Patent ID: 9304144
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: G01N,G01Q

Claim Text:
1. A method of actuating a plurality of probes by delivering photothermal energy to the probes so that the probes are heated and deform relative to a sample, wherein the photothermal energy is delivered to the probes by: a. directing an input beam into an optical device; b. transforming the input beam with the optical device into a plurality of actuation beamlets which are not parallel with each other; c. scanning the actuation beamlets across the probes, wherein only a subset of the actuation beamlets illuminates a probe at any instant as the actuation beamlets scan across the probes and the probes are illuminated in an illumination sequence; and d. controlling the actuation beamlets so that different amounts of photothermal energy are delivered to at least two of the probes during the illumination sequence.