Patent ID: 7373806

Claim:
A scanning probe microscope comprising: a probe tip for undergoing a scanning operation to scan a sample surface in X- and Y-directions parallel to the sample surface and for undergoing movement in a Z-direction vertical to the sample surface; a vibration unit for vibrating the probe tip at a vibration frequency that resonates with or forcedly vibrates the probe tip; an observation unit for collecting observational data from the sample surface at observation positions thereof when the probe tip is in proximity or contact with the sample surface; a detection unit for detecting a variation in the state of vibration of the probe tip when the probe tip is in proximity or contact with the sample surface during a scanning operation; and a control unit for controlling scanning of the probe tip in the X- and Y-directions and movement of the probe tip in the Z-direction; wherein the control unit controls scanning of the probe tip in the X- and/or Y-direction parallel to the sample surface and controls movement of the probe tip only in the Z-direction away from the sample surface after the observational data is collected from an observation position of the sample surface and until the probe tip reaches a next observation position of the sample surface.