Abstract:
An improved scanning tunneling microscope comprising a semiconductor chip into which slots are etched to form a central portion linked by a first pair of stripes to an intermediate portion, which in turn is linked by a second pair of stripes to the main body of the chip. The pairs of stripes have mutually orthogonal directions to allow the center portion to perform movements in the x- and y-directions under the control of electrostatic forces created between the stripes and their opposite walls. The center portion has formed into it at least one tongue carrying an integrated, protruding tunnel tip which is capable of being moved in the z-direction by means of electrostatic forces between said tongue and the bottom of a cavity below the tongue.
Abstract:
The storage unit comprises an array of tunnel tips (13) arranged at tunneling distance from a recording surface (2a) of a storage medium (2) which is capable of permitting digital information to be written or read through variations of the tunneling current. The storage medium (2) is attached to the free end of a piezoceramic bendable tube (3). In operation, the free end of the tube (3) is moved in a circular orbit by repetitive sequential energization of oppositely arranged pairs of 90.degree. phase shifted electrodes (4,6 and 5,7). This tube movement causes each tunnel tip (13) to scan a respective unique associated annular area of the storage medium (2). To address a particular concentric track in a particular annular area, tunneling current is applied to the associated tip (13) via respective electrodes (16,18) while, concurrently, a potential is applied via electrodes (4,6 and 5,7) to tube (3) of a magnitude corresponding to the desired orbital diameter for the tube.
Abstract:
The method involves the steps of moving the magnetic head (8) to within aerodynamic distance from the electrically conductive surface (16) of rotating magnetic recording disk, further positioning of the head (8) until a tunnel current occurs across the gap between the head (8) and surface (16), and maintaining said tunnel current constant by using the deviations of the current from a predetermined value corresponding to a certain flying height.The apparatus comprises a tunnel electrode (9) forming an integral part of the head assembly which is attached to a distance control mechanism (5) permitting the positioning of the head assembly with a one-nanometer accuracy. The tunnel electrode (9) has a very slightly beveled shoulder (45, 47) ensuring early detection of asperities approaching the head. Gradation of the potential between tunnel electrode (9) and surface (16) of the recording disk (3) is used to enhance the response to asperities.
Abstract:
The present invention provides optical systems and methods for determining a characteristic of a cell, such as cell type, cellular response to a biochemical event, biological state and the like. The methods typically involve using interferometry to observe membrane properties in a cell and then use this information to determine one or more characteristics of a cell. The methods of the invention are useful for applications such as drug screening as well as diagnostic techniques.
Abstract:
The invention provides an apparatus and a method for defining a pattern on a substrate using a shadow masking technique. Said apparatus comprises a flexible member having a movable portion and at least one aperture. The flexible member is positioned in operation above the substrate thereby acting as a shadow mask. The apparatus further comprises a support for the substrate, distance-controlling means for controlling the distance between said movable portion and said substrate, and an actuator for moving the flexible member and substrate relative to each other parallel to a surface of the substrate. The apparatus further comprises an emission source which emits materials, electrons or light and which aims through the shadow mask at the substrate where the pattern is defined. Such a pattern might be employed in micromechanic, microoptic or microelectronic devices, for example. The described apparatus may be implemented using the AFM principal.
Abstract:
A layer of conformationally adaptive organic molecules are used in epitaxially layered structures to accommodate lattice mismatch between layers at least one of which is of a nonorganic crystalline material. Such a layer on a substrate layer may constitute the epitaxially layered structure or the conformationally adaptive organic molecule layer may be used to accommodate a lattice mismatch between two other layers or the substrate and another layer.
Abstract:
The present invention provides sensors based on micromachined ultrasonic transducer technology. The sensors preferably include a plurality of sensor elements, but may include only one sensor element. Arrays of sensors are also provided. Sensor elements include a functionalized membrane supported over a substrate by a support frame. The functionalized membrane, support frame and substrate together form a vacuum gap. The sensor element is connected to an electrical circuit, which is configured to operate the sensor element at or near an open circuit resonance condition. The mechanical resonance frequency of the functionalized membrane is responsive to binding of an agent to the membrane. Thus, the sensor element also includes a detector, where the detector provides a sensor output responsive to the mechanical resonance frequency of the sensor element.
Abstract:
The invention relates to molecules which can be attached to a substrate (4) and switched between different stable or metastable conformations (18, 19). At least one of these conformations (19) is generated and/or stabilized by the proximity of the substrate (4). The invention further relates to a layered medium comprising such molecules and to a method to switch such molecules in a controlled way. The layered medium is usable as resists for lithographic application, data storage media, and promoter of electron transfer between two media. The method is usable to generate and interrogate patterns in the layered medium.
Abstract:
A field effect transistor and a piezoelectric sensor are positioned between layers of silicon and aluminum to function as a bimetallic electromechanical transducer. The transducer can be used in atomic force microscopy or as an actuator, a chemical sensor, or an oscillator.
Abstract:
In one aspect, an elastography system includes an elastography device and a position sensing device connected to the elastography device. The elastography device includes a housing, a probing element removably attached to the housing, and a force sensor attached within the housing, where the force sensor is connected to the probing element. In another aspect, an elastography) method includes inserting a probing element into a material, producing, by a force sensor connected to a base of the probing element a signal indicative of a force applied to the probing element upon insertion of the probing element into the material, and based on the signal, deriving a mapping of spatial variations of a material property within the material.