High Speed Property Mapping via Magnetic Cantilever Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional piezoelectric scanners in atomic force microscopes (AFMs) suffer from non-linear motion, hysteresis, creep, and low resonant frequencies, leading to inaccurate and time-consuming force curve measurements, which degrade the integrity of biological samples and limit the speed and accuracy of mechanical property mapping.

Innovation Solution

A dual-actuator system is introduced, where a zinc oxide (ZnO) layer is applied to the probe cantilever, enabling linear and precise motion with minimal hysteresis and creep, and operating at significantly higher frequencies than conventional piezoelectric actuators, allowing for faster and more accurate force curve measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional piezoelectric scanners are used for force curve measurements, then the device can perform mechanical property mapping, but the measurements are time-consuming and inaccurate due to non-linear motion, hysteresis, and creep

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce curve measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional piezoelectric scanner with a magnetic actuator system. The magnetic actuator uses magnetic fields to control the probe's movement, eliminating the mechanical non-linearities, hysteresis, and creep associated with piezoelectric materials. This substitution enables faster and more accurate force curve measurements while maintaining the ability to map mechanical properties across the sample surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating parameters of the actuator system by switching from piezoelectric to magnetic actuation. This parameter change allows the system to operate at higher speeds and frequencies, reducing measurement time while improving accuracy. The magnetic actuator's different physical characteristics enable it to overcome the limitations of piezoelectric materials in terms of linearity, hysteresis, and creep.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional piezoelectric scanners are used, then the device can scan the sample surface, but the low resonant frequencies limit the speed of force curve measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce volume analysis speedVSAvoidprobe movement speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the piezoelectric scanner with a magnetic actuator system that has higher resonant frequencies. This substitution enables the probe to move at significantly higher speeds, allowing force curve measurements to be completed much faster. The magnetic actuator's higher resonant frequency capability directly improves the productivity of force volume analysis while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If conventional piezoelectric scanners are used for high-speed measurements, then faster data acquisition is achieved, but the non-linear motion and hysteresis compromise data accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata acquisition speedVSAvoidforce curve measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the piezoelectric scanner with a magnetic actuator system that provides both high-speed operation and linear motion characteristics. The magnetic actuator eliminates the non-linear motion and hysteresis inherent in piezoelectric materials, enabling the system to achieve both fast data acquisition and high measurement accuracy simultaneously. This substitution resolves the contradiction between speed and precision by providing a actuator that excels at both characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The dual-actuator system reduces the time required for force volume analysis by approximately fifty times, enhances data accuracy, and maintains the integrity of biological samples, while enabling simultaneous imaging without compromising data quality.

Implementation Method 1

the second actuator is made of a zinc oxide (ZnO) layer applied to the probe including the cantilever thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP1938040B1Method and apparatus of high speed property mapping

Publication Date: 2018.11.21 BRUKER NANO INC

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AI summary

A probe instrument (100) having a probe (120) that interacts with a sample surface to perform a mechanical property measurement at high speed includes a scanner producing relative motion between the sample and the probe. In addition, a probe actuator (114) produces relative motion between the sample and the probe, in a generally vertical direction, and a controller (102) that generates a scanner drive signal and an actuator drive signal. The probe actuator is responsive to the actuator drive signal and has an operable bandwidth of at least about 50-80 kHz to perform the fast force curve measurements. The probe actuator is preferably located at least partially on the cantilever. Moreover, feedback during normal operation may be interrupted to perform a force curve measurement with the integrated actuator.