Patent ID: 6215121
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B82Y,G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of operating a three-dimensional scanning probe microscope having a probe capable of relatively performing scanning operations along an x direction and a y direction parallel to a surface of a sample, and also a moving operation along a z direction perpendicular to the sample surface with respect to the sample surface comprising the steps: vibrating the probe along the z direction at a second frequency corresponding to a number of points on the sample surface at which data is to be acquired with an amplitude extending from a first position at which the sample is penetrated by the probe up to a second position where the probe is spaced in the z direction from the sample surface and is not influenced by inter-atomic forces between the probe and the sample surface; and acquiring data corresponding to a plurality of characteristics of the sample are during one cycle when the probe is moved from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions, and then back to the one of the first and second positions; whereby the data corresponding to the plurality of characteristics of the sample is acquired during a single pass scanning of a desired region of the sample surface.