Rigid mask for protecting selective portions of a chip, and use of the rigid mask
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorAlessandro Paolo Bramanti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rigid mask protects selective portions of a chip including a plurality of wells for biochemical reactions. The rigid mask includes a supporting portion and a plurality of legs, where each leg is provided with a rigid stem and a plate. The plurality of legs are arranged and fixed with respect to the supporting portion in a way aligned to the spatial arrangement of the wells, and are configured in such a way that, when each leg is inserted into the corresponding well, the respective plate covers at least in part the bottom of the well, protecting it during a chemical/physical treatment of side walls of the wells.
Claims20
A rigid mask for protecting selective portions of a chip for biochemical reactions during a chemical/physical treatment of the chip, wherein the chip includes a plurality of wells where said biochemical reactions are carried out, each well having a bottom and the plurality of wells being arranged according to a pattern, the rigid mask being mobile with respect to the chip in at least a first direction, and comprising:
- a supporting portion;
- and
- a plurality of legs, each leg comprising a rigid stem and a plate, the rigid stem having a first end fixed to the supporting portion and a second end fixed to the plate, wherein:
- the plurality of legs are configured so that when each leg is inserted in a corresponding well, the respective plate covers at least in part a bottom of the corresponding well to provide protection during the chemical/physical treatment;
- and
- each stem has dimensions in X and Y directions that are smaller than corresponding dimensions of the plates in the X and Y directions.
A rigid mask for protecting selective portions of a chip for biochemical reactions during a chemical/physical treatment of the chip, the rigid mask comprising:
- a supporting portion configured to move in a first direction relative to the chip;
- a plurality of legs, each leg comprising a rigid stem and a plate, the rigid stem having a first end fixed to the supporting portion and a second end fixed to the plate, wherein:
- the plurality of legs are configured so that when each leg is inserted in a corresponding well of the chip, the respective plate covers and protects at least in part a bottom of the corresponding well during the chemical/physical treatment;
- and
- each plate comprises a projecting region that is configured to penetrate into a corresponding trench of the corresponding well when the respective plate covers at least in part the bottom of the corresponding well.
A structure, comprising:
- a chip for biochemical reactions, the chip including a plurality of wells;
- and
- a rigid mask for protecting selective portions of a chip for biochemical reactions during a chemical/physical treatment of the chip, the rigid mask including:
- a supporting portion configured to move in a first direction relative to the chip;
- a plurality of legs configured to be inserted respectively in corresponding wells of the plurality of wells, each leg including a rigid stem and a plate, the rigid stem having a first end fixed to the supporting portion and a second end fixed to the plate, wherein:
- the plurality of legs are configured so that when each leg is inserted in the corresponding well of the chip, the respective plate covers and protects at least in part a bottom of the corresponding well during the chemical/physical treatment;
- the bottom of each corresponding well comprises a trench, and
- each plate comprises a projecting region that is configured to penetrate into the trench when the respective plate covers at least in part the bottom of the corresponding well.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.