Patent ID: 8869310
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: B82Y,G01Q

Abstract:
1. An atomic force microscope comprising: a base; a bridge structure coupled to and supported by the base, the bridge structure substantially free of Invar®; a z-axis actuator coupled to the bridge structure; a head assembly coupled to the z-axis actuator, the head assembly including an atomic force probe; a platform for supporting a sample to be scanned generally below the head assembly; a heating element coupled to the bridge structure; a temperature sensor operative to measure a temperature of the bridge structure; a thermal controller operative to receive signals from the temperature sensor containing information regarding the temperature of the bridge structure, and further operative to control the heating element to heat the bridge structure to maintain the temperature of the bridge structure at a relatively constant temperature during scanning of the sample; and further comprising another heating element coupled to the z-axis actuator and another temperature sensor operative to measure a temperature of the z-axis actuator, and wherein the thermal controller is further operative to receive signals from the second mentioned temperature sensor regarding the temperature of the z-axis actuator and operative to control the second mentioned heating element to heat the z-axis actuator to maintain the temperature of the z-axis actuator at a relative constant temperature during scanning of the sample.