Patent ID: 6265711
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: G01N,G01Q,G02B,G03F,G11B,Y10S

Abstract:
A scanning probe microscope assembly for examining an object, comprising:a probe comprising a tip, said tip having a sharp end and a base;at least one light source optically coupled to said tip for providing a narrow beam of light and a wide beam of light;a lens system disposed over said base of said tip and optically coupled between said light source and said tip, said lens system focusing said provided narrow beam of light in said base of said tip so that said focused narrow beam of light propagates in said tip, said lens system focusing said provided wide beam of light on said object so that said object reflects said focused wide beam of light back to said lens;wide beam receiving means optically coupled to said lens system for receiving said reflected wide beam of light;said tip being formed so as to emit said propagating narrow beam of light at said sharp end so that said emitted narrow beam of light optically interacts with said object; anda photodetector for detecting light resulting from said emitted narrow beam of light optically interacting with said object.