Patent ID: 6032518
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B82Y,G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
An atomic force microscope, comprising;a scanning mechanism;an optical lever system including,a light source not moved by said scanning mechanism,a cantilever moved by said scanning mechanism so that said cantilever may be scanned over a sample, anda position detector not moved by said scanning mechanism which receives reflected light from said cantilever and detects an angular deflection of a free end of said cantilever;an optical assembly to guide light emitted from said light source onto the cantilever to follow substantially a fixed position on said cantilever during movement of said scanning mechanism; andan element having a light-transparent region, connected to and translated by said scanning mechanism, said element having an upper surface and a lower surface transmissive to light from said light source, said upper surface being out of contact with fluid, if any, on a sample to be scanned by said atomic force microscope, and said lower surface being exposed to contact with fluid, if any, on said sample.