Patents by Inventor Roger C. Callahan

Roger C. Callahan 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: 9921242
    Abstract: Improvements for rapidly calibrating and automatically operating a scanning probe microscope are disclosed. A central component of the SPM is the force transducer, typically a consumable cantilever element. By automatically calibrating transducer characteristics along with other instrumental parameters, scanning parameters can be rapidly and easily optimized, resulting in high-throughput, repeatable and accurate measurements. In contrast to dynamic optimization schemes, this can be accomplished before the surface is contacted, avoiding tip or sample damage from the beginning of the measurement process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: OXFORD INSTRUMENTS ASYLUM RESEARCH INC
    Inventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan, Frank Stetter, Ted Limpoco, Sophia Hohlbauch, Jason Bemis, Jason Cleveland, Nicholas Geiss
  • Publication number: 20160313369
    Abstract: Improvements for rapidly calibrating and automatically operating a scanning probe microscope are disclosed. A central component of the SPM is the force transducer, typically a consumable cantilever element. By automatically calibrating transducer characteristics along with other instrumental parameters, scanning parameters can be rapidly and easily optimized, resulting in high-throughput, repeatable and accurate measurements. In contrast to dynamic optimization schemes, this can be accomplished before the surface is contacted, avoiding tip or sample damage from the beginning of the measurement process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan, Frank Stetter, Ted Limpoco, Sophia Hohlbauch, Jason Bemis, Jason Cleveland
  • Patent number: 9383388
    Abstract: Improvements for rapidly calibrating and automatically operating a scanning probe microscope are disclosed. A central component of the SPM is the force transducer, typically a consumable cantilever element. By automatically calibrating transducer characteristics along with other instrumental parameters, scanning parameters can be rapidly and easily optimized, resulting in high-throughput, repeatable and accurate measurements. In contrast to dynamic optimization schemes, this can be accomplished before the surface is contacted, avoiding tip or sample damage from the beginning of the measurement process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments Asylum Research, Inc
    Inventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan, Frank Stetter, Ted Limpoco, Sophia Hohlbach, Jason Bemis, Jason Cleveland
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150301080
    Abstract: Improvements for rapidly calibrating and automatically operating a scanning probe microscope are disclosed. A central component of the SPM is the force transducer, typically a consumable cantilever element. By automatically calibrating transducer characteristics along with other instrumental parameters, scanning parameters can be rapidly and easily optimized, resulting in high-throughput, repeatable and accurate measurements. In contrast to dynamic optimization schemes, this can be accomplished before the surface is contacted, avoiding tip or sample damage from the beginning of the measurement process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan, Frank Stetter, Ted Limpoco, Sophia Hohlbach, Jason Bemis, Jason Cleveland
  • 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: 20140041084
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicants: Oxford Instruments AFM, Inc, Oxford Instruments PLC
    Inventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • Patent number: 8555711
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Asylum Research Corporation
    Inventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120079631
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: ASYLUM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • Patent number: 8024963
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Asylum Research Corporation
    Inventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • 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: 20090013770
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Roger Proksch, Roger C. Callahan
  • 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