Patent ID: 7150185

Claim:
An optical microcantilever for a scanning near field microscope, comprising: a cantilever-shaped optical waveguide for propagating light, the optical waveguide having a longitudinal axis, a light input/output end, a free end opposite to the light input/output end, and a tip formed at the free end of the cantilever and having a microscopic aperture at an end thereof; and a support section having a first portion supporting the optical waveguide, a second portion having an optical element guide channel formed in the support section for supporting an optical element acting on light entering the optical waveguide or on light exiting from the optical waveguide and for determining a position of the optical element, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and having a surface disposed at an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide, the light input/output end of the optical waveguide projecting above the third portion for reducing a coupling loss between the optical element and the optical waveguide.