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.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 22, 1997

Filed:

Nov. 29, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:

Masatoshi Yasutake, Chiba, JP;

Naohiko Fujino, Hyogo, JP;

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
250234 ; 250306 ;
Abstract

A light-scattering optical system is incorporated in an AFM instrument for a large sample. The instrument is equipped with an optical microscope. Incident light is introduced into the optical microscope to provide a dark field. The incident angle to the surface of a sample is made variable. The incident light is introduced into the main enclosure of the AFM through two optical fibers. Light reflected from the surface of the sample is received by a detector split into two parts. The dark field microscope is automatically brought to focus in response to signals from the detector. The whole apparatus is enclosed in a sound-insulating dark box to enhance the S/N during detection of scattered light.


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