Patent ID: 6949638

Claim:
A method for synthesizing polymers on a substrate using at least one mask comprising: (a) aligning a reticle of each of a plurality of reticle areas arranged on a mask with a synthesis area on the substrate associated with each reticle area, wherein each reticle area comprises a plurality of reticles and each synthesis area is separated from its nearest neighbors by a discard area; (b) coupling monomers on the substrate at a plurality of locations determined by each aligned reticle; and (c) sequentially repeating steps (a) and (b) for at least two of the plurality of reticles of each reticle area thereby enabling formation of polymers in each synthesis area on the substrate from each of the sequentially coupled monomers; wherein the plurality of reticle areas are substantially contiguously arranged on the mask, and the plurality of reticles within each of the reticle areas are substantially contiguously arranged within the reticle area.