Abstract: A method for producing a durable, non-stick, diamond-tiled implement and the diamond-tiled implement thereby produced. Diamond particles are distributed on a surface of a workpiece containing a ceramic binder. The ceramic binder on the surface of the workpiece is heated to above its glass temperature to fuse the diamond particles in and onto the workpiece. The workpiece is then cooled so that the diamond particles are bonded to and at least partially embedded in the ceramic binder at the surface of the workpiece to produce durable, non-stick, diamond-tiled implements including cookware, bakeware, hot-presses, ski surfaces, skid surfaces, marine articles, and mechanical polishing wheels. Other implements of this invention utilize a high diamond content to produce thermally conducting and electrically insulating coatings for heat spreaders, or conversely, heaters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus associated with an atomic force microscope (AFM) to more accurately measure the height of a microscopic feature in a substrate, particularly one having a sloping face. The probe tip is sequentially positioned at a number of vertical positions approaching the surface being probed. At each vertical position, a vertical force encountered by the probe tip is measured, and the measured force is stored in a memory together with its corresponding vertical position. When the measured force exceeds a threshold force, the downward movement is stopped, and the accumulated force and position data are analyzed. A controller fits the data to two curves, for example, two linear relationships in force vs. height. One curve is associated with the lower forces away from the surface, the other curve with the higher forces after initial engagement with the surface. The intersection of the two curves gives the height of the feature in the surface.

Abstract: An electron energy analyzer uses identical sectors, typically though not necessarily ninety degree segments of a toroid, disposed in complementary relationship with an aperture therebetween to provide a mapping of the image at the entrance plane to the exit plane while permitting the desired energy analysis to be performed.