International Business Machines Corporation

Edmund Weibel

Gerd K Binnig

Heinrich Rohrer

Christoph E Gerber

Hermann E Nievergelt

The vibration filter comprises an inner ring (27) on which vibration-sensitive equipment may be installed, the ring (27) being suspended from a plurality of springs (24, 25, 26) elastically supported by posts (18, 19, 20) in turn mounted on an outer ring (1) which is spring-suspended the same as the inner ring (27) from a rigid bench (8). The springs (12, 13, 14; 24, 25, 26) and other elastic members (9, 10, 11; 15, 16, 17; 21, 22, 23; 28, 29, 30) have differing resonant frequencies. Between the bench (8) and the outer ring (1), and between the outer and inner rings (1, 27) there may be provided eddy current brakes consisting of strong permanent magnets (46, 48) arranged opposite individual copper or aluminum blocks (5, 47).

High-performance vibration filter

This method involves the deposition of free metal atoms (4) from the apex (5) of a pointed tip (1) supported at a distance of 10 to 20 nm from a substrate (2). The atoms (4) are being field-desorbed under the influence of a strong electric field existing between the tip (1) and the substrate (2). With the tip (1) being moved across the substrate (2), a narrow trace (6) of metal atoms will be deposited on the substrate.

Method for depositing material with nanometer dimensions

The travelling support (1) comprises a piezo-electric plate (2) resting on three legs (6) whose bottom surface is insulated from the bench (8) on which the support is to travel, by a dielectric (7). The piezo-electric plate (2) can be caused to contract by means of an actuating voltage applied via sliders (9, 10) to top and bottom electrodes on the plate (2). By applying a voltage to the legs (6), these may be clamped selectively by electrostatic forces effective across the dielectric (7). Appropriate control of the actuating and clamping voltages causes the support (1) to either move in a linear or rotary fashion. The displacements the support can perform per step are in the nanometer range.

Growing community of inventors

Adliswil, Switzerland

Edmund Weibel