US5504366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for analyzing surfaces of samples
Assignee: Biotechnology Research and Development Corp
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Filing: 1993-09-13
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2013-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A system for transporting in a vacuum chamber sample holders and samples between a holder tray and a location for use with a surface analytical instrument is disclosed. Also provided is a system including a microwave coaxial cable connecting the tip terminal of a scanning tunneling microscope to a microwave signal source and a system for clamping a heater to a sample holder in order to heat the sample.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul S. Weiss
- 👤 Stephan J. Stranick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01Q; G01Q60/00; G01Q60/10; G01Q60/16; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y10/00; B82Y20/00; B82Y35/00; B82Y40/00; G01Q30/00; G01Q30/08; G01Q30/10; G01Q30/16; G01Q60/12; G01Q60/18; G01Q60/22; G01Q60/60; G11; G11B; G11B11/00; G11B11/002; G11B11/08; G11B9/00; G11B9/12; G11B9/14; G11B9/1463; G11B9/149; H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/02; H01J37/20; H01J2237/00; H01J2237/20; H01J2237/204; H01J2237/206; H01J2237/2065; H01J2237/25; H01J2237/2505; H01J2237/2538; H01J2237/2583; H01J2237/30; H01J2237/317; H01J2237/31735; H01J2237/31738; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/849; Y10S977/86
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; and device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one instrument, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use with the at least one instrument and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the instrument; wherein said device includes a vertical translator for moving a sample holder up or down, said translator including: a piston assembly; and a claw assembly for picking up and depositing a sample holder, said claw assembly including two elongated claw members, and connectors connecting the piston assembly and the claw members at pivot points, so that linear motion of the piston assembly will cause the claw members to move apart in order to release a sample holder or to move towards each other to pick up a sample holder.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; and device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one instrument, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use with the at least one instrument and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the instrument; wherein said device includes a vertical translator for moving a sample holder up or down, said translator including: a piston assembly; and a claw assembly for picking up and depositing a sample holder, said claw assembly including two elongated claw members, and connectors connecting the piston assembly and the claw members at pivot points, so that linear motion of the piston assembly will cause the claw members to move apart in order to release a sample holder or to move towards each other to pick up a sample holder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the claw members each includes a curved portion shaped to contain a sample holder between the curved portions of the claw members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the curved portion of each of the claw members includes a beveled portion facing the beveled portion of the other claw member for guiding the claw members over a sample holder when the claw members are moved over the holder so as to grab the sample holder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston assembly includes a spring for spring loading the claw members to provide a predetermined range of clamping strengths of the claw members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said device means includes a rotary mechanism for rotating a sample holder with respect to the instrument.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said device means include, in the chamber, a horizontal translator for transporting a container in the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising cooling means for cooling said at least one instrument.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, said at least one instrument further comprising a device for atom, molecule or ion scattering, for mass spectroscopy, for electron spectroscopy, or for heating a sample.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one instrument is a scanning probe microscope.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said sample holders has at least one mark thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10, said apparatus further comprising a light source for illuminating the at least one holder having the at least one mark thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein exterior shape of said holder is cylindrical, said apparatus further comprising a container having cylindrical chambers therein each for holding the sample holder, said chamber having a larger diameter than the holder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of additional surface analytical instruments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a container in the chamber for containing the sample holder.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one instrument, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use with the at least one instrument and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the instrument; and sample elevator means located above the instrument, to shield the at least one instrument from the device means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one instrument, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use with the at least one instrument and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the instrument; and sample elevator means located above the instrument, to shield the at least one instrument from the device means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said elevator means includes a plate with a funnel-shaped hole therein for holding a sample holder, so that when the device means places the holder in the hole in the plate and releases the holder, the holder is held therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said elevator means includes a mechanism means for raising or lowering the plate with respect to the at least one instrument in order to place a sample holder holding a sample on top of the at least one instrument and to remove the sample holder holding a sample from on top of the instrument.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said mechanism means includes a rotator and a screw.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said device means includes a tube and a claw assembly in the tube, said tube being connected to the elevator means so that the claw assembly is directly above the hole in the plate, said tube guiding the claw assembly towards the hole.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said claw assembly has guiding wheels adapted to contact the tube for smoothly guiding the claw assembly along the tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said elevator means includes a platform for supporting the at least one instrument and a connector means for connecting the platform to the plate, said hole in said plate being positioned so as to center the holder with respect to the instrument.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said connector means includes mechanism means for raising or lowering the plate with respect to the instrument.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; a scanning probe microscope in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; and device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said microscope, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use with the microscope and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the microscope; wherein said scanning probe microscope is an AC scanning tunneling microscope, said apparatus further comprising; at least one microwave signal source and one analyzer outside the chamber; and one or more coaxial cables connecting the source and analyzer to the AC scanning tunneling microscope in the chamber.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; a scanning probe microscope in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; and device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said microscope, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use with the microscope and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the microscope; wherein said scanning probe microscope is an AC scanning tunneling microscope, said apparatus further comprising; at least one microwave signal source and one analyzer outside the chamber; and one or more coaxial cables connecting the source and analyzer to the AC scanning tunneling microscope in the chamber.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; a scanning probe microscope in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said microscope, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use With the microscope and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the microscope; and a detector in the chamber for point-source shadow imaging, field emission spectroscopy, field ion spectroscopy or atom probe, wherein said device means is suitable for removing or placing said detector from or at a predetermined location relative to the instrument.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; a scanning probe microscope in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said microscope, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use With the microscope and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the microscope; and a detector in the chamber for point-source shadow imaging, field emission spectroscopy, field ion spectroscopy or atom probe, wherein said device means is suitable for removing or placing said detector from or at a predetermined location relative to the instrument.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising the steps of: placing at least one analytical instrument in a vacuum chamber; picking up a sample holder holding a sample in the chamber; placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber, said placing step including the step of rotating the bolder with respect to the instrument in order to align the holder with the instrument; and detecting and analyzing a surface of the sample in the chamber using the instrument.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising the steps of: placing at least one analytical instrument in a vacuum chamber; picking up a sample holder holding a sample in the chamber; placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber, said placing step including the step of rotating the bolder with respect to the instrument in order to align the holder with the instrument; and detecting and analyzing a surface of the sample in the chamber using the instrument.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the location is above the instrument, said step of placing including the step of depositing the holder holding the sample onto a sample elevator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said sample elevator has a funnel-shaped hole over the instrument, and wherein said depositing step deposits the holder holding the sample into the hole, said placing step further comprising the step of picking up the holder and the sample from said funnel-shaped hole and re-depositing the holder and sample into the hole when the holder is not aligned With the instrument after the depositing step.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 26, said method further comprising, prior to the detection and analysis of the sample surface, the step of lowering the sample elevator until the sample holder is in contact with the instrument.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 28, said method further comprising, after the detection and analysis of the sample surface, the step of raising the sample elevator until the sample holder is no longer in contact with the instrument.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the placing step includes the step of picking up the holder and the sample from the sample elevator.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising the steps of: placing at least one analytical instrument in a vacuum chamber; picking up a sample holder holding a sample in the chamber; placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber by delivering means, said placing step including the step of shielding the instrument from said delivering means; and detecting and analyzing a surface of the sample in the chamber using the instrument.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising the steps of: placing at least one analytical instrument in a vacuum chamber; picking up a sample holder holding a sample in the chamber; placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber by delivering means, said placing step including the step of shielding the instrument from said delivering means; and detecting and analyzing a surface of the sample in the chamber using the instrument.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising the steps of: placing at least one analytical instrument and an elevator in a vacuum chamber, said elevator having a funnel-shaped hole therein, so that the hole is located above the instrument; picking up a sample holder holding a sample in the chamber; depositing the holder into a funnel-shaped hole of the elevator so as to align the sample with the instrument; and detecting and analyzing a surface of the sample in the chamber using the instrument.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising the steps of: placing at least one analytical instrument and an elevator in a vacuum chamber, said elevator having a funnel-shaped hole therein, so that the hole is located above the instrument; picking up a sample holder holding a sample in the chamber; depositing the holder into a funnel-shaped hole of the elevator so as to align the sample with the instrument; and detecting and analyzing a surface of the sample in the chamber using the instrument.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 32, wherein after the holder is deposited in the hole, the sample is at a distance to the instrument, said method further comprising the step of lowering the elevator to reduce the distance between the sample and the instrument.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 32, further comprising the steps of: picking up the holder from the hole when the sample is not aligned with the instrument after the depositing step; and re-depositing the holder into the hole.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; and device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one instrument, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use with the at least one instrument and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the instrument; and elevator means including a plate with a funnel-shaped hole therein for holding the sample holder above the instrument and for shielding the instrument from the device means, so that when the device means places the holder in the hole in the plate and releases the holder, the holder is held therein.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for analyzing surfaces of samples, comprising: a vacuum chamber; at least one surface analytical instrument in the chamber; at least one sample holder each for holding a sample in the chamber; and device means in the chamber for picking up a sample holder holding a sample and placing the holder at a location for use with said at least one instrument, and for picking up said sample holder holding the sample located for use with the at least one instrument and placing the holder at a predetermined location, so that the device means is adapted for transporting, in the chamber, sample holders and samples between the predetermined location and the location for use with the instrument; and elevator means including a plate with a funnel-shaped hole therein for holding the sample holder above the instrument and for shielding the instrument from the device means, so that when the device means places the holder in the hole in the plate and releases the holder, the holder is held therein.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said hole in the plate is aligned with the instrument so that when the holder is in the hole, the sample is substantially aligned with instrument.
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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) | 1999-04-02 | 1999-10-02 | 2000-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-02 | 2003-10-02 | 2004-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-02 | 2007-10-02 | 2008-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |