Patent · US Active

Feedback correction in sub-resonant tapping mode of an atomic force microscope

US11099210B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJan 30, 2018
Grant dateAug 24, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 2, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01Q10/065
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of carrying out sub-resonant tapping in an atomic force microscope includes causing a probe that is disposed above a sample to be translated in a direction parallel to a horizontal plane defined by the sample and to oscillate in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the horizontal plane about an equilibrium line that is separated from the horizontal plane by a vertical offset. As a result, the probe repeatedly taps a surface of the sample. Each tap begins with a first contact of the probe on the surface followed by a progressive increase in force exerted by the sample on the probe until a peak force is attained. The vertical offset is controlled by relying at least in part on a feature other than the peak force as a basis for controlling the vertical offset.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.