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:
Dec. 03, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1999
Bernardo D. Aumond, Cambridge, MA (US);
Kamal Youcef-Toumi, Cambridge, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for using atomic force microscopy for profiling high aspect ratio features. Probe landing techniques include scanning prior to bringing the probe into contact with the feature. In one embodiment, the probe assembly cantilever is brought into contact with the feature and subsequent scanning is used to locate the feature with the probe. In another embodiment, the probe is moved in a scanning pattern in progressively lower horizontal planes until the probe contacts the sample feature. Also described is a deconvolution technique for deconvolving the sample image and a technique for measuring the tip radius of the feature.