Patent ID: 6437343
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: B82Y,G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A piezoelectric micro-inching mechanism for use in a scanning probe microscope, said mechanism comprising:a first piezoelectric drive section displaceable along a first axis and a second axis; and a second piezoelectric drive section displaceable along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes, wherein the first piezoelectric drive section includes a first cylindrical piezoelectric element, a first common electrode provided inside the first piezoelectric element, and four driving electrodes arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction outside the first piezoelectric element, wherein the second piezoelectric drive section includes a second cylindrical piezoelectric element, an inside electrode provided inside of the second piezoelectric element, and an outside electrode provided outside of the second piezoelectric element, and wherein said first and second piezoelectric drive sections are separate structures which are connected together through an elastic member.