Patent ID: 6960765

Claim:
A probe apparatus comprising: a sample base for mounting a sample; a system for obtaining a SEM image, Scanning Ion Microscopy (SIM) image, or a reflected electron image of the sample, wherein said system includes: at least a detector, a probe to contact with the sample surface, a probe control apparatus for controlling the probe driving apparatus, and a detected information analyzing apparatus for analyzing the information detected by the detector, wherein the detected information analyzing apparatus determines a distance between the probe and the sample surface by an analysis of detected information, wherein the probe control apparatus controls the probe driving apparatus based on the detected information including said distance determined by the detected information analyzing apparatus, wherein the detected information analyzing apparatus detects a change in luminance in a region adjacent to the probe in the image, and wherein the detected change in luminance is used to judge the distance between the probe and the sample surface to control movement of the probe.