The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 03, 2022
Filed:
May. 14, 2018
Scanning probe microscopy system for and method of mapping nanostructures on the surface of a sample
Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno, The Hague, NL;
Hamed Sadeghian Marnani, Nootdorp, NL;
Aukje Arianne Annette Kastelijn, Schiedam, NL;
Peter Martijn Toet, Woerden, NL;
Geerten Frans Ijsbrand Kramer, Delfgauw, NL;
Evert Nieuwkoop, Pijnacker, NL;
Albert Dekker, Delft, NL;
Martinus Cornelius Johannes Maria van Riel, 's-Gravenzande, NL;
Rik Kruidhof, Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
The present document relates to a scanning probe microscopy system and method for mapping nanostructures on the surface of a sample. The system comprises a sample support structure, a scan head including a probe comprising a cantilever and a probe tip, and an actuator for scanning the probe tip relative to the sample surface. The system also includes an optical source, and a sensor unit for obtaining a sensor signal indicative of a position of the probe tip. The sensor unit includes a partially reflecting element for reflecting a reference fraction and for transmitting a sensing fraction of the optical signal. It further includes directional optics for directing the sensing fraction as an optical beam towards the probe tip, and for receiving a reflected fraction thereof to provide a sensed signal. Moreover the sensor includes an interferometer for providing one or more output signals, and signal conveyance optics for conveying the sensed signal and the reference signal to the interferometer. The directional optics is configured for directing the sensing fraction such that at least a part of the sensing fraction is reflected by the probe tip such as to form the reflected fraction.