Method for observation of microstructural surface features in heterogeneous materials
US7107694B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 5, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01Q60/366
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for forming a topographical image of the heterogeneous variations in a surface of a material has a first machining step and a second scanning step. The preferred machining step uses a preselected scribing tool to scribe a plurality of adjacent grooves in a selected material surface at a preselected constant force. This machining step produces a machined surface whose local elevations relative to a datum plane are dependent on the local hardness or wear resistance of the surface. Then the scanning step shifts the scribing tool across the surface in contact with the surface, and measures the elevation of the tool at a plurality of selected surface coordinates. The measured elevations allow formation of a topological map depicting sub-micron structural features of the surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.