Semi-auto scanning probe microscopy scanning
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- manually loading a first sample;
manually locating the first sample within a certain proximity to an atomic force microscopy (“
AFM”
) tip on an AFM tool, including;
displaying a placement of the first sample to an operator on a display;
creating a sample location mark and a tip location mark on the display;
manually defining, via the operator, a unique feature of an image pattern of the first sample;
determining an automated program via designating a series of scan locations using the unique feature as a landmark, the automated program includes a series of scans to be performed at the scan locations using the unique feature as a landmark;
storing the automated program in the memory to be executed for scans on other samples wherein the AFM tool defines the sample location mark and the tip location mark to be used for at least one future sample; and
scanning, via the automated program, the first sample with the AFM tool to determine a measurement of the first sample.
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Abstract
A semi-automated method for atomic force microscopy (“AFM”) scanning of a sample is disclosed. The method can include manually teaching a sample and AFM tip relative location on an AFM tool; then scanning, via a predefined program, on the same sample or other sample with same pattern to produce more images automatically.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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manually loading a first sample; manually locating the first sample within a certain proximity to an atomic force microscopy (“
AFM”
) tip on an AFM tool, including;displaying a placement of the first sample to an operator on a display; creating a sample location mark and a tip location mark on the display; manually defining, via the operator, a unique feature of an image pattern of the first sample; determining an automated program via designating a series of scan locations using the unique feature as a landmark, the automated program includes a series of scans to be performed at the scan locations using the unique feature as a landmark; storing the automated program in the memory to be executed for scans on other samples wherein the AFM tool defines the sample location mark and the tip location mark to be used for at least one future sample; and scanning, via the automated program, the first sample with the AFM tool to determine a measurement of the first sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method comprising:
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manually loading a first sample; manually locating the first sample within a certain proximity to an atomic force microscopy (“
AFM”
) tip on an AFM tool, including;displaying a placement of the first sample to an operator on a display; creating a sample location mark and a tip location mark on the display; manually defining, via the operator, a unique feature of an image pattern of the first sample; determining an automated program via designating a series of scan locations using the unique feature as a landmark, the automated program includes a series of scans to be performed at the scan locations using the unique feature as a landmark; storing the automated program in the memory to be executed for scans on other samples; scanning, via the automated program, the first sample with the AFM tool to determine a measurement of the first sample; when the series of scans are done on the first sample, moving a next sample into a location that approximately aligns with the sample location mark previously defined; identifying the unique feature for the next sample; and performing the series of scans via the automated program on the next sample. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising:
an atomic force microscopy (“
AFM”
) tool having an AFM tip, the device adapted to;allow a user to manually position a first sample relative to the AFM tip, including; display a placement of the first sample to an operator on a display; create a sample location mark and a tip location mark on the display, where the sample location mark is stored in the memory for use with at least one future sample; allow the operator to manually define a unique feature of an image pattern of the first sample; determine an automated program via designating a series of scan locations using the unique feature as a landmark, the automated program includes a series of scans to be performed at the scan locations using the unique feature as a landmark; store the automated program in memory to be executed for scans on other samples; and scan, via the automated program, the first sample with the AFM tip to produce an image of the first sample. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification