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:
Aug. 09, 1994
Filed:
Nov. 12, 1992
Akira Yagi, Sagamihara, JP;
Hirofumi Miyamoto, Tokyo, JP;
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A sample is mounted on a piezoelectric actuator and a cantilever provided with a probe is located thereabove. A bias voltage applying circuit supplies the sample with a potential difference V.sub.T and sends out a current signal I.sub.T representing the electric current flowing between the sample and the probe to a current detecting circuit. The current signal is converted into logI.sub.T in a logarithmic amplifier and given to a differential amplifier. A displacement detecting circuit is arranged above the cantilever for detecting the displacement of the free end of the cantilever due to the atomic force appearing between the sample and the probe and for sending a displacement signal Z.sub.TIP representing the displacement to another differential amplifier. The signals from the differential amplifiers are respectively fed to terminals of an analog switch. The analog switch selects a signal to be fed to a control circuit, which control circuit generates and transmits a signal V.sub.Z as a function of the signal it receives, thereby controlling the actuator.