Sarnoff Corporation

David Sarnoff Research Center, Inc.

Christina Marie Knoedler

Satyam Choudary Cherukuri

Sterling Eduard McBride

Robert Amantea

Hoi Cheong Sun

Robert Richard Demers

Pamela Kay York

Paul L Brown

Richard Moroney

The present invention provides a liquid distribution system, which is useful in a number of contexts, including in accomplishing various synthetic, diagnostic and drug screening reactions. The distribution system can comprise an alpha reservoir and a beta reservoir, a first set of parallel and adjacent first and second feeder channels and a second set of parallel and adjacent third and fourth feeder channels which are offset from the first and second feeder channels, wherein (a) the first and third feeder channels are connected to the alpha reservoir via a first connector channel that is situated above or below the second and fourth feeder channels and are independent of the beta reservoir and (b) the second and fourth feeder channels are connected to the beta reservoir via a second connector channel that is situated above or below the first and third feeder channels and are independent of the alpha reservoir. The distribution system is preferably a microscale distribution system. Various particular mechanisms for controlling flow into a liquid distribution system are described.

Liquid distribution system

The present invention relates to chucks and methods for positioning multiple objects, optionally for transport onto a recipient substrate. Instead of using conventional clamps that employ mechanical force, the present invention is directed to the use of a non-mechanical force such as negative pressure in a vacuum chuck, or static electricity in an electrostatic chuck as the force applied to the objects held by the chuck. Further, the chuck has a layer for holding the objects which are optionally subsequently transferred to a recipient substrate, the layer having a configuration substantially corresponding to the configuration of the recipient substrate. In certain aspects, the present invention is directed to a chuck for positioning objects with an average width or diameter less than or equal to one millimeter, and a thickness preferably less than about 3 millimeters, such as beads used in the chemical industry. In another aspect, the invention is directed to methods which involve the use of chucks, including methods for attracting an object or multiple objects, methods for positioning objects, methods for transporting objects, preferably substantially simultaneously, and methods of chemical manufacturing using the chucks.

Chucks and methods for positioning multiple objects on a substrate

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Newtown, PA, United States of America

Christina Marie Knoedler