Patent ID: 6278113
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: B82Y,G01Q,H01J,Y10S

Abstract:
A scanning probe microscope in which a probe tip scans a surface of a sample by means of a fine movement mechanism, for measuring a surface characteristic of the sample by using a control signal which is generated on a signal outputted from a displacement detecting mechanism for detecting displacement of said probe tip and is used for keeping a state of a mutual action between the sample and said probe tip identical to a predetermined state, comprising:a moving section arranged on a standard surface of a microscope stage, which has the sample on an upper surface thereof and moves along the standard surface based on a static pressure guide at a base thereof,a height-position control section for supplying high-pressure fluid to said moving section so as to carry out the static pressure guide and controlling the height-position of said moving section with respect to the standard surface, andan actuating mechanism for moving said moving section in directions parallel to the standard surface,wherein said moving section, said height-position control section and said actuating mechanism compose a movement mechanism,further, wherein said fine movement mechanism comprises a height-direction fine movement mechanism for changing a height-position of said probe tip to the surface of the sample, and a surface-directions fine movement mechanism for changing a relative position between the sample and said probe tip in directions parallel to the surface of the sample, andwhen causing said probe tip to scan the surface of the sample in order to measure the sample by said probe tip, either one of said movement mechanism and said surface-directions fine movement mechanism is used to measure the surface characteristic of the sample and,when carrying out scanning operation by said surface-directions fine movement mechanism, said static pressure guide based on said height-position control section of said movement mechanism is maintained in operation to keep said moving section floating, and when carrying out the scanning operation by said moving mechanism, said surface-directions fine movement mechanism is not in operation.