Patent ID: 9435828
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: G01R,H01J

Claim Text:
1. A method comprising: providing a probe comprising a shank region having a top surface integrally connected to a bottom surface of a conical region, said conical region tapering to a point; ion milling a pyramidal tip region having a base and an apex into an upper portion of said conical region, said ion milling removing surface portions of said upper portion of said conical region and removing said point, said apex becoming a new point; and after said ion milling, a lower portion of said conical region remaining, wherein said shank region has a uniform diameter, said lower portion of said conical region tapers from said shank region to said pyramidal tip region at a first angle, and said pyramidal tip region tapers from a base of said pyramidal tip region to said apex at a second angle.