Scanning probe microscope
Abstract
A scanning probe microscope comprises a cantilever (7) having a conductive probe (7a) positioned near a sample (1), an actuator (2) for moving the sample to and away the probe, a circuit (3) for applying a bias voltage between the probe and sample to produce a tunnel current therebetween, a circuit (8) for detecting the produced tunnel current, a circuit (9) for detecting the amount of displacement of the probe resultant from interatomic forces acting between atomics of the probe and sample, thereby producing signals, a circuit (11) for providing the actuator for feedback in response to the output signals from the circuit (9) to retain constant the distance between the probe and sample, thereby causing the actuator to move the sample, a circuit (14) for forming an STS image data from the detected tunnel current a circuit (15) for forming an STM image data from the detected tunnel current, and a circuit (11) for forming an AFM image data. Thus, the STS, STP and AFM images are separately obtained simultaneously.

Term
Term ended
Projected expiry passed 26 March 2011, 15.5 years ago.
- Priority
- Filed
- Published
- Projected expiry
- Today
1 sheet
Sheet 1
Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office | Category | Cited during |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0245660A2 | Cites | European Patent Office (EPO) | A | Search report |
| US4724318A | Cites | United States of America | AD | Search report |
| US4941753A | Cites | United States of America | XP | Search report |
| WO9010304A1 | Cites | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | XP | Search report |
3 priority claims, no other members on record
Priority claims3
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7956790 | Japan | – | |
| 7956790 | Japan | A | |
| JP19900079567 | – | – | – |
25 legal events, as 2 offices reported them to INPADOC
Over the term
Point at a mark for the eventEvents
| Event | Code | Office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]GrantedPGFP | PGFP | EP | |
| No opposition filedOpposition26N | 26N | EP | |
| Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal feeCeasedGBPC | GBPC | EP | |
| No opposition filed within time limitOppositionORIGINAL CODE: 0009261PLBE | PLBE | EP | |
| Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patentGrantedSTATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMITSTAA | STAA | EP | |
| Patent ceasedCeasedPL | PL | CH | |
| Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents actLapsedNLV1 | NLV1 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Corresponds to:REF | REF | EP | |
| European patent takes effect as a national patent in ch/liEP | EP | CH | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]LapsedPG25 | PG25 | EP | |
| (expected) grantORIGINAL CODE: 0009210GRAA | GRAA | EP | |
| Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patentORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRAGRAH | GRAH | EP | |
| Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patentORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRAGRAH | GRAH | EP | |
| Despatch of communication of intention to grantORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRAGRAG | GRAG | EP | |
| First examination report despatched17Q | 17Q | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| Request for examination filed17P | 17P | EP | |
| Designated contracting statesAK | AK | EP | |
| Search report despatchedORIGINAL CODE: 0009013PUAL | PUAL | EP | |
| Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phaseORIGINAL CODE: 0009012PUAI | PUAI | EP |
Numbers
- Publication
- 0449221
- Publication, DOCDB
- 0449221
- Publication, EPODOC
- EP0449221
- Application
- 104794
- Application, DOCDB
- 91104794
- Application, EPODOC
- EP19910104794
Titles3
- English
- Scanning probe microscope
- German
- Rastertunnelmikroskop
- French
- Microscope à éffet tunnel
Classification
- CPC, 5
- G01Q10/065
- G01Q20/02
- G01Q60/04
- G01Q60/12
- G01Q60/14
- IPC, 5
- G01N27 00
- G01Q10 06
- G01Q20 02
- G01Q60 10
- G01Q60 24
Designated states5
- Contracting states, 5
- Switzerland
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Liechtenstein
- Netherlands (Kingdom of the)