Patent ID: 7385405
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A probe for a scanning probe microscope, the probe comprising: a transmission guide having a first end and a second end; a probe tip situated proximate to the first end of the transmission guide; a resonant circuit comprising at least an inductor and a capacitor that collectively provide inductive, capacitive and resistive characteristics, wherein the resonant circuit is situated substantially at the probe tip and is electrically connected to the transmission guide at the first end, and wherein at least a portion of a total capacitance of the resonant circuit is attributable to a capacitance of the probe in electrical combination with a sample via the probe tip; and a signal generator that injects a signal into the second end of the transmission guide; and a signal analyzer that analyzes the signal at the second end of the transmission guide to determine the capacitance of the electrical combination of the probe tip and the sample based on a reflection of the signal from the first end of the transmission guide.