METHOD AND APPARATUS OF OPERATING A SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope (SPM) comprising:
- generating periodic relative motion between a probe and a sample;
detecting motion of the probe;
recovering, from the detected probe motion, a substantially instantaneous force between the tip and sample;
automatically controlling the generating step to maintain a feedback setpoint; and
wherein said automatically controlling step includes automatically controlling a gain in a corresponding feedback loop.
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Abstract
An improved mode of AFM imaging (Peak Force Tapping (PFT) Mode) uses force as the feedback variable to reduce tip-sample interaction forces while maintaining scan speeds achievable by all existing AFM operating modes. Sample imaging and mechanical property mapping are achieved with improved resolution and high sample throughput, with the mode being workable across varying environments, including gaseous, fluidic and vacuum. Ease of use is facilitated by eliminating the need for an expert user to monitor imaging.
43 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope (SPM) comprising:
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generating periodic relative motion between a probe and a sample; detecting motion of the probe; recovering, from the detected probe motion, a substantially instantaneous force between the tip and sample; automatically controlling the generating step to maintain a feedback setpoint; and wherein said automatically controlling step includes automatically controlling a gain in a corresponding feedback loop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating an AFM, the method comprising:
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causing a probe to interact with a sample intermittently; and maintaining a substantially identical peak interaction force between the probe and the sample in each modulation period of oscillation of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating an AFM, the method comprising:
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causing a probe to interact with a sample intermittently; providing scanning movement between the probe and the sample; using feedback to maintain a setpoint force between the probe and the sample during the providing step; and automatically determining the setpoint based on a noise background signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope (SPM) comprising:
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generating periodic relative motion between a probe and a sample; interacting the probe and the sample; detecting probe motion based on the interacting step; recovering, from the detected probe motion, a substantially instantaneous force between the probe and the sample; controlling a mean position between the probe and the sample to maintain a preset instantaneous force between the probe and the sample using a feedback loop; and automatically optimizing at least one of the feedback gain, the setpoint, and the scan rate of the SPM. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification