Image Locking System for Dna Micro-Array Synthesis

Abstract

An image locking system for DNA micro-array synthesis provides a feedback system to stabilize or lock the image with respect to an image capture device, such as a camera and/or microscope. The image locking system includes the use of detection or reference marks. When a shift in image position is detected, a correction signal is sent to one of two mirrors, moving the image to correct for the shift in image position. The system comprises a first light beam directed towards a micromirror device that forms an alignment pattern on a reaction cell and a second light beam directed towards the micromirror device that forms a micro-array image on an active surface of the reaction cell. A camera captures the alignment pattern and an alignment mark. A computer calculates a correction signal to realign the alignment pattern with the alignment mark when movement is detected.

1 . An image locking system for use in DNA micro-array synthesis, the system comprising:
 a reaction cell with an active surface on which a micro-array may be formed;   a micromirror device, the micromirror device formed of an array of electronically addressable micromirrors wherein each micromirror can be selectively tilted between one of at least two positions whereby a first light beam directed towards the micromirror device forms a micro-array image on the active surface of the reaction cell;   an alignment mark located at the reaction cell;   a second light beam that is directed towards the micromirror device thereby forming an alignment pattern on the reaction cell;   a camera capturing an alignment image, the alignment image comprising the alignment mark and the alignment pattern reflected onto the reaction cell;   a computer identifying a change in the alignment image and calculating a correction signal to remove the change from the alignment image; and   at least one actuator provided to adjust the alignment image in response to the correction signal calculated by the computer.   
     
     
         2 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming an image locking system for use in DNA micro-array synthesis, the method comprising:
 projecting a first light beam towards a micromirror device that forms an initial alignment pattern;   reflecting the initial alignment pattern along an optical path and onto a reaction cell;   capturing an initial alignment image wherein the initial alignment image comprises an alignment mark and the initial alignment pattern projected onto the reaction cell;   projecting the first light beam towards the micromirror device that forms a current alignment pattern;   reflecting the current alignment pattern along the optical path and onto the reaction cell;   capturing a current alignment image wherein the current alignment image comprises the alignment mark and the current alignment pattern projected onto the reaction cell;   calculating the displacement between the initial alignment image and the current alignment image; and   sending a correction signal to at least one actuator to remove the displacement between the initial alignment image and the current alignment image.   
     
     
         16 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of forming an image locking system for use in DNA micro-array synthesis, the method comprising:
 projecting a first light beam towards a micromirror device that forms an initial alignment pattern;   reflecting the initial alignment pattern along an optical path and onto a reaction cell;   capturing an initial alignment pattern image of the initial alignment pattern projected onto the reaction cell;   projecting the first light beam towards a micromirror device that forms a current alignment pattern;   reflecting the current alignment pattern along the optical path and onto the reaction cell;   capturing a current alignment pattern image of the current alignment pattern projected onto the reaction cell;   calculating the displacement between the initial alignment pattern image and the current alignment pattern image; and   sending a correction signal to at least one actuator to remove the displacement between the initial alignment pattern image and the current alignment pattern image.   
     
     
         31 - 46 . (canceled)