Patents by Inventor Dorothy Erie

Dorothy Erie 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: 9395388
    Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for dual resonance frequency enhanced electrostatic force microscopy. One method includes applying an alternating current (AC) bias and a direct current (DC) bias to an atomic force microscopy cantilever, wherein the AC bias has a frequency greater than a fundamental resonance frequency of the cantilever. The method further includes mechanically vibrating the cantilever at a frequency different from the frequency of the AC bias. The method further includes physically and electrostatically scanning a sample in the same pass using the cantilever while vibrating the cantilever and applying the AC and DC biases to the cantilever, and generating a topology image of the sample from the physical scanning and an electrostatic image of charged material under or on a surface of the sample from the electrostatic scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Dong Wu, Dorothy Erie
  • Publication number: 20150241470
    Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for dual resonance frequency enhanced electrostatic force microscopy. One method includes applying an alternating current (AC) bias and a direct current (DC) bias to an atomic force microscopy cantilever, wherein the AC bias has a frequency greater than a fundamental resonance frequency of the cantilever. The method further includes mechanically vibrating the cantilever at a frequency different from the frequency of the AC bias. The method further includes physically and electrostatically scanning a sample in the same pass using the cantilever while vibrating the cantilever and applying the AC and DC biases to the cantilever, and generating a topology image of the sample from the physical scanning and an electrostatic image of charged material under or on a surface of the sample from the electrostatic scanning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Dong Wu, Dorothy Erie
  • Patent number: 6330824
    Abstract: A method of imaging a sample present in a solution by employing an atomic force microscope comprises providing an atomic force microscope having a cantilever that is under the solution, contacting the cantilever with energy to cause the cantilever to bend and vibrate, and detecting the amplitude of vibration of the cantilever from the energy. The cantilever has at least one coating present thereon to absorb energy such that the cantilever bends and vibrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Dorothy A. Erie, Glenn Ratcliff, Richard Superfine