NOBUGS

conference
11-05-2002

Camera
“Scanning Probe Microscope” software for
instrument control and data analysis.

E.H. v. Tol – Homan, G. v. Velzen, R. v. Gastel, M. Seynen*

University Leiden, The Netherlands
*Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF-FOM), Amsterdam

http://www.physics.leidenuniv.nl/sections/cm/ip/ 11-05-2002
 Overview

Overview

 Introduction to Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPM)

 SPM – software specifications (video rate)
 Instrument control
 Data analysis
 SPM – software architecture
 Conclusion
 Scanning Probe Microscopes
(SPM)

Scanning Probe Microscopes:

•Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)

•Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM)
•…
 Scanning Probe Microscopes
(SPM)

The Scanning Tunneling Microscope works like a record player…

Scanning Probe Microscopes:

•Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM)

•Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM)
•…
 Scanning Probe Microscopes
(SPM)

X,Y Z Feedback
Scan Piezo
Electronics PC
circuit
It
tip U sample
specimen
 Scanning Probe Microscopes
(SPM)

15 Now:
years
Ago:
“Photo
Camera”

Line scan image of graphite Perspective color view of

surface. Each bump Graphite surface
corresponds to a single carbon
atom. The size of the image is
only 3 nm  3 nm.
 Scanning Probe Microscopes
(SPM)

New “Video camera”

High speed scanning probe microscope:

•25 pictures (256 x 256) per second

•Maximum scan speed: 3,3*106 pixels/sec

 Scanning Probe Microscopes
(SPM)

Au (110)

Usample =-0.7V
~ 22000 pixels/sec
300 nm x 300 nm
 Scanning Probe Microscopes
(SPM)

Au (110)

Usample =-0.7V
~ 134000 pixels/sec
300 nm x 300 nm
 SPM – software specifications

Computer specification for a high speed SPM:

 Dual processor:
first processor: data display / analysis / scaling
second processor: instrument control

 Dual monitor:
first monitor data display
second monitor instrument control - window
 SPM – software specifications

General specifications for a high speed SPM:

1. Two “user modes of operation”:

online and offline mode.

GUI

Online Mode Offline Mode

-measurement -Post measurement analysis
-analysis
 SPM – software specifications

General specifications:
2. The program uses a DLL to configure and drive the
hardware of the SPM. (Different DLL’s for each SPM)

GUI

Online Mode Offline Mode

STM- DLL AFM- DLL …

 SPM – software specifications

Boundary requirements:

 Very stable and reliable

 Fast data handling and graphics
 Extendable, Users can add own filters
 Windows look and feel

 RECOVERY PROCEDURE !
 SPM – software specifications

Why winNT (decided three years ago) ?

 Multi tasking operating system

 Drivers for microEnable / hotlink only available under winNT.
 Commonly know environment
 Offline mode can run under windows 98,2002, XP

RT/Time-sharing
 Real-time part: dedicated hardware
 Time sharing – part: winNT (GUI).
 SPM – software specifications

A collection of C++ classes and an application framework

for creating Microsoft windows-based applications.

Document / View structure

 SPM – software specifications

Document / View structure:

SPM – DATA
 Instrument control

GUI

Online Mode Offline Mode

-measurement -Post measurement analysis
-analysis
 Instrument control

Data display

MAIN SPM
DLL

Instrument control
 Instrument control

Measurement mode:

1. Approach (bringing the tip to the surface)

2. Setting scanning parameters
3. Scan (with video rate)
4. Save

During measurement analysis and display through main

program.
 Data analysis

GUI

Online Mode Offline Mode

-measurement -Post measurement analysis
-analysis
Data analysis
Data analysis

Height line:
 Data analysis

3D:
 Data analysis

Filter functions:

Clipping: image size adjust

Filters:
Differentiate,
Background subtraction
USER DEFINED DLL
…

FILTER
MAIN
DLL
 Data analysis

Original
data:
 Data analysis

Background
subtraction:
 Data analysis

Differentiate
(line by line)
data:
 SPM – software architecture

Architecture

GUI

Online Module Offline Module

STM- DLL AFM- DLL

 SPM – software architecture

The interface (for Instrument Control) DLL:

 MFC DLL, dynamically linked to the

MFC-libraries.

 Init Instance / Exit instance are called

when the DLL is loaded / freed from memory.
 SPM – software internally

SendSPMCommand

This function is defined

in the DLL, and called
by the MAIN.
MAIN DLL

SendNotify
This function is defined
in the MAIN, and called
by the DLL.
 SPM – software internally

SendSPMCommand

This function is defined

MAIN in the DLL, and called DLL
by the MAIN.

CommandWindowCreate / Close
Set / GetDeviceConfig
GetDeviceStatus / GetLastError
…
 SPM – software internally

StartScanMeasurement
UpdateFrameData
StopScanMeasurement
…

MAIN DLL
SendNotify
This function is defined
in the MAIN, and called
by the DLL.
 SPM – software internally

Threads overview

GUI
MEASUREMENT
DISPLAY

Thread
Safe
 SPM – software internally

Message
Loop
Hardware

Disk

DLL
 SPM – software internally

Message
Loop
Process Filters

MAIN
 Conclusion

A graphical user interface for

a high speed SPM (with video rate) has
been developed using MFC and winNT.

NO BUGS
 Interface physics group

The Team:

Prof. Dr. J.W.M. Frenken (Group leader)

Dr. ir. T.H. Oosterkamp (Group leader)
Dr. M.J. Rost (Post-Doc)
Ir. K. Schoots (Ph.D. Student)
R. v. Gastel (Ph.D. Student)

Ing. B. Crama (Electronics) *B. Okhuysen (Group leader)

Ing. P. Schakel (Electronics) *Ing. M. Seynen (Software)
Ing. E.H. v. Tol-Homan (Software) *Ing. H. Dekker (Electronics)
Ing. G. v. Velzen (Software) *Ing. A. Vijftigschild (Electronics)
*AMOLF/FOM

Email: vantol@fwneld.leidenuniv.nl
Web page: http://www.physics.leidenuniv.nl/sections/cm/ip/