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:
Jul. 11, 1995
Filed:
Oct. 08, 1992
Michael A Kelly, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Electron or ion spectroscopy methods are commonly used for the surface analysis of insulating materials. During the illumination of the surface, electrons are emitted leaving behind a positively charged surface. The positively charged surface causes the energy of the emitted electrons to change and interferes with the analysis of their energy spectra. Conventionally, a source of neutralizing low energy electrons is directed to the illuminated region of the surface to neutralize the positive surface charge. The addition, to the non-illuminated region of the material, of a flux of positive particles or a means of emitting negative particles causes a discharge of the positive charge from the illuminated area of the material and establishes a dynamic equilibrium over the surface of the entire specimen. This permits the surface to be maintained at an arbitrarily uniform level controlled by the relative fluxes of the emitted electrons, the neutralizing electron flux, and the discharging means.