Patent US379845A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5120959A
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Apparatus for simultaneously effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of tunneling current and tunnel probe therefor
Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Analysis Corp
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Filing: 1990-01-31
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Granted: 1992-06-09
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Expires: 2010-01-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for simultaneously effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of tunneling current has an electrochemical cell having a sample, a counter electrode, a reference electrode and a tunnel probe. The tunnel probe comprises an elongate body having a pointed tip, the body being composed of gold, gold alloy, graphite or carbon compound.
Inventors
- 👤 Eisuke Tomita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01Q; G01Q60/00; G01Q60/10; G01Q60/16; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y35/00; G01Q60/02; G01Q60/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/849; Y10S977/86; Y10S977/875; Y10S977/879
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A tunnel probe in an apparatus employing an electrochemical cell having a sample, a counter electrode, a reference electrode and a tunnel probe, which are all disposed in a solution, to effect electrochemical measurement or measurement of a tunneling current; said tunnel probe being composed of a material selected from among gold, a gold alloy containing gold as the main component, graphite and a carbon compound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A tunnel probe in an apparatus employing an electrochemical cell having a sample, a counter electrode, a reference electrode and a tunnel probe, which are all disposed in a solution, to effect electrochemical measurement or measurement of a tunneling current; said tunnel probe being composed of a material selected from among gold, a gold alloy containing gold as the main component, graphite and a carbon compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tunnel probe in an apparatus for effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of a tunneling current, comprising: an elongate body having at one end a pointed tip, the body being composed of gold or gold alloy containing gold as the main component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tunnel probe in an apparatus for effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of a tunneling current, comprising: an elongate body having at one end a pointed tip, the body being composed of gold or gold alloy containing gold as the main component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 2; wherein the body is composed of gold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 3; including an insulating layer on the body except at the tipmost portion of the pointed tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 4; wherein the insulating layer is comprised of glass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 2; wherein the body is composed of gold alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 6; wherein the gold alloy comprises an alloy of gold and one or more of palladium, platinum and tungsten.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 7; including an insulating layer on the body except at the tipmost portion of the pointed tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 8; wherein the insulating layer is comprised of glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 6; including an insulating layer on the body except at the tipmost portion of the pointed tip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 10; wherein the insulating layer is comprised of glass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tunnel probe in an apparatus for effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of a tunneling current, comprising: an elongate body having at one end a pointed tip, the body being composed of graphite or a carbon compound.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tunnel probe in an apparatus for effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of a tunneling current, comprising: an elongate body having at one end a pointed tip, the body being composed of graphite or a carbon compound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 12; wherein the body is composed of graphite.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 13; including an insulating layer on the body except at the tipmost portion of the pointed tip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 12; wherein the body is composed of a carbon compound.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 15; wherein the carbon compound comprises carbon and boron carbide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tunnel probe according to claim 15; including an insulating layer on the body except at the tipmost portion of the pointed tip.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for simultaneously effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of a tunneling current comprising: an electrochemical cell having a sample, a counter electrode, a reference electrode and a tunnel probe; means for setting a potential of the sample; means for detecting a current flowing between the sample and the counter electrode; means for changing the distance between the sample and the tunnel probe; and means for detecting a tunneling current flowing due to the potential difference between the tunnel probe and the sample; wherein said tunnel probe is comprised of a material selected from among gold, a gold alloy containing gold as the main component, graphite and a carbon compound.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for simultaneously effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of a tunneling current comprising: an electrochemical cell having a sample, a counter electrode, a reference electrode and a tunnel probe; means for setting a potential of the sample; means for detecting a current flowing between the sample and the counter electrode; means for changing the distance between the sample and the tunnel probe; and means for detecting a tunneling current flowing due to the potential difference between the tunnel probe and the sample; wherein said tunnel probe is comprised of a material selected from among gold, a gold alloy containing gold as the main component, graphite and a carbon compound.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 18; wherein the tunnel probe is comprised of gold or a gold alloy containing gold as the main component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 18; wherein the tunnel probe is comprised of graphite or a carbon compound.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a method of simultaneously effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of tunneling current of a sample immersed in an electroconductive solution using a tunnel probe, the improvement comprising; using a tunnel probe composed mainly of a material selected from among gold, a gold alloy containing gold as the main component, graphite and a carbon compound.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a method of simultaneously effecting electrochemical measurement and measurement of tunneling current of a sample immersed in an electroconductive solution using a tunnel probe, the improvement comprising; using a tunnel probe composed mainly of a material selected from among gold, a gold alloy containing gold as the main component, graphite and a carbon compound.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 21; wherein the tunnel probe is composed mainly of gold or a gold alloy containing gold as the main component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 21; wherein the tunnel probe is composed mainly of graphite or a carbon compound.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-09 | 1995-12-09 | 1996-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-09 | 1999-12-09 | 2000-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-09 | 2003-12-09 | 2004-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |