Patent ID: 6437328
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: B82Y,G01N,G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
An atomic force microscope for imaging a surface of a sample at a selected pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, comprising:a base chamber for containing a pressurized gas at the selected pressure; a sample cell operably connected to the base chamber and having a chamber for containing a pressurized fluid at the selected pressure; said sample cell comprising an inlet port and an outlet port for introducing and discharging the pressurized fluid from the sample cell chamber, a flow controller to control a flow of the pressurized fluid through the sample cell, a membrane separating the sample cell chamber and the base chamber; a sample mount for mounting the sample in the sample cell; a probe for tracing the surface of the sample, a fluid cell situated between the sample cell and the base chamber, the fluid cell having a chamber for containing a pressurized fluid at the selected pressure; and a second membrane separating the fluid cell chamber and the base chamber.