Once the initial three point alignment has been performed, there are several different modes of operation. One method is to visually scan the device by driving the microscope under motorized control. A list of the installed CAP probes is displayed. Upon selecting the desired CAP probe, the probe tip will lift up a user defined distance, and travel automatically into the microscope's field of view. The software has precision directional and speed controls for accurately positioning the probe tip into final contact.
Contact Sensing The contact sensing feature is driven by a PC peripheral card.
It works in both active and passive modes. In the passive mode, the tip is slightly charged. Dissipation of the charge into a conductor signals contact. A Picoprobe power supply is also built onto the board. The contact sensing feature also prevents the tip from lowering any further, once contact has been sensed.