Patents by Inventor Roger B Proksch

Roger B Proksch 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: 10557865
    Abstract: The imaging mode presented here combines the features and benefits of amplitude modulated (AM) atomic force microscopy (AFM), sometimes called AC mode AFM, with frequency modulated (FM) AFM. In AM-FM imaging, the topographic feedback from the first resonant drive frequency operates in AM mode while the second resonant drive frequency operates in FM mode and is adjusted to keep the phase at 90 degrees, on resonance. With this approach, frequency feedback on the second resonant mode and topographic feedback on the first are decoupled, allowing much more stable, robust operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments Asylum Research, Inc
    Inventors: Roger B Proksch, Jason Bemis
  • Publication number: 20170299628
    Abstract: The imaging mode presented here combines the features and benefits of amplitude modulated (AM) atomic force microscopy (AFM), sometimes called AC mode AFM, with frequency modulated (FM) AFM. In AM-FM imaging, the topographic feedback from the first resonant drive frequency operates in AM mode while the second resonant drive frequency operates in FM mode and is adjusted to keep the phase at 90 degrees, on resonance. With this approach, frequency feedback on the second resonant mode and topographic feedback on the first are decoupled, allowing much more stable, robust operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Roger B. Proksch, Jason Bemis
  • Patent number: 9696342
    Abstract: The imaging mode presented here combines the features and benefits of amplitude modulated (AM) atomic force microscopy (AFM), sometimes called AC mode AFM, with frequency modulated (FM) AFM. In AM-FM imaging, the topographic feedback from the first resonant drive frequency operates in AM mode while the second resonant drive frequency operates in FM mode and is adjusted to keep the phase at 90 degrees, on resonance. With this approach, frequency feedback on the second resonant mode and topographic feedback on the first are decoupled, allowing much more stable, robust operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments AFM Inc.
    Inventors: Roger B Proksch, Jason Bemis
  • Publication number: 20160282384
    Abstract: The imaging mode presented here combines the features and benefits of amplitude modulated (AM) atomic force microscopy (AFM), sometimes called AC mode AFM, with frequency modulated (FM) AFM. In AM-FM imaging, the topographic feedback from the first resonant drive frequency operates in AM mode while the second resonant drive frequency operates in FM mode and is adjusted to keep the phase at 90 degrees, on resonance. With this approach, frequency feedback on the second resonant mode and topographic feedback on the first are decoupled, allowing much more stable, robust operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Roger B Proksch, Jason Bemis
  • Patent number: 9366693
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM Inc
    Inventors: Roger B Proksch, Roger C Callahan
  • Patent number: 9297827
    Abstract: The imaging mode presented here combines the features and benefits of amplitude modulated (AM) atomic force microscopy (AFM), sometimes called AC mode AFM, with frequency modulated (FM) AFM. In AM-FM imaging, the topographic feedback from the first resonant drive frequency operates in AM mode while the second resonant drive frequency operates in FM mode and is adjusted to keep the phase at 90 degrees, on resonance. With this approach, frequency feedback on the second resonant mode and topographic feedback on the first are decoupled, allowing much more stable, robust operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventors: Roger B. Proksch, Jason Bemis
  • Publication number: 20150377920
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Roger B. Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • Patent number: 9069007
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM Inc
    Inventor: Roger B. Proksch
  • Publication number: 20150026846
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicants: OXFORD INSTRUMENTS AFM INC., OXFORD INSTRUMENTS PLC
    Inventors: Roger B. Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • Publication number: 20130340126
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: ASYLUM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Roger B. Proksch
  • Patent number: 8489356
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Oxford Instruments, PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger B. Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • Patent number: 8448501
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: Oxford Instruments PLC, Oxford Instruments AFM Inc.
    Inventor: Roger B Proksch
  • Publication number: 20110219479
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: ASYLUM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger B. Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • Patent number: 7941286
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Asylum Research Corporation
    Inventors: Roger B. Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • Publication number: 20100043107
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: ASYLUM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Roger B. Proksch
  • Patent number: 7603891
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Asylum Research Corporation
    Inventor: Roger B. Proksch
  • Publication number: 20070245815
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventor: Roger B. Proksch
  • Publication number: 20070176101
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Roger B. Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • Patent number: 6612160
    Abstract: An improved metrology apparatus, such as a scanning probe microscope (SPM), has an actuator that controls motion in three orthogonal directions when it is selectively and electrically stimulated. The X-Y section of the actuator, preferably a piezoelectric actuator, controls motion in the X and Y-directions and the Z-section of the actuator controls motion in the Z-direction. A flexure is attached to the actuator and is mounted on a reference structure to prevent unwanted X and Y-motion by the Z-section of the actuator from moving a probe attached to the flexure. Preferably, two mirrors are mounted on the flexure. In operation of the SPM, a light beam is directed towards these mirrors. When the flexure moves in the Z-direction, one of the mirrors is deflected and causes the reflected light to move across a detector, generating a signal representative of a change in the Z-position of the flexure and the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: James R Massie, Roger B Proksch
  • Publication number: 20020124636
    Abstract: An improved metrology apparatus, such as a scanning probe microscope (SPM), has an actuator that controls motion in three orthogonal directions when it is selectively and electrically stimulated. The X-Y section of the actuator, preferably a piezoelectric actuator, controls motion in the X and Y directions and the Z section of the actuator controls motion in the Z direction. A flexure is attached to the actuator and is mounted on a reference structure to prevent unwanted X and Y motion by the Z section of the actuator from moving a probe attached to the flexure. Preferably, two mirrors are mounted on the flexure. In operation of the SPM, a light beam is directed towards these mirrors. When the flexure moves in the Z direction, one of the mirrors is deflected and causes the reflected light to move across a detector, generating a signal representative of a change in the Z position of the flexure and the probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Massie, Roger B. Proksch