Patent ID: 7159452
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: B82Y,G01Q

Abstract:
1. A method of measuring the configuration of an object, said method comprising the steps of: contacting a surface of the object with a stylus tip; generating an electrical oscillation signal; oscillating the stylus tip in response to the oscillation signal; moving the stylus tip over the surface of the object; adjusting the oscillation signal so that a measuring force between the stylus tip and the object is adjusted; generating a detection signal representative of resonance changes in the stylus tip, wherein the resonance changes are indicative of a measuring force between the stylus tip and the object, wherein the step of generating the detection signal comprises the steps of generating an initial detection signal and then filtering the initial detection signal to remove noise, wherein the filtering is performed using a time constant; and, adjusting the time constant based on a predetermined relationship with the oscillation signal.