Probe having nano-fingers
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorZhiyong Li
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A probe for use in a sensing application includes an elongate body having a first end and a free end, wherein the first end is to be attached to a support. The probe also includes a plurality of nano-fingers having respective bases and tips, wherein each of the plurality of nano-fingers is attached to the free end and is composed of a flexible material, and wherein the plurality of nano-fingers are collapsed toward each other such that the tips of the plurality of nano-fingers are substantially in contact with each other.
Claims15
A probe for use in a sensing application, said probe comprising:
- an elongate body having a first end and a free end, wherein the first end is to be attached to a support;
- and
- a plurality of nano-fingers having respective bases and tips, wherein each of the plurality of nano-fingers is attached to the free end and is composed of a flexible material, and wherein the plurality of nano-fingers are collapsed toward each other such that the tips of the plurality of nano-fingers are substantially in contact with each other.
An apparatus for use in a sensing application, said apparatus comprising:
- an actuator having a support;
- a probe having a first end and a free end, wherein the probe is cantilevered from the support at the first end, said probe having,
- a plurality of nano-fingers having respective bases and tips, wherein each of the plurality of nano-fingers is attached to the free end and is composed of a flexible material, and wherein the plurality of nano-fingers are collapsed toward each other such that the tips of the plurality of nano-fingers are substantially in contact with each other;
- and
- Raman-active material nano-particles attached to respective tips of the plurality of nano-fingers, wherein the Raman-active material nano-particles are substantially in contact with each other;
- an illumination source to illuminate the Raman-active material nano-particles;
- and
- a detector positioned to detect Raman scattered light emitted from a sample positioned in close proximity to the Raman-active material nano-particles.
A method of fabricating a probe for use in a sensing application, said method comprising:
- providing an elongate body having a free end;
- providing a plurality of nano-fingers on the free end of the elongate body, wherein each of the plurality of nano-fingers has a base and a tip, and wherein the plurality of nano-fingers are composed of a flexible material;
- forming Raman-active material nano-particles onto the tips of the plurality of nano-fingers;
- and
- causing the plurality of nano-fingers to collapse toward each other to cause respective tips of the plurality of nano-fingers to be substantially in contact with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.