Patent ID: 7898266

Claim:
A probe-structure device in relation to a sample, the probe-structure device comprising: a supported probe having a probe tip and probe body, said probe body having a sample facing surface on a first side and an opposing surface on a second side opposite said first side, with said probe tip on said sample facing surface; a first electrode positioned on said sample facing surface of said probe body; a second electrode positioned on said opposing surface of said probe body; a third electrode fixed with respect to the sample; a fourth electrode spaced from said third electrode, said fourth electrode fixed with respect to the sample; a first voltage source electrically coupled to said second and third electrodes to generate a voltage difference between said electrodes; a second voltage source electrically coupled to said first and fourth electrodes to generate a voltage difference between said electrodes; a first sensing circuit electrically coupled to said second and third electrodes; wherein said voltage sources enable control of contact force between said probe tip and the sample, and wherein said sensing circuit enables measurement of a position of said probe body with respect to the sample.