Patent ID: 8196458
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: B82Y,G01N,G01Q

Abstract:
1. An assembly, comprising: a cantilever based instrument which includes an area that is adapted for connection to a cantilever, an actuator, and sensors for measuring displacement and force; and an indenter portion, including an indenter probe, said indenter portion being movable to move perpendicularly relative to a sample being measured, wherein said indenter probe is located in said area of said connection to said cantilever and that replaces said cantilever in said instrument, and uses the same actuator and sensors as said cantilever based instrument, wherein said indenter portion forms a module which is installed in the cantilever based instrument in place of a cantilever holder, wherein said indenter portion includes a monolithic three-dimensional flexure through which the indenter probe is moved by said actuator in a Z axis direction, which is a direction perpendicular to a plane of the flexure and perpendicular to the sample.