Patent ID: 8156568
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: B82Y,G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for generating a three dimensional profile of a scanned sample surface comprising: using a cantilever disposed on a first side of a free end and adapted to be brought into contact with a sample surface; generating relative scanning movement between the cantilever and the sample surface with an X-Y scanner; using a displacement meter, wherein said displacement meter is a triangulation displacement meter, comprising: a light source for illuminating the cantilever, an optical lens for focusing the reflected light onto a light sensitive element, and a light sensitive element; calculating an algorithm which uses the angles formed from the incident and reflected light onto the cantilever along with the output of the displacement meter; correlating the output of said algorithm to the out-of-plane (Z axis) movement of the cantilever; and correlating the out-of-plane (Z axis) movement of the cantilever to the in-plane (X-Y axis) position of the cantilever, wherein the correlation corresponds to the topography of the sample.