Patent ID: 6734438
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: B82Y,G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A combined scanning probe and optical microscope comprising:a sample stage defining an upper surface and a lower surface; a scanning probe microscope configured to examine a surface of a sample supported by said upper surface of said sample stage from above said sample stage; an optical microscope configured to examine a sample supported by said upper surface of said sample stage from below said sample stage; a microscope coupling mechanically coupling elements of said scanning probe microscope to elements of said optical microscope; and a sample stage support configured to isolate said sample stage from said optical microscope, wherein said sample stage, said scanning probe microscope, and said sample stage support define relatively high frequency mechanical resonances, said optical microscope defines relatively low frequency mechanical resonances, and said microscope coupling, said sample stage, and said sample stage support are arranged to inhibit differential motion between said sample stage and said scanning probe microscope in the event of low frequency vibrations in said optical microscope.