Patent ID: 7076883
Filing Date: 2006-07-18
Classification: F16F,G01B

Abstract:
1. A scanning probe driven along a surface of a workpiece, comprising: a probe body; a measurement stylus movably supported via elastic members on the probe body for contacting the surface of the workpiece and moving on and scanning the surface; a fine feeder for moving the probe body and the measurement stylus supported thereon such that said measurement stylus moves against the workpiece within a fine range; a contacting force detector for detecting a contacting force between the measurement stylus and the surface of the workpiece based on relative movement rates of the measurement stylus and the probe body; and a contacting force adjuster for adjusting the contacting force by subtracting an inertial force acting to the measurement stylus generated due to movement with acceleration from the contacting force, wherein the contacting force adjuster comprises: wherein the fine feeder drives the probe body and the measurement stylus under feedback control so that the adjusted contacting force is within a prespecified range.