SCANNING PROBE MICROSCOPY SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR PROBE EXCHANGE THEREIN

    公开(公告)号:EP3327448A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-05-30

    申请号:EP16201131.6

    申请日:2016-11-29

    IPC分类号: G01Q70/02 G01B13/00

    CPC分类号: G01Q70/02 G01B13/00 G01Q30/12

    摘要: A scanning probe microscopy system (1) comprises a gap width measuring system for measuring, during probe exchange operations, a gap width (D1, D2) of a gap (3) in-between a probe (2) and a probe holder (21). The gap width measuring system comprises: a gas flow system (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) for controlling a gas flow of a gas by applying predetermined gas flow excitation conditions to said gas, wherein said gas flow occurs at least in said gap (3); a pressure sensor (9) for sensing a time-dependently variable pressure of said gas; and an evaluation system (10) for determining said gap width based on at least said sensed pressure and said predetermined gas flow excitation conditions. The invention allows for accurate measurement of the gap width, without substantially sacrificing building space of the SPM system nearby the location where the probe and the probe holder meet.