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US 7,253,408 B2Granted
Environmental cell for a scanning probe microscope
OwnerPaul E. Westinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An environmental cell for use with a scanning probe microscope includes a cell chamber, a probe mounted to the cell chamber, a puck selectively connected to the cell chamber, a sample holder selectively inserted in the puck, and a translation mechanism coupled to the sample holder to move the sample holder. Gasses or liquids may be introduced to the environmental cell through channels formed in either the puck, sample holder, or cell chamber.
Claims33
An environmental cell for use with a scanning probe microscope, comprising:
- a cell chamber comprising a first support ring, a second support ring, and a bellows interconnecting the first and second support rings and forming a sealed coupling between the first and second support rings and further comprising an opening;
- a probe mounted to the cell chamber opposite the opening of the cell chamber;
- a puck selectively coupled to the cell chamber proximate the opening of the cell chamber;
- a sample holder selectively inserted in and movable with respect to the puck through the opening of the cell chamber when the puck is coupled to the cell chamber;
- a fluid-tight seal formed between the cell chamber and the sample holder when the sample holder is moved through the opening of the cell chamber;
- and
- a translation mechanism coupled to the sample holder to move the sample holder.
4 more elements
An environmental cell for use with a scanning probe microscope, comprising:
- a cell chamber comprising an opening;
- a probe mounted to the cell chamber opposite the opening of the cell chamber;
- a puck selectively coupled to the cell chamber proximate the opening of the cell chamber;
- a sample holder selectively inserted in and movable with respect to the puck through the opening of the cell chamber when the puck is coupled to the cell chamber;
- a fluid-tight seal formed between the cell chamber and the sample holder when the sample holder is moved through the opening of the cell chamber;
- and
- a translation mechanism coupled to the sample holder to move the sample holder;
- wherein the puck has an access channel and the translation mechanism has an inclined edge contacting the sample holder and inserted into the access channel to move the sample holder into the cell chamber.
5 more elements
A method for using an environmental cell with a scanning probe microscope, comprising the steps of:
- providing a cell chamber comprising a first support ring, a second support ring, and a bellows interconnecting the first and second support rings and forming a sealed coupling between the first and second support rings and further comprising an opening, a probe to be mounted to the cell chamber opposite the opening of the cell chamber, a puck selectively coupled to the cell chamber proximate the opening of the cell chamber, a sample holder selectively inserted in and movable with respect to the puck through the opening of the cell chamber when the puck is connected to the cell chamber, a fluid-tight seal formed between the cell chamber and the sample holder when the sample holder is moved through the opening of the cell chamber, and a translation mechanism to be coupled to the sample holder to move the sample holder;
- mounting the probe to the cell chamber;
- positioning a scanner over mechanical supports comprising the scanning probe microscope;
- placing the puck below the scanner;
- clamping the cell chamber to the puck;
- inserting the sample holder into the puck;
- and
- activating the translation mechanism to move the sample holder into the cell chamber.
5 more elements
An environmental cell for use as an option or accessory with a scanning probe microscope having a probe, comprising:
- a cell chamber selectively inserted into the scanning probe microscope, the cell chamber comprising a first support ring, a second support ring, and a bellows interconnecting the first and second support rings and forming a sealed coupling between the first and second support rings and further comprising an opening and the cell chamber being mounted to the scanning probe microscope so that the probe is opposite the opening of the cell chamber;
- a sample holder selectively positioned within the opening of the cell chamber for holding a sample;
- a fluid-tight seal formed between the cell chamber and the sample holder when the sample holder is moved through the opening of the cell chamber;
- and
- means for scanning the probe with respect to the sample.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.