Probe calibration

Abstract

The arrangement for calibrating probes comprises a source (10) of coherent photon radiation and at least one optically based strain sensor (12a) for measuring an amount of strain (ε). The at least one optically based strain sensor is optically coupled to said source of coherent photon radiation. The arrangement further comprises at least one calibration lever (14) having a surface for placement of a tip (21) of a probe (2) to be calibrated, and that is mechanically coupled to the at least one optically based strain sensor for converting a force (F) exerted by said tip at said surface into an amount of strain in the optically based strain sensor. The arrangement further comprises at least one probe holder (24) for holding the probe (2) to be calibrated, the at least one probe holder having a controllable position in at least a direction (y) transverse to the surface of the calibration lever (14). The arrangement further comprises a calibration control facility (46) for controlling said controllable position within a range of position values, and for determining a mechanical property of said probe from the measured amount of strain (ε) and a deflection (δC) of the tip (21) of the probe relative to the probe holder as a function of said position. The arrangement may be used as a stand-alone device or may be integrated in a device, such as an AFM-device. The arrangement may also be carried out as a batch-calibration device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.