Patent ID: 8074291
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: G01Q

Abstract:
1. A scanning probe microscope comprising: a probe mount adapted to receive a probe having a tip that moves in response to an interaction between said tip and a local characteristic of a sample, said probe being mounted on a cantilever arm; an actuator that moves said probe tip relative to said sample in three directions, said actuator executing a repetitive motion, characterized by a repetitive motion frequency, in one of said directions, and causing a relative change in position between said sample and said probe tip in a second one of said directions; a probe position signal generator that generates a probe position signal indicative of a position of said probe tip relative to said cantilever arm; a probe signal correction generator that generates a corrected probe position signal by correcting said probe position signal for errors introduced by said repetitive motion; and a controller that maintains said probe tip in a fixed relationship with respect to said sample in said second one of said dimensions based on said corrected probe position signal.