Patent ID: 7958566

Claim:
An atomic force microscope (AFM) probe, comprising: an elastically deformable frame having a fixed end and a movable end that are aligned in one axis, wherein the movable end is configured to move along the axis relative to the fixed end; an AFM tip connected to the movable end and movable toward and away from a test sample along the axis; and a stopper configured to limit or dampen the movement of the movable end toward the fixed end depending upon a relative position of the movable end to the fixed end, wherein the frame comprises a first arm and a second arm diverging from each other at a first position located on the axis and converging at a second position located on the axis, the first and second arms defining an opening therebetween, wherein the first arm comprises a first elastically deformable arm section extending from the first position, and a second elastically deformable arm section extending from the second position, the first and second arm sections meeting at a third position with a first angle therebetween, wherein the second arm comprises a third elastically deformable arm section extending from the first position, and a fourth elastically deformable arm section extending from the second position, the third and fourth arm sections meeting at a fourth position with a second angle therebetween, wherein the stopper is located within the opening.