Patent ID: 6272907
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: G01B,G01Q,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A micromachined topographic head adapted for use in sensing topography of a surface, the topographic head comprising:a frame from which inwardly project opposing torsion bars that are aligned along a common axis and that support a central paddle within said frame; said frame, torsion bars and central paddle all being monolithically fabricated from a semiconductor single-crystal silicon layer of a silicon substrate which has both a [100] crystallographic direction and a [110] crystallographic direction; said central paddle being supported within said frame for rotation about the common axis of said torsion bars, having a center, defining a rest plane if no external force is applied to said central paddle, and being rotatable about the common axis of said torsion bars to a rotational-position displaced from the rest plane by a force applied to said central paddle; said central paddle including a tip that projects outward from said central paddle distal from said torsion bars, the tip being adapted for juxtaposition with a surface for sensing the topography thereof;drive means for urging to said central paddle to rotate about the common axis of said torsion bars; androtational-position sensing means, that is located in at least one of said torsion bars and is oriented along the [110] crystallographic direction in an n-type silicon region in the torsion bar, for measuring the rotational-position of said central paddle about the common axis of said torsion bars.