Patent US4880975A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4880975A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fine adjustment mechanism for a scanning tunneling microscope

Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1988-08-09
•
Granted: 1989-11-14
•
Expires: 2008-08-09
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A fine adjustment mechanism for a scanning tunneling microscope includes a mounting member, a cylindrical piezoelectric element fixed to the mounting member at one end thereof, an electrode provided on each of the inner and outer walls of the piezoelectric element, a probe provided on the other end of the piezoelectric element in such a manner that it extends outward on the central axis of the piezoelectric element, an electrically conductive member provided on the central axis of the piezoelectric element, one end of the conductive member being electrically connected to the probe within the piezoelectric element and the other end thereof extending to the outside of the piezoelectric element through the side of the piezoelectric element at which it is fixed to the mounting member, and shielding member provided on the outer periphery of the conductive member for electrically shielding the conductive member.

Inventors

  • 👤 Tadashi Nishioka
  • 👤 Takao Yasue
  • 👤 Hiroshi Koyama

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 17:39
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01Q; G01Q60/00; G01Q60/10; G01Q60/16; G01Q10/00; G01Q10/04; G01Q70/00; G01Q70/02; G01Q70/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/849; Y10S977/86; Y10S977/861

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 151 words
A fine adjustment mechanism for use in a scanning tunneling microscope, comprising: a mounting member; a cylindrical piezoelectric element fixed to said mounting member at one end thereof; an electrode means provided on each of the inner and outer walls of said piezoelectric element; a probe provided on the other end of said piezoelectric element in such a manner that said probe extends outwardly on the central axis of said piezoelectric element; an electrically conductive member provided on the central axis of said piezoelectric element, one end of said conductive member being electrically connected to said probe within said piezoelectric element and the other end thereof extending to the outside of said piezoelectric element through the side of said piezoelectric element at which said piezoelectric element is fixed to said mounting member; and a shielding means provided on the outer periphery of said conductive means for electrically shielding said conductive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 151 words
A fine adjustment mechanism for use in a scanning tunneling microscope, comprising: a mounting member; a cylindrical piezoelectric element fixed to said mounting member at one end thereof; an electrode means provided on each of the inner and outer walls of said piezoelectric element; a probe provided on the other end of said piezoelectric element in such a manner that said probe extends outwardly on the central axis of said piezoelectric element; an electrically conductive member provided on the central axis of said piezoelectric element, one end of said conductive member being electrically connected to said probe within said piezoelectric element and the other end thereof extending to the outside of said piezoelectric element through the side of said piezoelectric element at which said piezoelectric element is fixed to said mounting member; and a shielding means provided on the outer periphery of said conductive means for electrically shielding said conductive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said shielding means comprises an insulator provided on the outer periphery of said conductor in such a manner as to surround said conductor, and an external conductor provided on the outer periphery of said insulator in such a manner as to surround said insulator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said external conductor is grounded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said conductive member comprises a conductor electrically connected to said probe at one end thereof, and a connector fixed to said mounting member and electrically connected to the other end of said conductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 53 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said shielding means comprises an insulator provided on the outer periphery of said conductor in such a manner as to surround said conductor, and an external conductor provided on the outer periphery of said insulator in such a manner as to surround said insulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said external conductor is grounded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said connector is a high-frequency coaxial connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a disk-shaped probe retaining member fitted to the other end of said piezoelectric element for retaining said probe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising a small tube inserted ina through-hole which is provided in said probe retaining member on the central axis of said piezoelectric element, said probe being inserted in said small tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said small tube is made of a conducdive material, and is electrically connected to said conductive member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said probe retaining member is provided with a vent hole which passes therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating film formed on the surface of said electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 58 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising ah internally fixed member being provided on the inner side of the end of said piezoelectric element at which said piezoelectric element is fixed to said mounting member in such a manner that said internally fixed member is fixed to both said piezoelectric element and said mounting member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 58 words
A fine adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising an externally fixed member being provided on the oufer side of the end of said piezoelectric element at which said piezoelectric element is fixed t0 said mounting member in such a manner that said externally fixed member is fixed to both said piezoelectric element and said mounting member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4785177A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-11-13 1993-05-15 1993-11-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-11-13 1997-05-15 1997-11-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-11-13 2001-05-15 2001-11-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag