System and method for programmable illumination pattern generation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for programmably generating an illumination pattern superimposed onto a substrate, said illumination pattern having a predetermined arrangement of light and dark zones, said apparatus comprising:
- an illumination source;
a reconfigurable mask composed of an array of pixels, said pixels being actively controllable and directly addressable by means of a computer-controlled circuit and computer interface, said computer-controlled circuit being operated using a software program providing temporal control of the intensity of illumination emanating from each pixel so as to form the illumination pattern comprising the predetermined arrangement of light and dark zones;
a projection system suitable for imaging the reconfigurable mask onto the substrate; and
an imaging system incorporating a camera capable of viewing said substrate with superimposed illumination pattern.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the manipulation of colloidal particulates and biomolecules at the interface between an insulating electrode such as silicon oxide and an electrolyte solution. Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces relies on the combination of three functional elements: the AC electric field-induced assembly of planar aggregates; the patterning of the electrolyte/silicon oxide/silicon interface to exert spatial control over the assembly process; and the real-time control of the assembly process via external illumination. The present invention provides a set of fundamental operations enabling interactive control over the creation and placement of planar arrays of several types of particles and biomolecules and the manipulation of array shape and size. The present invention enables sample preparation and handling for diagnostic assays and biochemical analysis in an array format, and the functional integration of these operations. In addition, the present invention provides a procedure for the creation of material surfaces with desired properties and for the fabrication of surface-mounted optical components. The invention is also for a system and method for programmable illumination pattern generation, including a novel method and apparatus to generate patterns of illumination and project them onto planar surfaces or onto planar interfaces such as the interface formed by an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS), e.g., as described herein. This enables the creation of patterns or sequences of patterns using graphical design or drawing software on a personal computer and the projection of said patterns, or sequences of patterns (“time-varying patterns”), onto the interface using a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and an optical design which images the LCD panel onto the surface of interest. The use of the LCD technology provides flexibility and control over spatial layout, temporal sequences and intensities (“gray scales”) of illumination patterns. The latter capability permits the creation of patterns with abruptly changing light intensities or patterns with gradually changing intensity profiles.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for programmably generating an illumination pattern superimposed onto a substrate, said illumination pattern having a predetermined arrangement of light and dark zones, said apparatus comprising:
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an illumination source;
a reconfigurable mask composed of an array of pixels, said pixels being actively controllable and directly addressable by means of a computer-controlled circuit and computer interface, said computer-controlled circuit being operated using a software program providing temporal control of the intensity of illumination emanating from each pixel so as to form the illumination pattern comprising the predetermined arrangement of light and dark zones;
a projection system suitable for imaging the reconfigurable mask onto the substrate; and
an imaging system incorporating a camera capable of viewing said substrate with superimposed illumination pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for programmably reconfiguring an array of particles on a substrate by programmable adjustment of an illumination pattern projected onto a substrate comprising:
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an illumination source;
a reconfigurable mask composed of an array of pixels, said pixels being actively controllable and directly addressable by means of a computer-controlled circuit and computer interface, said computer-controlled circuit being operated using a software program providing temporal control of the intensity of illumination emanating from each pixel so as to form the illumination pattern comprising the predetermined arrangement of light and dark zones;
a projection system suitable for imaging the reconfigurable mask onto a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a light-sensitive planar electrode that is aligned with another planar electrode in substantially parallel arrangement, with said electrodes being separated by a gap, and the gap containing an electrolyte solution which is in contact with said electrodes and which contains colloidal particles suspended in the electrolyte solution; and
an imaging system incorporating a camera capable of viewing said substrate with superimposed illumination pattern.
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9. A process for using a programmable illumination pattern generator so as to provide active feedback in the optimization of an illumination pattern prepared by said pattern generator, said process comprising:
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creating a predetermined illumination pattern;
configuring programmable illumination pattern generator in accordance with said predetermined illumination pattern;
illuminating a field of view on a substrate using a light source and a projection system using the programmable illumination pattern generator;
acquiring an image of the field of view;
analyzing said image so as to extract a set of feature coordinates within the image; and
iterating said creating, configuring, illuminating, acquiring and analyzing steps n times, wherein n is an integer from zero to 10,000, using said feature coordinates determined in the (n−
1)th analyzing step so as to create a derivative optimized illumination pattern. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A programmable patterning device for generating a chemically patterned surface or surface coating comprising:
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an apparatus for programmably generating an illumination pattern having a predetermined arrangement of light and dark zones on said surface, the apparatus comprising;
an illumination source;
a reconfigurable mask composed of an array of pixels, said pixels being actively controllable and directly addressable by means of a computer-controlled circuit and computer interface, said computer-controlled circuit being operated using a software program providing temporal control of the intensity of illumination emanating from each pixel so as to form the illumination pattern comprising the predetermined arrangement of light and dark zones;
a projection system suitable for imaging the reconfigured mask onto the surface; and
an imaging system incorporating a camera capable of viewing said substrate with superimposed illumination pattern; and
a means for permanently altering a physical-chemical property of a light-sensitive surface or surface coating by exposure to light of pre-selected spectral composition in accordance with a programmed illumination pattern. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification