Patent ID: 7130116
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A microscope apparatus, which optically observes an observation sample, comprising: an objective lens; a sample base on which the observation sample is placed; a sensor target mounted on a tip portion of the objective lens; a member which holds the objective lens and which is caused to elongate and incline by thermal expansion due to a change in ambient temperature; a capacitance type non-contact sensor mounted on the sample base and positioned on an axis that passes through a center of the objective lens when the objective lens is not inclined and that is perpendicular to an expected inclination direction of the objective lens; a displacement detection system that detects a relative distance between the tip portion of the objective lens and the sample base via the capacitance type non-contact sensor and the sensor target; a moving mechanism that moves the objective lens along an optical axis relative to the sample base; and a control unit that controls the moving mechanism based on information detected by the displacement detection system to keep the relative distance between the tip portion of the objective lens and the sample base constant, so as to maintain a focused condition.