Patent ID: 6593571
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A scanning probe microscope comprising: a cantilever section comprised of a single cantilever chip, at least one first conductive cantilever having a first probe at a free end thereof and extending from the single cantilever chip, and at least one second cantilever extending from the single cantilever chip and disposed in side-by-side relation to the first conductive cantilever, the second cantilever having a second probe at a free end thereof and a length shorter than that of the first conductive cantilever; and a Z-direction rough movement mechanism for moving the first conductive cantilever in the Z-direction at a first velocity to bring the first probe into contact with a surface of a sample and for moving the second cantilever in the Z-direction at a second velocity lower than the first velocity when the first probe contacts the surface of the sample to bring the second probe in the vicinity of the surface of the sample for measuring a shape of the surface of the sample.