Systems and methods for high performance scanning

• US 6,545,264 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stern, David
• Primary Examiner(s): PYO, KEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US09/383,986
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 250/234, 250/235, 250/236, 250/216, 250/224, 250/201.3, 250/201.4, 250/458.1, 250/459.1, 359/391, 359/393, 359/368, 356/317, 356/318
• US Class Current: 250/234
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0048 scanning mirrors, e.g. rotating or galvanomirrors, MEMS mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0076 arrangements using fluorescence or luminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/008 Details of detection or image processing, including general computer control
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0084 time-scale detection, e.g. strobed, ultra-fast, heterodyne detection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/26 Stages; Adjusting means therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides a scanning confocal microscope image detection system having a simple and inexpensive objective lens and a high acceleration/high speed voice coil driven translation system. The objective lens provides high light collection efficiency at low cost. The voice coil provides improved acceleration for fast scanning of at least one axis (scanning direction; fast scan axis) of a polymer array that can be used effectively with the inexpensive objective lens having high light collection efficiency. In one embodiment the translation stage includes a voice coil, a linear slide, and a light weight bracket connecting the voice coil to the linear slide. The bracket is rigid and designed to support a polymer array to be scanned or a turning prism and objective lens. Thus, the present invention provides systems and methods for high speed low cost scanning of, for example, polymer arrays, i.e., high performance cost effective polymer array scanning using a voice coil driven translation stage.

Claims

1. A scanning system comprising:

a translation stage including a voice coil, a linear slide and a bracket, said bracket connecting said voice coil to said linear slide and having a surface configured for mounting a polymer array;

a translation table coupled to said translation stage and movable along a slow scan axis and along a focus axis; and

a scanner for detecting an image on the polymer array.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said voice coil, linear slide and bracket are configured to translate said polymer array at least 2 mm at least 10 times per second along a fast scan axis.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said slow scan axis is substantially perpendicular to said fast scan axis, and said focus axis is substantially perpendicular to said fast scan axis and said slow scan axis.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said voice coil, linear slide and bracket are configured to translate said polymer array over a distance of at least 5 mm at least 20 times per second along a fast scan axis.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said voice coil, linear slide and bracket are configured to translate said polymer array over a distance of at least 14 mm at least 30 times per second along a fast scan axis.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a packaged polymer array is mounted to said surface of said bracket.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said translation table comprises a first stepper motor for moving said table along said slow scan axis and a second stepper motor for moving said table along said focus axis.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said translation stage further comprises a scale on said bracket.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said scanner comprises a confocal microscope image detection device having an objective lens, and the system provides accurate and reliable image recognition using a pixel size of 3.5 μ

m or smaller.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said objective lens is selected from the group consisting of a microscope objective lens, an aspheric lens with a doublet lens, an aspheric lens without a doublet lens, and a refractive/diffractive hybrid lens.

11. The system of claim 2, further comprising a control system for controlling the motion of said translation stage.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said control system comprises:

an amplifier connected to said voice coil;

a computer;

a motion controller connected to said computer; and

a translation table controller connected to said computer and said translation table.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said motion controller is configured to produce line clock pulses and pixel clock pulses for prevention of image jitter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said control system includes a readhead for sensing location of said translation stage.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said control system includes an interconnection module connected to said readhead, said voice coil, and said motion controller.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein said system scans a polymer array image size of 1 cm×

1 cm or larger.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein said slow scan axis is substantially perpendicular to said fast scan axis, and said focus axis substantially parallel to the scanning beam.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said translation stage is configured to move said scanning beam over a distance of at least 14 mm at least 30 times per second along a fast scan axis.

17. A scanning system comprising:

a translation stage including a voice coil, a linear slide and a bracket, said bracket connecting said voice coil to said linear slide and said bracket having a reflector and an objective lens mounted thereon, said translation stage configured for directing a scanning beam across a polymer array; and

a translation table having a surface for mounting a polymer array for scanning by a beam of light directed through said reflector and objective lens, wherein said table is movable along a slow scan axis and along a focus axis.

18. The system of claim 17, and wherein said translation stage is configured to move the scanning beam at least 2 mm across the polymer array at least 10 times per second along a fast scan axis.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said translation stage is configured to move said scanning beam over a distance of at least 5 mm at least 20 times per second along a fast scan axis.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein said reflector is selected from the group consisting of a mirror and a turning prism.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said objective lens is selected from the group consisting of a microscope objective lens, an aspheric lens with a doublet lens, an aspheric lens without a doublet lens, and a refractive/diffractive hybrid lens.

24. A scanning system comprising:

a translation stage movable along a fast scan axis, said translation stage including a voice coil, means for linear translation, means for securely mounting a polymer array and means for connecting said voice coil, said linear translation means and said mounting means; and

a translation table coupled to said translation stage and movable along a slow scan axis and along a focus axis.

25. The scanning system of claim 24, further comprising a scanner for detecting an image on the polymer array, wherein

said voice coil, linear translation means, mounting means and connecting means are configured to translate said polymer array at least 2 mm at least 10 times per second along a fast scan axis.

26. The scanning system of claim 25, wherein said slow scan axis is substantially perpendicular to said fast scan axis, and said focus axis is substantially perpendicular to said fast scan axis and said slow scan axis.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said means for linear translation is a crossed roller bearing linear slide that provides single axis translation and said means for connecting is a bracket made of a light weight rigid material.

28. A polymer array scanning system comprising:

a linear actuator having a permanent magnet portion and a coil winding portion;

a linear slide;

a bracket connecting said linear actuator to said linear slide, said bracket having a scan head mounted thereto for scanning a laser light beam across a surface of a substrate along a fast scan axis; and

a translation table for mounting a polymer array for scanning by the laser light beam, wherein said table is movable along a slow scan axis and along a focus axis.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said linear actuator, linear slide and bracket are configured to scan said beam at least 2 mm over the substrate surface at least ten times per second along the fast scan axis.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said slow scan axis is substantially perpendicular to said fast scan axis, and said focus axis is substantially parallel to said beam.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein said scan head includes a reflector and an objective lens.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said reflector is selected from the group consisting of a mirror and a turning prism.

33. A method of scanning comprising:

(a) mounting a polymer array upon a translation stage;

(b) rapidly moving said translation stage along a fast scan axis with a voice coil;

(c) detecting light emitted from the polymer array at different points along the fast scan axis;

(d) moving the polymer array along a slow scan axis; and

(e) repeating steps (b), (c) and (d).

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising moving the polymer array along a focus axis.

35. A method of scanning comprising:

(a) mounting a polymer array upon a bracket movable along a slow scan axis;

(b) moving a scanning beam across a surface of the polymer array by rapidly moving a reflector and an objective lens along a fast scan axis with a voice coil;

(c) detecting light emitted from the polymer array at different points along the fast scan axis;

(d) moving the polymer array along the slow scan axis; and

(e) repeating steps (b), (c) and (d).

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising moving the polymer array along a focus axis.

37. A scanning system comprising:

a translation stage having a voice coil, a linear slide and a bracket, said bracket connecting said voice coil to said linear slide and having a surface for mounting a polymer array;

a 3-axis translation table coupled to said translation stage and movable along a slow scan axis, along a focus axis, and along a tertiary axis; and

a scanner for detecting an image on the polymer array, wherein

said voice coil, linear slide and bracket are configured to translate said polymer array at least 2 mm at least ten times per second along a fast scan axis.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said slow scan axis is substantially perpendicular to said fast scan axis, said focus axis is substantially perpendicular to said fast scan axis and said slow scan axis;

and said tertiary axis is parallel to said fast scan axis.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein said voice coil, linear slide and bracket are configured to translate said polymer array at least 5 mm at least 20 times per second along the fast scan axis.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein said voice coil, linear slide and bracket are configured to translate said polymer array at least 14 mm at least 30 times per second along the fast scan axis.