Patent ID: 11959936
Assignee: INFINITESIMA LIMITED
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A method of scanning a sample with a scanning probe system, the scanning probe system comprising a probe comprising a cantilever extending from a base to a free end, and a probe tip carried by the free end of the cantilever, the method comprising:
moving the probe to a measurement position at which the sample imposes an electrostatic force on the probe;
at the measurement position: applying a measurement voltage to the scanning probe system, varying the measurement voltage applied to the scanning probe system, and monitoring a reaction of the probe to the variation of the measurement voltage to measure a counteracting voltage value which reduces or nullifies the electrostatic force on the probe at the measurement position; and
after the counteracting voltage value has been measured, scanning the sample with the probe while applying a bias voltage to the scanning probe system, wherein the bias voltage is based on the counteracting voltage value.