Patents by Inventor Dorothea W. Wiesmann Rothuizen

Dorothea W. Wiesmann Rothuizen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8373431
    Abstract: A data storage device comprises a storage medium for storing data in the form of marks and at least one probe for scanning the storage medium. The storage medium may be comprised in a substrate. The probe comprises a cantilever that comprises terminals serving as electrical contacts an being during operation of the probe mechanically fixed to a probe-holding structure, which may be a common frame of the data storage device. A probe further comprises a supporting structure, to which the terminals are mechanically directly coupled or coupled via hinges and which extends away from the terminals. A tip with a nanoscale apex is provided. A beam structure comprises a heating resistor and is attached at ends to the supporting structure. The beam structure is thinned at least in a direction parallel to an axis of the tip compared to an area of the supporting structure abutting the beam structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Albrecht, Michel Despont, Urs T. Duerig, Mark Lantz, Hugo E. Rothuizen, Dorothea W. Wiesmann Rothuizen
  • Publication number: 20100116038
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the topography of an object. A micro-cantilever with a scanning tip is provided. The micro-cantilever includes a thermal sensor. A biased voltage is applied across the thermal sensor. A resistance change of the thermal sensor is then identified. The bias voltage is then modulated, based on the resistance change to enhance the bandwidth and the sensitivity of the thermal sensor. Responsive to the scanning tip traversing a topographical variation on an object, the thermal sensor is vertically displaced with respect to the object, which induces a temperature change of the thermal sensor. A subsequent electrical resistance change of the thermal sensor is then identified, the subsequent electrical resistance change corresponding to a subsequent temperature change. The position of the object relative to the thermal sensor is then identified based on a difference between the initial electrical resistance and the subsequent electrical resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Baechtold, Abu Sebastian, Dorothea W. Wiesmann Rothuizen
  • Patent number: 7482826
    Abstract: A data storage device comprises a storage medium for storing data in the form of marks and at least one probe for scanning the storage medium. The storage medium may be comprised in a substrate. The probe comprises a cantilever that comprises terminals serving as electrical contacts an being during operation of the probe mechanically fixed to a probe-holding structure, which may be a common frame of the data storage device. A probe further comprises a supporting structure, to which the terminals are mechanically directly coupled or coupled via hinges and which extends away from the terminals. A tip with a nanoscale apex is provided. A beam structure comprises a heating resistor and is attached at ends to the supporting structure. The beam structure is thinned at least in a direction parallel to an axis of the tip compared to an area of the supporting structure abutting the beam structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Albrecht, Michel Despont, Urs T. Duerig, Mark Lantz, Hugo E. Rothuizen, Dorothea W. Wiesmann Rothuizen
  • Publication number: 20090003188
    Abstract: A data storage device comprises a storage medium for storing data in the form of marks and at least one probe for scanning the storage medium. The storage medium may be comprised in a substrate. The probe comprises a cantilever that comprises terminals serving as electrical contacts an being during operation of the probe mechanically fixed to a probe-holding structure, which may be a common frame of the data storage device. A probe further comprises a supporting structure, to which the terminals are mechanically directly coupled or coupled via hinges and which extends away from the terminals. A tip with a nanoscale apex is provided. A beam structure comprises a heating resistor and is attached at ends to the supporting structure. The beam structure is thinned at least in a direction parallel to an axis of the tip compared to an area of the supporting structure abutting the beam structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Albrecht, Michel Despont, Urs T. Duerig, Mark Lantz, Hugo Rothuizen, Dorothea W. Wiesmann Rothuizen