Patent ID: 6118121
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: B82Y,G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A probe scanning mechanism for a scanning probe microscope, comprising:a lever portion having a probe;a moving block having a lever holding portion for holding the lever portion;a first actuator, coupled to the moving block, for moving the moving block in a direction of a first axis;a second actuator, coupled to the moving block, for moving the moving block in a direction of a second axis which is perpendicular to the direction of the first axis;a light source for emitting light toward the lever portion;a detector for detecting light reflected from the lever portion; andan optical unit, fixed to the moving block, for guiding the light emitted from the light source to be incident upon substantially a same position on the lever portion at all times;wherein at least one of the light source and the detector are disposed separately from the optical unit and from the moving block.