Patent ID: 8839671

Claim:
A measurement method comprising: moving a vibrator ( 5 ) of a detection unit ( 4 ) relatively towards a flat plate surface ( 3 ) having a predetermined area on which an object-to-be-measured is resting, wherein the object-to-be-measured comprises a main body and a raised fabric layer disposed on the main body, the raised fabric layer having a different height and a different hardness than the main body; moving the vibrator ( 5 ) which is vibrating at a particular frequency closer to a surface of the object-to-be-measured ( 1 ) which is mounted on the plate ( 3 ) until the frequency changes; outputting a first surface contact position where the frequency of the vibrator ( 5 ) changes as the vibrator ( 5 ) makes contact with a top surface of the raised fabric layer; moving the vibrator further towards the flat plate surface until the frequency changes a second time as the vibrator makes contact with a top surface of the main body; outputting a second surface contact position where the frequency of the vibrator changes the second time as the vibrator makes contact with the top surface of the main body; measuring thickness of the raised fabric layer of the object-to-be-measured by performing a discrimination process between the first surface contact position and the second contact position based on the frequency variation of the vibrator at the first and second contact positions; measuring a thickness of the main body of the object-to-be-measured ( 1 ) by comparing the second surface contact position and a surface position of the flat plate surface ( 3 ) as compared with previously-obtained vibration variation information; moving the vibrator ( 5 ) further toward the flat plate surface ( 3 ) for a predetermined distance from the second surface contact position; detecting and outputting a pressure of a reaction force created by the object-to-be-measured against the vibrator ( 5 ); measuring a hardness of the object-to-be-measured by comparing the reaction force pressure with previously-obtained hardness information; and setting or changing various conditions including a vertical movement amount of the vibrator ( 5 ), moving pressure of the vibrator ( 5 ), moving speed of the vibrator ( 5 ), and press depth of the object-to-be-measured ( 1 ) due to the vibrator ( 5 ) in accordance with the object-to-be-measured ( 1 ).