Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope having a cantilever having a minute probe at one end thereof and a reflective surface portion, a laser beam radiating device for radiating laser beans onto the reflective surface portion of the cantilever, an optical position sensor for detecting positions of laser beams reflected by the reflective surface portion, specimen moving means for moving a specimen relative to the probe, and cantilever oscillating means for periodically oscillating the cantilever at a predetermined amplitude, the method comprising the steps of: performing a first operation in which the specimen is moved relative to the probe and uneven surface data of the specimen surface is obtained when the optical position sensor detects a reduced amplitude of the cantilever smaller than the predetermined amplitude during the relative movement when the probe comes into contact with the specimen, the uneven surface data being obtained by controlling the specimen moving means to move the specimen relative to the probe in upward or downward directions in order to maintain the reduced amplitude constant; and  performing a second operation in which physical action force data of the specimen is obtained by causing relative movement of the specimen and the probe while keeping the probe spaced by a predetermined distance from the specimen on the basis of the uneven surface data obtained in the first operation;  wherein, in the first operation, the uneven surface data is obtained by controlling the oscillating means so that the cantilever is oscillated outside a frequency band defined by one-half the value of a dependent curve of the cantilever oscillating frequency and amplitude and, in the second operation, the cantilever is oscillated with a frequency near a resonant point of the dependent curve of the cantilever oscillating frequency and amplitude. 2. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope having a cantilever having a minute aperture at one end thereof and a reflective surface portion, a laser beam radiating device for radiating laser beams onto the reflective surface portion of the cantilever, an optical position sensor for detecting positions of laser beams reflected by the reflective surface portion, specimen moving means for moving a specimen relative to the probe, and cantilever oscillating means for periodically oscillating the cantilever at a predetermined amplitude, the method comprising the steps of: performing a first operation in which the specimen is moved relative to the probe and uneven surface data of the specimen is obtained when the optical position sensor detects a reduced amplitude of the cantilever smaller than the predetermined amplitude during the relative movement when the probe of the cantilever comes into contact with the specimen, the uneven surface state data being obtained by controlling the specimen moving means to move the specimen relative to the probe in upward or downward directions in order to maintain the reduced amplitude constant; and  performing a second operation in which physical action force data of the specimen is obtained by causing relative movement of the specimen and the probe while keeping the probe spaced by a predetermined distance from the specimen on the basis of the uneven surface state data obtained by the first operation;  wherein, in the first operation, the uneven surface data is obtained by oscillating the cantilever with an oscillation frequency outside a frequency band which is defined by one-halt the value of a dependent curve of the cantilever oscillating frequency and amplitude and, in the second operation, flexibility of the cantilever is measured by moderately oscillating the cantilever while causing relative movement of the specimen and the probe. 3. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 1 ; further comprising the steps of using p phase sensor to detect a signal generated in response to a time delay in oscillations of the cantilever caused by interactions of the specimen surface and the probe; and measuring a difference in at least one physical property of the specimen surf ace selected from a magnetic field, an electric field or a physical action force on the basis of the detected signal. claim 1 4. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 1 ; further comprising the steps of using a phase sensor to detect a signal generated in response to a time delay in oscillations of the cantilever caused by interactions of the specimen surface and the probe; and measuring a difference in at least one physical property of the specimen surface selected from a magnetic field, an electric field or a physical action force on the basis of a signal which is generated in accordance with a shift amount of a resonance frequency of the cantilever and is detected by the phase sensor. claim 1 5. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 1 ; wherein the first and second operations are performed at each of a plurality of measurement points on the specimen surface. claim 1 6. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 1 ; wherein the first and second operations are performed at each of a plurality of measurement lines along the specimen surface. claim 1 7. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 1 ; wherein the first and second operations are performed by causing relative scanning movement of the probe relative to the specimen surface throughout each of a plurality of frames of the specimen surface. claim 1 8. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 1 ; wherein the first and second operations are performed with the specimen exposed to air. claim 1 9. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 1 ; further comprising the steps of providing a cell containing therein a solution, placing the specimen in the solution, and performing the first and second operations with the specimen placed in the solution. claim 1 10. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 1 ; further comprising the steps of providing a vacuum container and vacuum pumping means, and performing the first and second operations with the specimen located in the vacuum container under a vacuum produced by the vacuum pumping means. claim 1 11. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 1 ; further comprising the steps of providing a vacuum container, placing the specimen in the vacuum container, evacuating the vacuum container, and then filling the vacuum container with a gas, and performing the first and second operations with the specimen placed in the gas. claim 1 12. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 8 ; further comprising the step of providing means f or heating or cooling the specimen, and performing the first and second operations with the specimen being in a heated or cooled state. claim 8 13. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 8 ; further comprising the steps of providing means for applying a magnetic field to the specimen, and performing the first and second operations with the specimen disposed in a magnetic field. claim 8 14. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 8 ; further comprising the steps of providing means for applying an electric field to the specimen, and performing the first and second operations during the application of the electric field. claim 8 15. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope having a cantilever with a probe at one end thereof, the method comprising the steps of: performing a data acquisition process by oscillating the cantilever at a frequency offset from a resonant frequency thereof, causing the probe to undergo relative scanning movement with respect to a specimen so that the cantilever undergoes oscillation at a reduced amplitude when the probe comes into contact with the specimen, maintaining the reduced amplitude constant by causing the cantilever to nova toward or away from the specimen, and obtaining surface state data of the specimen on the basis of movement of the cantilever toward or away from the specimen; and  performing a measurement process by oscillating the cantilever near a resonant frequency thereof, causing the probe to undergo relative scanning movement with respect to the specimen, and obtaining physical data of the specimen by maintaining the probe at a predetermined distance from the specimen on the basis of the surface state data. 16. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 15 ; wherein the step of performing the data acquisition process includes the step of oscillating the cantilever at a frequency outside a frequency band which is defined by one-half the value of a dependent curve of the cantilever oscillating frequency versus amplitude, and the step of performing the measurement process includes the step of oscillating the cantilever at a frequency near a resonant point of the dependent curve of the cantilever oscillating frequency versus amplitude. claim 15 17. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 15 ; further comprising the steps of using a phase sensor to produce a phase signal in response to a time delay in oscillation of the cantilever caused by interaction of the specimen surface and the probe; and measuring a physical property of the specimen surface on the basis of the phase signal. claim 15 18. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 15 ; wherein the data acquisition process and the measurement process are performed with the specimen exposed to air. claim 15 19. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 15 ; wherein the data acquisition process and the measurement process are performed with The specimen maintained in a vacuum. claim 15 20. A method of operating a scanning probe microscope according to  claim 15 ; wherein the data acquisition process and the measurement process are performed with the specimen placed in a solution. claim 15