The surface of the atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever is defined by a main cantilever body and an island. The island is partly separated from the main body by a separating space between facing edges of the main body and the island. At least one bridge connects the island to the main body, along a line around which the island is able to rotate through torsion of the at least one bridge. The island has a probe tip located on the island at a position offset from said line and a reflection area. In an AFM a light source directs light to the reflection area and a light spot position detector detects a displacement of a light spot formed from light reflected by the reflection area, for measuring an effect of forces exerted on the probe tip.

The present invention relates to a method for measuring, by a measurement device, characteristics of a surface of an object to be measured. The method includes an approach step of positioning the tip to come into contact with a specific position of the surface of the object to be measured and a lift step of separating the contacted tip from the surface of the object are repeatedly performed with respect to a plurality of positions of the surface of the object. The tip is controlled to vibrate in a portion or the entirety of the approach step and the lift step, and a movement characteristic of the tip is controlled according to a change of the vibration characteristic of the tip.

The present invention relates to a method for measuring, by a measurement device, characteristics of a surface of an object to be measured. The method includes an approach step of positioning the tip to come into contact with a specific position of the surface of the object to be measured and a lift step of separating the contacted tip from the surface of the object are repeatedly performed with respect to a plurality of positions of the surface of the object. The tip is controlled to vibrate in a portion or the entirety of the approach step and the lift step, and a movement characteristic of the tip is controlled according to a change of the vibration characteristic of the tip.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to methods for measuring a characteristic of a substrate. In an embodiment, the method includes scanning over the substrate with a scanning probe microscope, the substrate having fins thereon, the scanning obtaining images showing respective fin top regions of the fins, the scanning probe microscope interacting with respective portions of sidewalls of the fins by a scanning probe oscillated during the scanning, selecting images obtained at a predetermined depth below the fin top regions to obtain a line edge profile of the fins, by a processor-based system, analyzing the line edge profile of the fins using power spectral density (PSD) method to obtain spatial frequency data of the line edge profile of the fins, and by the processor-based system, calculating line edge roughness of the fins based on the spatial frequency data.

A large radius probe for a surface analysis instrument such as an atomic force microscope (AFM). The probe is microfabricated to have a tip with a hemispherical distal end or apex. The radius of the apex is the range of about a micron making the probes particularly useful for nanoindentation analyses, but other applications are contemplated. In particular, tips with aspect ratios greater than 2:1 can be made for imaging, for example, semiconductor samples. The processes of the preferred embodiments allow such large radius probes to be batch fabricated to facilitate cost and robustness.

A large radius probe for a surface analysis instrument such as an atomic force microscope (AFM). The probe is microfabricated to have a tip with a hemispherical distal end or apex. The radius of the apex is the range of about a micron making the probes particularly useful for nanoindentation analyses, but other applications are contemplated. In particular, tips with aspect ratios greater than 2:1 can be made for imaging, for example, semiconductor samples. The processes of the preferred embodiments allow such large radius probes to be batch fabricated to facilitate cost and robustness.

Disclosed is a multipurpose scanning microscopy probe comprising a probe holder, a cantilever connected to the probe holder, and a probe tip connected to the cantilever, wherein the probe tip is a three-dimensional geometry, and wherein the probe tip is a 3D printed part. In some embodiments the probe is made from SU8 epoxy-based resin. In some embodiments the probe is made from a combination of SU8 and nanomaterial such as carbon nanotubes. In some embodiments the probe includes cavities and voids. In some embodies the probe includes fluidic features and elements. Scanning microscopy probe methods are also disclosed.

The disclosure relates to determining information about a target structure formed on a substrate using a lithographic process. In one arrangement, a cantilever probe is provided having a cantilever arm and a probe element. The probe element extends from the cantilever arm towards the target structure. Ultrasonic waves are generated in the cantilever probe. The ultrasonic waves propagate through the probe element into the target structure and reflect back from the target structure into the probe element or into a further probe element extending from the cantilever arm. The reflected ultrasonic waves are detected and used to determine information about the target structure.

A large radius probe for a surface analysis instrument such as an atomic force microscope (AFM). The probe is microfabricated to have a tip with a hemispherical distal end or apex. The radius of the apex is the range of about a micron making the probes particularly useful for nanoindentation analyses. The processes of the preferred embodiments allow such large radius probes to be batch fabricated to facilitate cost and robustness.

A large radius probe for a surface analysis instrument such as an atomic force microscope (AFM). The probe is microfabricated to have a tip with a hemispherical distal end or apex. The radius of the apex is the range of about a micron making the probes particularly useful for nanoindentation analyses. The processes of the preferred embodiments allow such large radius probes to be batch fabricated to facilitate cost and robustness.