Patents Assigned to Oxford Instruments PLC
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Patent number: 10107832Abstract: A controller for cantilever-based instruments, including atomic force microscopes, molecular force probe instruments, high-resolution profilometers and chemical or biological sensing probes. The controller samples the output of the photo-detector commonly used to detect cantilever deflection in these instruments with a very fast analog/digital converter (ADC). The resulting digitized representation of the output signal is then processed with field programmable gate arrays and digital signal processors without making use of analog electronics. Analog signal processing is inherently noisy while digital calculations are inherently “perfect” in that they do not add any random noise to the measured signal. Processing by field programmable gate arrays and digital signal processors maximizes the flexibility of the controller because it can be varied through programming means, without modification of the controller hardware.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Oxford Instruments PLCInventors: Roger Proksch, Jason Cleveland, Dan Bocek, Todd Day, Mario Viani, Clint Callahan
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Patent number: 9689890Abstract: A controller for cantilever-based instruments, including atomic force microscopes, molecular force probe instruments, high-resolution profilometers and chemical or biological sensing probes. The controller samples the output of the photo-detector commonly used to detect cantilever deflection in these instruments with a very fast analog/digital converter (ADC). The resulting digitized representation of the output signal is then processed with field programmable gate arrays and digital signal processors without making use of analog electronics. Analog signal processing is inherently noisy while digital calculations are inherently “perfect” in that they do not add any random noise to the measured signal. Processing by field programmable gate arrays and digital signal processors maximizes the flexibility of the controller because it can be varied through programming means, without modification of the controller hardware.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM, IncInventors: Roger Proksch, Jason Cleveland, Dan Bocek, Todd Day, Mario Viani, Clint Callahan
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Patent number: 9528859Abstract: Techniques for coupling with devices that convert displacements into differential voltages and improve the sensitivity of such devices. A transducer operates based on changes of inductances between primary and secondary of a transformer to produce a differential signal that includes a noninverted signal and an inverted signal. A switch receives the noninverted signal and the inverted signal. A processor creates a square wave signal for driving the transducer input, and also digitally creates an inverted transducer output. A filter operates to filter the square wave output from the processor to produce a substantially single frequency signal at a specified timing having a specified phase relationship relative to the first phase inversion signal based on instructions that are executed by the processor.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignees: Oxford Instruments AFM Inc, Oxford Instruments PLCInventor: Dan Bocek
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Patent number: 9366693Abstract: Systems and techniques for varying a scan rate in a measurement instrument. The techniques may be used in scanning probe instruments, including atomic force microscopes (AFMs) and other scanning probe microscopes, as well as profilometers and confocal optical microscopes. This allows the selective imaging of particular regions of a sample surface for accurate measurement of critical dimensions within a relatively small data acquisition time.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM IncInventors: Roger B Proksch, Roger C Callahan
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Patent number: 9069007Abstract: An apparatus and technique for extracting information carried in higher eigenmodes or harmonics of an oscillating cantilever or other oscillating sensors in atomic force microscopy and related MEMs work is described.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM IncInventor: Roger B. Proksch
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Patent number: 9063042Abstract: A new type of indenter is described. This device combines certain sensing and structural elements of atomic force microscopy with a module designed for the use of indentation probes, conventional diamond and otherwise, as well as unconventional designs, to produce high resolution and otherwise superior indentation measurements.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM IncInventors: Flavio Alejandro Bonilla, Roger Proksch, Jason Cleveland, Tim Sauter
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Patent number: 9024623Abstract: Techniques for coupling with devices that convert displacements into differential voltages and improvement of the sensitivity of such devices. A transducer operates based on changes of inductances between primary and secondary of a transformer to produce a differential signal that includes a noninverted signal and an inverted signal. A switch receives the noninverted signal and the inverted signal. A processor creates a square wave signal for driving the transducer input, and also digitally creates an inverted transducer output. A filter operates to filter the square wave output from the processor to produce a substantially single frequency signal at a specified timing having a specified phase relationship relative to the first phase inversion signal based on instructions that are executed by the processor.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM, IncInventors: Dan Bocek, Roger Proksch
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Publication number: 20150026846Abstract: Systems and techniques for varying a scan rate in a measurement instrument. The techniques may be used in scanning probe instruments, including atomic force microscopes (AFMs) and other scanning probe microscopes, as well as profilometers and confocal optical microscopes. This allows the selective imaging of particular regions of a sample surface for accurate measurement of critical dimensions within a relatively small data acquisition time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicants: OXFORD INSTRUMENTS AFM INC., OXFORD INSTRUMENTS PLCInventors: Roger B. Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
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Patent number: 8925376Abstract: A controller for cantilever-based instruments, including atomic force microscopes, molecular force probe instruments, high-resolution profilometers and chemical or biological sensing probes. The controller samples the output of the photo-detector commonly used to detect cantilever deflection in these instruments with a very fast analog/digital converter (ADC). The resulting digitized representation of the output signal is then processed with field programmable gate arrays and digital signal processors without making use of analog electronics. Analog signal processing is inherently noisy while digital calculations are inherently “perfect” in that they do not add any random noise to the measured signal. Processing by field programmable gate arrays and digital signal processors maximizes the flexibility of the controller because it can be varied through programming means, without modification of the controller hardware.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM, IncInventors: Roger Proksch, Jason Cleveland, Dan Bocek, Todd Day, Mario B. Viani, Clint Callahan
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Patent number: 8677809Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for extracting information carried in higher eigenmodes or harmonics of an oscillating cantilever or other oscillating sensors in atomic force microscopy and related MEMs work are described. Similar apparatus and techniques for extracting information from piezoelectric, polymer and other materials using contact resonance with multiple excitation signals are also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM, IncInventors: Roger Proksch, Anil Gannepalli
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Publication number: 20140041084Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for extracting information carried in higher eigenmodes or harmonics of an oscillating cantilever or other oscillating sensors in atomic force microscopy and related MEMs work are described. Similar apparatus and techniques for extracting information using contact resonance with multiple excitation signals are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicants: Oxford Instruments AFM, Inc, Oxford Instruments PLCInventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
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Publication number: 20130314078Abstract: A single housing with a non-ferromagnetic piezo-driven flexure has primary and secondary coil forms of different diameters, one coaxially inside the other, integrated in the flexure. The cylinders defining the planes of the primary and secondaries do not spatially overlap. The secondary coil forms may be wound in opposite directions and wired to provide a transformer device. Movement of the primary relative to the secondaries in the direction of the central axis of the coils can be differentially detected with high precision.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicants: OXFORD INSTRUMENTS AFM INC, OXFORD INSTRUMENTS PLCInventors: Roger Proksch, Dan Bocek, Jason Cleveland, Matthew Longmire, Matthew Klonowski
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Patent number: 8502525Abstract: A single housing with a non-ferromagnetic piezo-driven flexure has primary and secondary coil forms of different diameters, one coaxially inside the other, integrated in the flexure. The cylinders defining the planes of the primary and secondaries do not spatially overlap. The secondary coil forms may be wound in opposite directions and wired to provide a transformer device. Movement of the primary relative to the secondaries in the direction of the central axis of the coils can be differentially detected with high precision.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM, IncInventors: Roger Proksch, Dan Bocek, Jason Cleveland, Matthew Longmire, Matthew Klonowski
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Patent number: 8489356Abstract: Systems and techniques for varying a scan rate in a measurement instrument. The techniques may be used in scanning probe instruments, including atomic force microscopes (AFMs) and other scanning probe microscopes, as well as profilometers and confocal optical microscopes. This allows the selective imaging of particular regions of a sample surface for accurate measurement of critical dimensions within a relatively small data acquisition time.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignees: Oxford Instruments, PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM, Inc.Inventors: Roger B. Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
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Patent number: 8459102Abstract: A digital system for controlling the quality factor in a resonant device. The resonant device can be a a device that includes a cantilever within its system, such as an atomic force microscope. The quality factor can be digitally controlled to avoid noise effect in the analog components. A direct digital synthesizer implemented in a way that provides access to the output of the phase accumulator. That output is a number which usually drives a lookup table to produce a cosine or sine output wave. The output wave is created, but the number is also adjusted to form a second number that drives a second lookup table to create an adjustment factor to adjust the output from the cosine table. The adjusted digital signal than drives a DA converter which produces an output drive for the cantilever.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2011Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM Inc.Inventors: Dan Bocek, Jason Cleveland
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Patent number: 8448501Abstract: An apparatus and technique for extracting information carried in higher eigenmodes or harmonics of an oscillating cantilever or other oscillating sensors in atomic force microscopy and related MEMs work is described.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2009Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM Inc.Inventor: Roger B Proksch
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Patent number: 7479860Abstract: A magnetic field generating assembly comprising a set (A1-A3;B1-B3;C1-C3) of, typically substantially coaxial, coils substantially symmetrically arranged about a plane orthogonal to the axis. At least some of the coils carry working currents in the opposite sense to the other coils The arrangement of turns and working currents carried by the coils is such that a first working volume (10) with a substantially homogeneous magnetic field is generated within the envelope defined by the assembly, and two second working volumes (11) each with a substantially homogeneous magnetic field are generated outside the envelope, the homogeneity of each of the first and second working volumes being sufficient to perform a NMR experiment on a sample in the working volume.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Oxford Instruments PLCInventors: Ian Leitch McDougall, Robert Andrew Slade, Peter Hanley, Robert Carter Hawkes
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Patent number: 7394255Abstract: Magnetic resonance apparatus is provided comprising a magnet having a plurality of pairs of coils arranged in respective substantially parallel planes. The coils in each pair are operable in a counter-running manner when in use so as to generate a region of magnetic field spaced apart from said planes, having sufficient uniformity to enable magnetic resonance signals to be obtained from a target within the region. The magnetic field has a magnetic field direction Z lying substantially parallel to said planes and each of the coils is elongate in a direction X substantially parallel to said planes.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2005Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Oxford Instruments PLCInventors: Ian Leitch McDougall, Peter Hanley
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Patent number: 7355499Abstract: A magnet assembly comprising first and second sets of coils (1, 2) for generating respective magnetic fields, wherein the coils are constructed and arranged such that under working conditions, a first homogeneous region (3) can be generated within the envelope defined by the magnet 10 assembly and a second homogeneous region (4) can be generated outside the envelope, the resultant magnetic field in each region being sufficiently homogeneous to enable a NMR process to be performed on an object in the region.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Oxford Instruments PLCInventors: Ian Leitch McDougall, Robert Andrew Slade, Peter Hanley
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Publication number: 20070273380Abstract: Magnetic resonance apparatus is provided comprising a magnet having a plurality of pairs of coils arranged in respective substantially parallel planes. The coils in each pair are operable in a counter-running manner when in use so as to generate a region of magnetic field spaced apart from said planes, having sufficient uniformity to enable magnetic resonance signals to be obtained from a target within the region. The magnetic field has a magnetic field direction Z lying substantially parallel to said planes and each of the coils is elongate in a direction X substantially parallel to said planes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2005Publication date: November 29, 2007Applicant: OXFORD INSTRUMENTS PLCInventors: Ian McDougall, Peter Hanley