Patent ID: 7520067

Claim:
A three-dimensional measurement probe comprising: a cylindrical small slidably moving shaft part having one end arranged with a stylus for contacting a surface of a measuring object to be measured and another end arranged with a magnetic pin; a small air bearing part provided with a cylindrical hole that fits with the small slidably moving shaft part, and including an air outlet forming a compressed air film in a gap with the small slidably moving shaft part; a magnetic force generating part for generating magnetic force for preventing movement in a Z direction or axial direction of the cylindrical small slidably moving shaft part and a rotating direction about the Z direction by constructing a magnetic circuit with a magnet arranged at the end of the small air bearing part and a plurality of yokes in a non-contact manner with the pin; a displacement detecting part for detecting a displacement in the Z direction of the small slidably moving shaft part with respect to the small air bearing part; a Z stage for guiding the movement in the Z direction of the small air bearing part; and a Z stage driving device for driving the Z stage such that the displacement in the Z direction becomes substantially constant when moving one of the measuring object and the Z stage in XY directions orthogonal to the Z direction and orthogonal to each other and when moving the stylus in the Z direction along a shape of the measuring object.