Patent ID: 6194711
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A scanning near-field optical microscope comprising: an optical waveguide probe having at a tip thereof a microscopic aperture portion of a diameter less than a wavelength; a vibration device having a piezoelectric vibrating body and an AC voltage generator for vibrating the optical waveguide probe relative to a surface of a sample; a vibration detecting device having a quartz oscillator and a current/voltage amplifier circuit for detecting vibration of the probe; a resilient body for biasing the optical waveguide probe into pressure contact with the quartz oscillator; a coarse displacement device for effecting coarse displacement of the optical waveguide probe in a direction to bring the optical waveguide probe close to the surface of the sample; an optical detection device having lenses and a photodetector for detecting light from the sample; a sample-to-probe distance control device having a fine displacement adjustment device and a servo circuit for effecting fine displacement of the probe in the Z direction; a two-dimensional scanning device having a fine displacement device and a scanning circuit for scanning the probe in X and Y directions; and a data processing device for converting a measurement signal from the photodetector into a three-dimensional image.