light (14) that is redirected by the micromirror (16) catalyzes a chemical reaction proximate a substrate (24).
Claims20
A method of patterning on a substrate comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an apparatus consisting essentially of:
- an ultraviolet light source;
- a micromirror positioned to redirect light from the light source toward the substrate;
- a prism set between the micromirror and the substrate;
- a lens that reflects the light onto the substrate;
- a reaction chamber disposed about the substrate;
- one or more chemical lines connected to the reaction chamber;
- one or more chemicals connected to the chemical lines;
- and a computer connected to, and controlling, the micromirror and the supply of the one or more reaction chemicals to the reaction chamber via the chemical lines;
- (b) generating a light beam from the ultraviolet light source;
- (c) illuminating the micromirror with the light beam;
- (d) redirecting the light beam with the micromirror onto the substrate;
- and
- (e) catalyzing a light sensitive reaction at a site where light strikes the substrate within the reaction chamber using the redirected light beam in a predetermined pattern, wherein the light beam passes through the prism set after illuminating the micromirror.
A method of patterning on a substrate within a reaction chamber comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an apparatus consisting essentially of:
- an ultraviolet light source;
- a micromirror positioned to redirect light from the light source toward the substrate;
- a prism set between the micromirror and the substrate;
- a lens that reflects the light onto the substrate;
- a reaction chamber disposed about the substrate;
- one or more chemical lines connected to the reaction chamber;
- one or more chemicals connected to the chemical lines;
- and a computer connected to, and controlling, the micromirror and the supply of the one or more reaction chemicals to the reaction chamber via the chemical lines;
- (b) generating a light beam from the ultraviolet light source;
- (c) illuminating a digital light processor with the light beam;
- (d) redirecting the light beam with the digital light processor onto the substrate;
- and
- (e) catalyzing the light sensitive reaction at a site where light strikes the substrate within the reaction chamber using the redirected light beam in a predetermined pattern, wherein the light beam passes through the prism set after illuminating the digital light processor.
A method of patterning on a substrate comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an apparatus consisting essentially of:
- an ultraviolet light source;
- a micromirror positioned to redirect light from the light source toward the substrate;
- a prism set between the micromirror and the substrate;
- a lens that reflects the light onto the substrate;
- a reaction chamber disposed about the substrate;
- one or more chemical lines connected to the reaction chamber;
- one or more chemicals connected to the chemical lines;
- and a computer connected to, and controlling, the micromirror and the supply of the one or more reaction chemicals to the reaction chamber via the chemical lines;
- (b) positioning the substrate within the reaction chamber;
- (c) introducing a light catalyzable reaction chemical onto the substrate;
- (d) redirecting the light beam onto the substrate with a digital light processor;
- and
- (e) catalyzing a light sensitive reaction using the redirected light beam in a predetermined pattern, the light catalyzable reaction occurring where the light strikes the substrate, wherein the light beam passes through the prism set after illuminating the digital light processor.
An apparatus for catalyzing a reaction for oligonucleotide synthesis or for amino acid addition on a substrate consisting essentially of:
- an ultraviolet light source;
- a micromirror positioned to redirect light from the light source toward the substrate;
- a prism set between the micromirror and the substrate;
- a lens that reflects the light onto the substrate;
- a reaction chamber disposed about the substrate;
- one or more chemical lines connected to the reaction chamber;
- one or more chemicals connected to the chemical lines;
- and a computer connected to, and controlling, the micromirror and the supply of the one or more reaction chemicals to the reaction chamber via the chemical lines, wherein a light catalyzable reaction occurs at a site where light produced by the light source and redirected by the micromirror strikes the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.