US5360977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Compound type microscope
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1992-07-29
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Granted: 1994-11-01
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Expires: 2012-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A compound type microscope is provided which can observe the measurement sample of an atomic force microscope (AFM) by means of an optical microscope. This compound type microscope is comprised of an optical microscope having an objective and an observation optical system, a cantilever having a reflecting surface and detecting an atomic force, an irradiating optical system for applying a spotlight to the cantilver, a detector for detecting the displacement of reflected light caused by the displacement of the cantilever, and a sample stage for placing a sample thereon. The arrangement can be designed to accommodate the use of a scanning tunnel type microscope (STM) interchangeably with the AFM so that the sample can be measured by the STM instead of by the AFM. To this end, the probe of the STM can be detachably mountable coaxially with respect to the objective of the optical microscope, whereby the probe of the STM and the cantilever of the AFM can be selectively disposed below the objective.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsuji Onuki
- 👤 Masatoshi Suzuki
- 👤 Hiroyuki Matsushiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01Q; G01Q60/00; G01Q60/10; G01Q60/16; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y35/00; G01Q30/00; G01Q30/02; G01Q30/025; G01Q60/02; G01Q60/04; G01Q60/24; G01Q60/38; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; B82Y20/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/849; Y10S977/86; Y10S977/868; Y10S977/869
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A compound type microscope comprising: an optical microscope having an objective and an observation optical system; a sample stage for placing a sample thereon; a cantilever for disposition near the sample, said cantilever having a reflecting surface and being displaceable for detecting an atomic force; an irradiating optical system for applying a spotlight to said reflecting surface of said cantilever; and detection means for receiving said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface to detect an amount of displacement of said cantilever; and wherein said irradiating optical system and said detection means are arranged such that an optical axis of said spotlight applied to said reflecting surface and an optical axis of said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface for detection by said detection means are transverse to each other, and said detection means and said optical microscope are arranged such that said optical axis of said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface and an optical axis of said objective of said optical microscope for observation of an image coming from a surface of the sample by said observation optical system are transverse to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A compound type microscope comprising: an optical microscope having an objective and an observation optical system; a sample stage for placing a sample thereon; a cantilever for disposition near the sample, said cantilever having a reflecting surface and being displaceable for detecting an atomic force; an irradiating optical system for applying a spotlight to said reflecting surface of said cantilever; and detection means for receiving said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface to detect an amount of displacement of said cantilever; and wherein said irradiating optical system and said detection means are arranged such that an optical axis of said spotlight applied to said reflecting surface and an optical axis of said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface for detection by said detection means are transverse to each other, and said detection means and said optical microscope are arranged such that said optical axis of said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface and an optical axis of said objective of said optical microscope for observation of an image coming from a surface of the sample by said observation optical system are transverse to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 1, wherein said irradiating optical system and said objective are disposed coaxially with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 2, wherein said objective has a through-hole in a central portion thereof, and said irradiating optical system applies said spotlight to said cantilever through said through-hole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 3, wherein said irradiating optical system has a light source and a lens system, and at least a portion of one of said light source and said lens system is disposed in the through-hole formed in the central portion of said objective.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 2, wherein said irradiating optical system has a light source and a lens system, said lens system being constructed so as to include said objective.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 1, wherein said irradiating optical system is disposed so as to apply said spotlight from the outside of said optical microscope to said cantilever.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 1, wherein said sample stage has a scanner for oscillating the sample.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
A compound type microscope comprising: a scanning tunnel microscope having a detachably mountable probe; an optical microscope having an objective disposed coaxially with a mounting position of said probe; and an atomic force microscope having a cantilever mountable below said objective to replace said probe, such that said optical microscope is used in conjunction with said scanning tunnel microscope and said atomic force microscope, selectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A compound type microscope comprising: a scanning tunnel microscope having a detachably mountable probe; an optical microscope having an objective disposed coaxially with a mounting position of said probe; and an atomic force microscope having a cantilever mountable below said objective to replace said probe, such that said optical microscope is used in conjunction with said scanning tunnel microscope and said atomic force microscope, selectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 8, further comprising: a camera unit for making at least a portion of an image formed by said optical microscope into an observation image; and aligning means for moving said camera unit in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of said probe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 9, wherein said optical microscope has: a lens barrel formed with an opening portion; a connecting portion for mounting said camera unit in said opening portion with clearance such that said camera unit is movable in said direction perpendicular to the axial direction of said objective; and regulating means provided in said opening portion for regulating said clearance and fixing said camera unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 10, wherein said regulating means fixes said camera unit at any position relative to said lens barrel within a full range of said clearance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 11, wherein said regulating means is provided around said opening portion, and has a feed screw portion for moving said camera unit, and a spring portion for urging said camera unit against said feed screw portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 11, wherein said regulating means is provided around said opening portion, and has a feed screw portion for moving said camera unit, and a magnet for connecting said camera unit to said feed screw portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
A compound type microscope comprising: a scanning tunnel microscope having an interchangeable probe; an optical microscope having an objective disposed coaxially with a mounting position of said probe; a camera unit for making at least a portion of an image formed by said optical microscope into an observation image; and aligning means for moving said camera unit in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of said objective.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
A compound type microscope comprising: a scanning tunnel microscope having an interchangeable probe; an optical microscope having an objective disposed coaxially with a mounting position of said probe; a camera unit for making at least a portion of an image formed by said optical microscope into an observation image; and aligning means for moving said camera unit in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of said objective.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 14, wherein said optical microscope has: a lens barrel formed with an opening portion; a connecting portion for mounting said camera unit in said opening portion with clearance such that said camera unit is movable in said direction perpendicular to the axial direction of said objective; and regulating means provided in said opening portion for regulating said clearance and fixing said camera unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 15, wherein said regulating means fixes said camera unit at any position relative to said lens barrel within a full range of said clearance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 16, wherein said regulating means is provided around said opening portion, and has a feed screw portion for moving said camera unit, and a spring portion for urging said camera unit against said feed screw portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 16, wherein said regulating means is provided around said opening portion, and has a feed screw portion for moving said camera unit, and a magnet for connecting said camera unit to said feed screw portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
76 words
A compound type microscope comprising: an optical microscope having an objective; a scanning tunnel microscope; and an atomic force microscope; wherein said scanning tunnel microscope and said atomic force microscope include a probe and a cantilever, respectively, for sample observation; and wherein said probe and said cantilever are mountable below said objective, selectively, such that said scanning tunnel microscope and said atomic force microscope are used interchangeably for sample observation in conjunction with said optical microscope.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
A compound type microscope comprising: an optical microscope having an objective; a scanning tunnel microscope; and an atomic force microscope; wherein said scanning tunnel microscope and said atomic force microscope include a probe and a cantilever, respectively, for sample observation; and wherein said probe and said cantilever are mountable below said objective, selectively, such that said scanning tunnel microscope and said atomic force microscope are used interchangeably for sample observation in conjunction with said optical microscope.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 19, wherein said atomic force microscope includes an irradiating optical system for applying light to a reflecting surface of said cantilever, and a detector for detecting said light reflected from said reflecting surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 20, wherein said irradiating optical system and said detector are arranged such that an optical axis of said light applied to said reflecting surface and an optical axis of said light reflected from said reflecting surface for detection by said detector are transverse to each other.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 21, wherein said detector and said optical microscope are arranged such that said optical axis of said light reflected from said reflecting surface and an optical axis of said objective of said optical microscope for observation of an image coming from a surface of a sample are transverse to each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 19, further comprising: a camera unit for making at least a portion of an image formed by said optical microscope into an observation image; and aligning means for moving said camera unit in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of said objective.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
70 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 23, wherein said optical microscope has: a lens barrel formed with an opening portion; a connecting portion for mounting said camera unit in said opening portion with clearance such that said camera unit is movable in said direction perpendicular to the axial direction of said objective; and regulating means provided in said opening portion for regulating said clearance and fixing said camera unit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 24, wherein said regulating means fixes said camera unit at any position relative to said lens barrel within a full range of said clearance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 25, wherein said regulating means is provided around said opening portion, and has a feed screw portion for moving said camera unit, and a spring portion for urging said camera unit against said feed screw portion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 25, wherein said regulating means is provided around said opening portion, and has a feed screw portion for moving said camera unit, and a magnet for connecting said camera unit to said feed screw portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 19, further including a stage for mounting a sample, said stage having a recess in which a scanner of the atomic force microscope is received.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
127 words
A compound type microscope comprising: an optical microscope having an objective and means for receiving through said objective an optical image of a sample disposed beneath said objective; and an atomic force microscope including a cantilever disposed near said sample beneath said objective, said cantilever having a reflecting surface and being displaceable for detecting an atomic force; an irradiating optical system for applying a spotlight to said reflecting surface of said cantilever; and detection means for receiving said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface to detect an amount of displacement of said cantilever; and wherein said detection means and said objective are arranged such that said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface of said cantilever and received by said detection means does not pass through said objective.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
127 words
A compound type microscope comprising: an optical microscope having an objective and means for receiving through said objective an optical image of a sample disposed beneath said objective; and an atomic force microscope including a cantilever disposed near said sample beneath said objective, said cantilever having a reflecting surface and being displaceable for detecting an atomic force; an irradiating optical system for applying a spotlight to said reflecting surface of said cantilever; and detection means for receiving said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface to detect an amount of displacement of said cantilever; and wherein said detection means and said objective are arranged such that said spotlight reflected from said reflecting surface of said cantilever and received by said detection means does not pass through said objective.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 29, wherein said irradiating optical system and said objective are disposed coaxially with each other.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 30, wherein said objective has a through-hole in a central portion thereof, and said irradiating optical system applies said spotlight to said cantilever through said through-hole.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
49 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 31, wherein said irradiating optical system has a light source and a lens system, and at least a portion of one of said light source and said lens system is disposed in the through-hole formed in the central portion of said objective.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 30, wherein said irradiating optical system has a light source and a lens system, said lens system being constructed so as to include said objective.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 29, wherein said irradiating optical system is disposed so as to apply said spotlight from the outside of said optical microscope to said cantilever.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
A compound type microscope according to claim 29, further including a sample stage having a scanner for oscillating said sample.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |