Provided is a composite metal-wide-bandgap semiconductor tip for scanning tunneling microscopy and/or scanning, tunneling lithography, a method of forming, and a method for using the composite metal-wide-bandgap semiconductor tip.

The disclosure is related to a method for performing SPM measurements, wherein a sample is attached to a cantilever and scanned across a tip. The tip is one of several tips present on a substrate comprising at least two different types of tips on its surface, thereby enabling performance of multiple SPM measurements requiring a different type of tip, without replacing the cantilever. The at least two different types of tips are different in terms of their material, in terms of their shape or size, and/or in terms of the presence or the type of active or passive components mounted on or incorporated in the substrate, and associated to tips of one or more of the different types. The disclosure is equally related to a substrate comprising a plurality of tips suitable for use in the method of the disclosure.

Embodiments relate to the design of an electronic device capable of preventing a lateral motion between a first body and a second body. The device comprises a first body comprising one or more atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips protruding from a first surface of the first body. The device further comprises a second body comprising one or more electrical contacts on a second surface of the second body. The second surface faces the first surface. The one or more electrical contacts pierced by the AFM tips of the first surface to prevent a lateral motion between the first body and the second body.

A system includes a probe assembly, a camera, and a control system. The probe assembly includes a rigid substrate, a compliant layer provided on the rigid substrate, one or more rigid probes can be arranged on the compliant layer to cover at least a portion of the compliant layer, and a reflective layer can cover the one or more rigid probes and uncovered portions of the compliant layer. The camera is configured to generate image data from the probe assembly. The control system is configured to receive image data from the camera and develop a topographical image of a surface of a sample, based at least in part on the received image data.

A method of positioning probe tips relative to pads includes: focusing on each of the probe tips in a first image as viewed by a microscope and collecting the coordinates of the corresponding probe tip relative to a first reference point in the first image; focusing on each of the pads in a second image as viewed by the microscope and collecting the coordinates of the corresponding pad relative to a second reference point in the second image, a relative position of the second reference point to the first reference point being predetermined; matching the pads with the probe tips when the quantity of the probe tips and the pads are equal while minimizing a maximum value of the distances calculated between each of the probe tips and the corresponding pad; and moving the probe tips to touch the pads with the maximum value minimized.

A method of positioning probe tips relative to pads includes: focusing on each of the probe tips in a first image as viewed by a microscope and collecting the coordinates of the corresponding probe tip relative to a first reference point in the first image; focusing on each of the pads in a second image as viewed by the microscope and collecting the coordinates of the corresponding pad relative to a second reference point in the second image, a relative position of the second reference point to the first reference point being predetermined; matching the pads with the probe tips when the quantity of the probe tips and the pads are equal while minimizing a maximum value of the distances calculated between each of the probe tips and the corresponding pad; and moving the probe tips to touch the pads with the maximum value minimized.

A system includes a probe assembly, a camera, and a control system. The probe assembly includes a rigid substrate, a compliant layer provided on the rigid substrate, one or more rigid probes can be arranged on the compliant layer to cover at least a portion of the compliant layer, and a reflective layer can cover the one or more rigid probes and uncovered portions of the compliant layer. The camera is configured to generate image data from the probe assembly. The control system is configured to receive image data from the camera and develop a topographical image of a surface of a sample, based at least in part on the received image data.

Embodiments relate to the design of an electronic device capable of preventing a lateral motion between a first body and a second body. The device comprises a first body comprising one or more atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips protruding from a first surface of the first body. The device further comprises a second body comprising one or more electrical contacts on a second surface of the second body. The second surface faces the first surface. The one or more electrical contacts pierced by the AFM tips of the first surface to prevent a lateral motion between the first body and the second body.

The present document describes a device for measuring and/or modifying surface features and/or sub-surface features on or below a surface of a sample. The system comprises a sample carrier, one or more heads, and a support structure. The support structure comprises a reference surface for providing a positioning reference. The heads are separate from the sample carrier and the support structure, and the device further comprises a pick and place manipulator arranged for positioning the heads at respective working positions. The manipulator comprises a gripper and an actuator for moving the gripper, wherein the actuator is arranged for providing a motion in a direction transverse to the reference surface. The gripper is arranged for engaging and releasing the respective heads from the transverse motion. The document also describes a method of measuring and/or modifying surface features on a surface of a sample.

The present document describes a device for measuring and/or modifying surface features and/or sub-surface features on or below a surface of a sample. The system comprises a sample carrier, one or more heads, and a support structure. The support structure comprises a reference surface for providing a positioning reference. The heads are separate from the sample carrier and the support structure, and the device further comprises a pick and place manipulator arranged for positioning the heads at respective working positions. The manipulator comprises a gripper and an actuator for moving the gripper, wherein the actuator is arranged for providing a motion in a direction transverse to the reference surface. The gripper is arranged for engaging and releasing the respective heads from the transverse motion. The document also describes a method of measuring and/or modifying surface features on a surface of a sample.