Patent · US Expired

Scanning probe microscope

US6745617B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
2References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 8, 2002
Grant dateJun 8, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 6, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/851
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

This scanning probe microscope is provided with a cantilever with a probe tip facing a sample, a Z fine movement section for changing a distance between the sample and the probe tip, a XY scanning control section for providing relative displacement toward a sample surface between the sample and the probe tip, a displacement detecting means for detecting displacement arising in the cantilever, and a Z direction control section. In the configuration, when generating deformation in the cantilever due to a physical amount between the probe tip and the sample, the displacement detecting means detects the displacement of the cantilever, and the displacement of the cantilever is controlled to be a predetermined constant value. The scanning probe microscope further has a two frequency signals generating section for providing signals used to cause the probe tip to be moved in height direction by two frequencies to the Z fine movement section. According to this configuration, in the scanning probe microscope, the probe tip does not receive the force of lateral direction when scanning the sample surface, the high-speed measurement is possible and the wear of the probe tip is reduced.

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