• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.7 s.94
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• pp.1731-1739
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• 1993

An application of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy(STM) is investigated for the measurement of 3-dimensional profiles of the macro-machined patterns of which critical dimensions lie in the range of submicrometers. Special emphasis of this investigation is given to extending the measuring ranges of STM upto the order of several micrometers while maintaining superb nanometer measuring resolution. This is accomplished by correcting hysteresis effects of piezoelectric actuators by using non-linear compensation models. Detailed aspects of design and control of a prototype measurement system are described with some actual measuring examples in which fine It patterns can successfully be traced with a resolution of 1 nanometer over a surface range of $4{\times}2$ micrometers.