Electrostatic Force Probe Patents (Class 977/864)
  • Patent number: 8986626
    Abstract: The invention relates to a probe arrangement (10g) for exchanging in a controllable way liquids with micro-sized samples of material like biological cells, especially in connection with an scanning probe microscope, said probe arrangement (10g) comprising a probe holder (11) with at least one embedded first channel (18) and a cantilever (12) with at least one embedded second channel (15) and being provided to be attached to said probe holder (11) in a way that at least one aperture (19) of the first channel (18) is connected to at least one aperture (17) of the second channel (15) in a way that permits the liquid-tight transfer of a liquid between said first and second channels (15, 18). A safe and easy use of the probe arrangement is achieved by having the cantilever (12) permanently attached to said probe holder (11) to form a prefabricated probe unit (10g).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ETH Zürich / ETH Transfer
    Inventors: Michael Gabi, Janos Vörös, Tomaso Zambelli, Pascal Behr
  • Patent number: 7420106
    Abstract: Characterizing dielectric surfaces by detecting electron tunneling. An apparatus includes an atomic force probe. A mechanical actuator is connected to the atomic force probe. A mechanical modulator is connected to the mechanical actuator. The mechanical modulator modulates the mechanical actuator and the atomic force probe at the resonant frequency of the atomic force probe. An electrical modulator is connected to the atomic force probe. A feedback sensing circuit is connected to the mechanical modulator to detect movement of the atomic force probe and provide information about the movement of the atomic force probe to the mechanical modulator allowing the mechanical modulator to modulate the atomic force probe at the resonant frequency of the atomic force probe as the resonant frequency of the atomic force probe changes. An FM detector is connected to the feedback circuit detects changes in the resonant frequency of the atomic force probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Clayton C. Williams, Ezra B. Bussmann
  • Patent number: 7402736
    Abstract: A probe of a scanning probe microscope having a sharp tip and an increased electric characteristic by fabricating a planar type of field effect transistor and manufacturing a conductive carbon nanotube on the planar type field effect transistor. To achieve this, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a probe having a field effect transistor channel structure including fabricating a field effect transistor, making preparations for growing a carbon nanotube at a top portion of a gate electrode of the field effect transistor, and generating the carbon nanotube at the top portion of the gate electrode of the field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: POSTECH Foundation
    Inventors: Wonkyu Moon, Geunbae Lim, Sang Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7312096
    Abstract: There is disclosed a nanotube sensor which essentially employs a straight or twisted nanotube deposited on a supporting surface, such as silicon, silicon dioxide and some other semiconductor or metal material. The nanotube is basically a graphite device which is now subjected to stress causing the electrical characteristics of the nanotube to change according to stress. The nanotube is then provided in a circuit, such as a Wheatstone Bridge or other circuit, and the circuit will produce an output signal proportional to the change in electrical characteristics of the nanotube according to the applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony D. Kurtz