Two-dimensional walker assembly for a scanning tunneling microscope
US5214342A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 1991 |
| Grant date | May 25, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S977/872
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A two-dimensional walker assembly for a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) includes a sample holder upon which a sample to be studied is mounted. A walker has a pair of concentric piezoelectric tubes mounted on a base with corresponding concentric mounting tubes mounted on the ends of the concentric piezoelectric tubes. A magnet is mounted within the inner concentric mounting tube to provide a magnetic force for holding the sample holder on the walker. The sample holder has a corresponding piece of magnetically attractive material contained within. Electrical signals are applied to quadrant electrodes that are coated on the inside of the outer and on the outside of the inner piezoelectric tube in such a manner as to cause the concentric piezoelectric tubes to move in opposition to each other so that the sample holder moves laterally. The electrical signals also provide for extension and retraction of the inner concentric mounting tube relative to the outer concentric mounting tube to impart a lifting movement to the sample holder. The lifting and lateral movements cause the sample holder to be laterally displaced over relatively large distances with respect to a probe tip of the S…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.