Scanning probe microscope
US6097197A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S977/852
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A conductive cantilever having a conductive probe on its free end is supported by a piezoelectric element, which oscillates upon reception of an AC voltage from a first AC voltage supply unit. An AC voltage is applied between a conductive sample and the probe by a variable DC voltage supply unit and a second AC voltage supply unit. An AM demodulator demodulates a signal from a displacement meter at an angular frequency of the first AC voltage supply unit. A lowpass filter extracts a DC component from an output signal from the AM demodulator, and a synchronism detector extracts a component concerning to the angular frequency twice as high as that of the second AC voltage supply unit from the AM demodulator output signal. A Z controller controls a position of a tube scanner based on an output signal from the subtracter which subtracts an output signal of the synchronism detector from an output signal of the lowpass filter. A data processing unit maps configuration data from the Z controller and surface potential data from a voltage control circuit, referring to XY data from an XY scanning circuit, such that a configuration image and a potential distribution image of the sample are ob…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.