Temperature control for microscopy

Details Temperature control for microscopy Temperature control for microscopy

2000-03-13

2001-05-15

Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)

Optical: systems and elements

Compound lens system

Microscope

C359S368000, C359S391000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06233093

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Those skilled in the materials art recognize that most materials exhibit different properties at different temperatures. A comparison of observable properties of materials at different temperatures may provide valuable information about how materials perform in a product at different temperatures. The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method whereby such materials may be observed at different temperatures using microscopy, such as atomic force microscopy (afm), as well as light microscopy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus (
10
) for controlling the temperature of a microscopy sample comprises an external housing (
20
) made of a highly heat insulating material, an internal housing (
22
) made of a highly heat conducting material within said external housing for holding a sample to be subjected to microscopy, and conduit means (
28
,
28
a
) for the flow of a temperature controlling gas (
16
a
) through said external and internal housings, and chamber means (
44
) with vent holes (
26
b
) for directing the flow of the temperature controlling gas (
16
a
) around the sample.
A thermocouple (
32
) is associated with the sample for measuring the temperature of the sample. Also, heater (
36
) may be associated with the sample for heating the sample, and heaters (
30
,
34
) may be located in the internal and external housings for heating the temperature controlling gas. Also, cooling means (
26
) are provided for reducing the temperature of the temperature controlling gas (
16
a
).
The internal and external housings are made of materials that have specific heat conducting properties designed to optimize temperature control and minimize temperature fluctuation of the sample. The external housing is made of a material and construction having heat conductivity in the range of 0.00001 to 0.25 W/m-K (watt per meter Kelvin), and the internal housing is made of a material having a heat conductivity in the range of 20 to 2000 W/m-K.
In an illustrated embodiment the exterior housing (
20
) is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the internal housing (
22
) is made of aluminum.
The temperature of the sample can be maintained at −270° C. to 200° C.
The sample is mounted on a sample holder (
24
) made of highly thermally conductive material and a thermocouple (
32
) is mounted in the proximity of the sample and the sample holder (
24
).
A computer can be used for monitoring the temperature of the sample, and controlling the flow of the temperature controlling gas, as well as any heaters that may be used in the apparatus, to maintain the temperature at a constant level.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3472726 (1969-10-01), Scheidegger
patent: 4845426 (1989-07-01), Nolan et al.
patent: 5181382 (1993-01-01), Middlebrook
patent: 5217608 (1993-06-01), Conway
patent: 5257128 (1993-10-01), Diller et al.
patent: 504783 (1954-08-01), None
patent: 4-37811 (1992-02-01), None
R J Miller et al: “A Computer Interfaced High-Stability Temperature Controller and Heating Stage for Optical Microscopy” Measurement Science and Technology, vol. 5, No. 8, Aug. 1, 1994, pp. 904-911.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 009, No. 090, Apr. 19, 1985 & JP 59 218417A (Oosaka Sanso Kogyo KK), Dec. 8, 1984.
D R Lide: “CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Ready-reference book of chemical and physical data” 1996, CRC Press, pp. 12-179.

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