Method and apparatus for the ultrasonic actuation of the cantilever of a probe-based instrument
First Claim
1. A metrology instrument comprising:
- (A) a probe including a cantilever; and
(B) an ultrasonic actuator configured to direct a beam of ultrasonic energy at the cantilever that imposes a force on the cantilever that drives the cantilever to oscillate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The cantilever of a probe-based metrology instrument such as an AFM is deflected by directing a beam of ultrasonic energy at the cantilever to apply ultrasonically generated acoustic radiation pressure to the cantilever. The energy is generated by an ultrasonic actuator such as a ZnO transducer driven by a power source such an RF signal generator. The transmitted beam preferably is shaped by focusing, collimation, or the like so that it impinges at least primarily on a region of interest of the cantilever such as the free end. The ultrasonic actuator produces a much better controlled force on the cantilever than can be achieved through the use of a traditional piezoelectric actuator and, accordingly, produces a response free of spurious effects (at least when the cantilever is operating in liquid). It also has a frequency bandwidth in the MHz range.
90 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A metrology instrument comprising:
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(A) a probe including a cantilever; and
(B) an ultrasonic actuator configured to direct a beam of ultrasonic energy at the cantilever that imposes a force on the cantilever that drives the cantilever to oscillate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)
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14. A metrology instrument comprising:
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(A) a cantilever;
(B) an ultrasonic actuator configured to direct a beam of ultrasonic energy at the cantilever so as to drive the cantilever to oscillate;
(C) an RF excitation signal; and
(D) a modulation signal generator configured to generate a modulation signal that modulates the amplitude of the RF excitation signal to produce a modulated RF signal that is transmitted to the ultrasonic actuator. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A scanning probe microscope (SPM) comprising:
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(A) a probe including a cantilever;
(B) an ultrasonic actuator coupled to the probe so as to drive the cantilever in a selected mode of SPM operation, wherein, when driving the cantilever, the frequency response of the cantilever has amplitude peaks at substantially only the fundamental resonance of the cantilever and harmonics of the fundamental resonance. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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18. A method comprising:
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(A) generating a beam of ultrasonic energy using an ultrasonic actuator;
(B) transmitting the beam onto a cantilever of a probe of a metrology instrument to impose a force on the cantilever so as to drive the cantilever to oscillate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification