Patent ID: 6249747
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: B82Y,G01N,G01Q,G11B,Y10S

Abstract:
Investigation and manipulation device for a sample, said sample consisting of a material which is locally deformed when subjected to a local heat treatment, said device comprising:an investigation and manipulation tool movably supported by a cantilever, andpositioning means for positioning said cantilever and thereby said tool relatively to said sample,characterized bypower supply means for supplying electric power to said tool, said tool and said cantilever having such a structure and/or being respectively made of such materials that the supplied power is heating substantially only said tool, andsensing means adapted to supply a low amount of power to said tool, said low amount of power being insufficient to locally deform said sample, said sensing means detecting a variation in temperature of said tool as being indicative of the surface structure of said sample, andmanipulation means adapted to supply a high amount of power to said tool, said high amount of power heating said tool to a temperature which is sufficient to deform the sample surface region being presently effected by said tool,said cantilever, in a predetermined small distance to said tool, comprising a cooling region of relatively high heat conductivity so as to provide means for fast cooling said tool.