Patent · US Expired

Microscope for compliance measurement

US5983712A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
10References
19Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateAug 4, 1997
Grant dateNov 16, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 4, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/934
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An atomic force microscope and method of operation are provided and include a force sensing probe tip adapted to be brought into close proximity with a sample surface, a scanning element for generating relative movement between the probe tip and the sample surface, a device for generating a magnetic field to cause deflection of the probe tip, a driver for the device, the driver including a source of alternating current and a source of a second current of a controlled magnitude, and a detector for detecting the position of the probe tip. In a preferred mode of operation, two signals, one of alternating current and the other of a fixed, but variable, current, are applied to cause a displacement of the time-average position of the probe tip.

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