摘要:
A method and apparatus for its practice are provided of differentiating at least one component of a heterogeneous sample from other component(s) using harmonic resonance imaging and of obtaining information regarding the sample from the differentiation. In a preferred embodiment, an image is created of a property of a harmonic or a combination of a harmonics producing a response having a contrast factor between the sample's constituent components. The desired harmonic(s) can be identified either in a preliminary data acquisition procedure on the sample or, if the sample's constituent components are known in advance, predetermined. The desired harnonic(s) may be identified directly by the user or automatically through, e.g., pattern recognition. A compositional map may then be generated and displayed and/or additional information about the sample may be obtained.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for its practice are provided of differentiating at least one component of a heterogeneous sample from other component(s) using harmonic resonance imaging and of obtaining information regarding the sample from the differentiation. In a preferred embodiment, an image is created of a property of a harmonic or a combination of a harmonics producing a response having a contrast factor between the sample's constituent components. The desired harmonic(s) can be identified either in a preliminary data acquisition procedure on the sample or, if the sample's constituent components are known in advance, predetermined. The desired harnonic(s) may be identified directly by the user or automatically through, e.g., pattern recognition. A compositional map may then be generated and displayed and/or additional information about the sample may be obtained.
摘要:
A method includes determining the point at which a tip of a probe based instrument contacts a sample and/or the area of that contact by dynamically oscillating a cantilever of the instrument in flexural and/or torsional modes. The method additionally includes using oscillation characteristics, such as amplitude, phase, and resonant frequency, to determine the status of the contact and to provide quantitative data. Static and quasi-static measurements, including contact stiffness and elastic modulus, can be obtained from the thus obtained data. Quasistatic measurements, such as creep and viscoelastic modulus, can be obtained by repeating the static measurements for a number of force profiles at different force application rates and correlating the resultant data using known theories.
摘要:
A method and apparatus are provided that have the capability of rapidly scanning a large sample of arbitrary characteristics under force control feedback so has to obtain a high resolution image. The method includes generating relative scanning movement between a probe of the SPM and a sample to scan the probe through a scan range of at least 4 microns at a rate of at least 30 lines/sec and controlling probe-sample interaction with a force control slew rate of at least 1 mm/sec. A preferred SPM capable of achieving these results has a force controller having a force control bandwidth of at least closed loop bandwidth of at least 10 kHz.
摘要:
A method of operating a metrology instrument includes generating relative motion between a probe and a sample at a scan frequency using an actuator. The method also includes detecting motion of the actuator using a position sensor that exhibits noise in the detected motion, and controlling the position of the actuator using a feedback loop and a feed forward algorithm. In this embodiment, the controlling step attenuates noise in the actuator position compared to noise exhibited by the position sensor over the scan bandwidth. Scan frequencies up to a third of the first scanner resonance frequency or greater than 300 Hz are possible.
摘要:
An integrated cantilever sensor array system that accurately detects and measures the presence of target substances in various environmental conditions. The integrated cantilever sensor array system comprises a cantilever sensor measurement head, a cantilever sensor system for measuring the oscillatory properties of the cantilevers and a measurement chamber. The measurement head includes a cantilever array having at least one cantilever, a light source and a detector positioned to detect incoming light reflected by the cantilevers within the cantilever array. The cantilever sensor system measures the oscillatory properties generated by the cantilevers within the cantilever array. The system includes the cantilever array and a detection system that measures a signal related to the bending of the cantilever. In addition, optional components such as a high frequency clock, Q-Control, may be added to more accurately measure the oscillation of the cantilevers within the cantilever array. The measurement chamber includes a flow cell, a cantilever sensor array mounted within the flow cell. The flow cell is designed to minimize dead volume and unwanted air bubbles within the cell, which may reduce accuracy of measurement.
摘要:
A method and apparatus are provided that have the capability of rapidly scanning a large sample of arbitrary characteristics under force control feedback so has to obtain a high resolution image. The method includes generating relative scanning movement between a probe of the SPM and a sample to scan the probe through a scan range of at least 4 microns at a rate of at least 30 lines/sec and controlling probe-sample interaction with a force control slew rate of at least 1 mm/sec. A preferred SPM capable of achieving these results has a force controller having a force control bandwidth of at least closed loop bandwidth of at least 10 kHz.
摘要:
A drive actuator for a measurement instrument having a probe, the drive actuator including a heating element in a thermally conductive relationship with the probe such that application of electric current to the heating element modifies a characteristic of the probe. The probe device includes a probe including a cantilever having a lever made of a material having a selected thermal expansivity and a drive actuator in operable cooperation with the cantilever lever made of a material having a thermal expansivity different than the thermal expansivity of the material of which the cantilever lever is made.
摘要:
A cantilever probe-based instrument is controlled to counteract the lateral loads imposed on the probe as a result of probe sample interaction. The probe preferably includes an active cantilever, such as a so-called bimorph cantilever. Force counteraction is preferably achieved by monitoring a lateral force-dependent property of probe operation such as cantilever free end deflection angle and applying a voltage to at least one of the cantilever and one or more separate actuators under feedback to maintain that property constant as the probe-sample spacing decreases. The probe could further uses at least one of contact flexural and torsional resonances characteristics to determine contact and release points. With the knowledge of the tip profile, quantitative mechanical data for probe sample interaction can be obtained.
摘要:
A method, and corresponding apparatus, of imaging sub-surface features at a plurality of locations on a sample includes coupling an ultrasonic wave into a sample at a first lateral position. The method then measures the amplitude and phase of ultrasonic energy near the sample with a tip of an atomic force microscope. Next, the method couples an ultrasonic wave into a sample at a second lateral position and the measuring step is repeated for the second lateral position. Overall, the present system and methods achieve high resolution sub-surface mapping of a wide range of samples, including silicon wafers. It is notable that when imaging wafers, backside contamination is minimized.