Tandem piezoelectric actuator and single drive circuit for atomic force microscopy

1. An apparatus for atomic force microscopy (AFM), comprising:

a first actuator configured to move a cantilever along an axis;

a second actuator configured to move the cantilever along the axis;

an amplifier; and

a crossover network connected between the amplifier, and the first actuator and the second actuator, wherein the crossover network is adapted to provide a first drive signal to the first actuator over a first frequency range and to provide a second drive signal to the second actuator over a second frequency range, wherein the second actuator has an intrinsic capacitance and the crossover network forms a low pass frequency filter with the intrinsic capacitance.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the high pass frequency filter and the low pass frequency filter are connected electrically in parallel.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator each comprise a piezoelectric element.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a pre-amplifier connected to an input of the amplifier, wherein the pre-amplifier equalizes a drive signal from the amplifier when an extension per unit voltage of the first actuator does not equal an extension per unit voltage of the second actuator.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the crossover network is adapted to provide a third signal to the first actuator and to the second actuator over a crossover frequency range.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator each have a gain of approximately −3 dB at a crossover frequency.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first frequency range is a comparatively low frequency range.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second frequency range is a comparatively high frequency range.

9. A drive circuit for driving a first actuator and a second actuator of an atomic force microscopy (AFM) apparatus, the drive circuit comprising:

an amplifier;

a crossover network connected between the amplifier, and the first actuator and the second actuator, wherein the crossover network is adapted to provide a first drive signal to the first actuator over a first frequency range and to provide a second drive signal to the second actuator over a second frequency range, wherein the second actuator has an intrinsic capacitance and the crossover network forms a low pass frequency filter with the intrinsic capacitance.

10. A drive circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the high pass frequency filter and the low pass frequency filter are connected electrically in parallel.

11. A drive circuit as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a pre-emphasis circuit connected to an input of the amplifier.

12. A drive circuit as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the pre-amplifier equalizes a drive signal from the amplifier when an extension per unit voltage of the first actuator does not equal an extension per unit voltage of the second actuator.

13. A drive circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the crossover network is adapted to provide a third signal to the first actuator and to the second actuator over a crossover frequency range.

14. A drive circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator each have a gain of approximately −3 dB at a crossover frequency.

15. A drive circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first frequency range is a comparatively low frequency range.

16. A drive circuit as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the second frequency range is a comparatively high frequency range.