Patent ID: 9453856
Filing Date: 2016-09-27
CPC Classification: G01Q

Claim Text:
1. A scanning probe microscopy to acquire information regarding the surface of a sample by use of a cantilever having a probe at a free end thereof, the scanning probe microscopy comprising: vibrating the cantilever on the basis of a vibration signal; obtaining a displacement signal indicating the displacement of the cantilever; providing a phase offset to a phase difference between the vibration signal and the displacement signal; obtaining a first phase signal including information regarding the phase difference between the vibration signal and the displacement signal and the phase offset; and controlling the distance between the probe and the sample on the basis of the first phase signal, the providing the phase offset being providing a combined amount of a first phase amount that cancels an initial phase difference between the vibration signal and the displacement signal exiting in a condition where the probe and the sample are out of contact, and a second phase amount equal to or more than (0 [rad]) and less than or equal to (π/2 [rad]).