Abstract: An information processor comprises a plurality of probes disposed so as to face to a recording medium containing an information, and a plurality of elastic members such as cantilevers supporting the respective probes. The processor reads the information by detecting each displacement of the elastic members. For the detection of displacement, the processor has an optical system for radiating a scanning light beam to the elastic members together with an optical system for detecting a reflected light from the elastic members, or alternatively has a means for detecting each displacement individually such as optically integrated optical members or piezoelectric layers provided to the elastic members.

Abstract: A microprobe is provided which comprises a single crystal provided on a part of one main surface of a substrate or a part of a thin film formed on one main surface of the substrate. The microprobe may have a single crystal having an apex portion surrounded by facets having a specific plane direction and comprising a specific crystal face. The method for preparing the microprobe and an electronic device employing the microprobe also provided which is useful for recording and reproducing.

Abstract: In an apparatus including a recording medium on which a multiplicity of information bit lines are formed and a probe facing the recording medium, the displacement between the center of the information bit line and the locus of the probe is detected at the time of relatively moving the probe along the information bit line. Tracking is performed in such a manner that the probe scans the center of the information bit line in accordance with the detection results.

Abstract: An accessing method which is a method for accessing a probe electrode to the standard position of the format pattern relative to a medium having a format pattern having a standard position includes the step of scanning the probe electrode so that the probe electrode crosses over the format pattern and detecting the change in tunnel current which occurs by such scanning, and the step of detecting the standard position of the format pattern based on the change in tunnel current detected and moving the probe electrode to the standard position detected. An information processing method containing the step of scanning the probe electrode along the format pattern and reading the information by detection of the tunnel current and an information processing device therefor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A scanning tunnel-current-detecting device comprising at least two probe electrodes supported by a supporting member, a means for placing a sample in proximity to the probe electrodes, a means for applying voltage between the probe electrodes and the sample, at least one of the probe electrodes being provided with a mechanism for measuring and compensating variation of the distance between the supporting member and the sample, is provided.

Abstract: In an information recording medium where information is recorded and/or reproduced by a probe performing relative scanning, an information region for detecting abnormality of the probe is provided separate from a region where information is recorded and/or reproduced. Also disclosed is an information recording and/or reproducing method for recording information on and/or reproducing information from an information recording medium while relatively scanning the recording medium by a probe, which includes a step of detecting abnormality of the probe by detecting a predetermined information region separated from a region where the information is recorded and/or reproduced on the information recording medium.

Abstract: Recording, reproduction or erasing of information is performed on a recording medium having a recording layer provided on an electrode substrate. The electrode substrate has a regular periodic structure within a plane and the structure is detected through the recording layer by use of a probe electrode to determine a desired position on the recording medium.

Abstract: A switching element is disclosed which comprises an element comprising two electrodes and an organic insulative region interposed between said two electrodes. The element has a memory property and is capable of being switched between different resistance states upon the application of a predetermined voltage. The switching element also comprises a photosensitive region which has an electrical property which is changed by irradiation of light. The photosensitive region is arranged to change a magnitude of voltage applied to the element. The switching device also comprises a means for applying a biasing voltage to the element and the photosensitive region. This biasing voltage is of such a magnitude as to initiate one of the resistance states in said element, having the memory property when light is irradiated on the photosensitive region.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises a recording medium having at least an underlying electrode and a photoconductive thin film and having an insulating or semiconducting recording region capable of accumulating an electric charge; and a probe electrode. The invention relates to an information processing method, comprising employing the apparatus; applying a voltage between the underlying electrode and the probe electrode to inject the electric charge into the recording region to record information.

Abstract: A switching device is provided which comprises a pair of electrodes, and a insulating zone and a conductive or semiconductive zone that are provided between said electrodes. Another switching device is also provided which comprises a pair of electrodes, and a laminated structural body in which an insulating thin film and a conductive or semiconductive thin film are alternately laminated between said electrodes in the direction vertical to the surfaces of said electrodes. This device may be used for a switching process in which an electric circuit is switched from the switched off state to the switched-on state by irradiation of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: An electron emitting device, comprising: a first electrode provided on a substrate; a first layer provided on said electrode and capable of undergoing transition from an electrically high resistance state to a low resistance state when irradiated by a radiant ray; and a conductive layer, an insulating layer and a second electrode, laminated on said first layer. An electron generator includes the electron emitting device as well as an applicator for applying an electric field to said device, and an irradiator for irradiating a radiant ray on the device. A method for driving the electron emitting device is also provided.

Abstract: A scanning tunnel-current-detecting device comprising at least two probe electrodes supported by a supporting member, a means for placing a sample in proximity to the probe electrodes, a means for applying voltage between the probe electrodes and the sample, at least one of the probe electrodes being provided with a mechanism for measuring and compensating variation of the distance between the supporting member and the sample, is provided.

Abstract: A switching device comprises a pair of electrodes, an organic insulating layer and an inorganic oxide layer which are held between the electrodes. The organic insulating layer is comprised of an organic compound having at least one .pi.-electron level and the inorganic oxide layer is comprised of a metal oxide. Another switching device comprises a pair of electrodes, an organic insulating thin film provided between the electrodes and said organic insulating thin film in such a manner than an electrification region between the electrodes may be restricted.

Abstract: A microprobe is constituted by a single crystal having an apex portion surrounded by facets having specific place directions and having specific crystal faces. The microprobe is provided on a part of a main surface of a substrate or a part of a thin film formed on the main surface. In one embodiment the microprobe is provided with a source electrode, a gate electrode, a drain electrode and a thin resistance, so as to form an MOS transistor for amplifying the microprobe.

Abstract: A photosensing device comprising at least one probe electrode, a light-absorbing medium in opposition to the probe electrode, and a means for adjusting the distance between the probe electrode and the light-absorbing medium.

Abstract: A light modulating device having a signal input unit for generating an optical signal, an optical switching unit using an alternately-laminated structure consisting of insulating layers sandwiching a conductive or semiconductive layer, and a display medium responsive to electric field. The device controls the electric field strength applied to the display medium by irradiating or interrupting light on the optical switching unit in accordance with an input signal, and performs a display corresponding to the input signal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is provided which has a pair of substrates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal with the molecules thereof arranged in a plurality of layers perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the surface of said pair of substrates. The device is characterized in that at least one of said pair of substrates is coated with a film of a polymeric material for aligning the plurality of layers preferentially in one direction, and the film of the polymeric material is formed of a monomecular film or a monomolecular built-up film of a polymeric compound having both a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion within a molecule.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided which comprises a diacetylene derivative compound and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of azulenium salt compounds, pyrylium dyes, diene compounds, croconic methines, and polymethine compounds. An optical recording method is also provided which comprises a step of writing by irradiating with a radiation ray corresponding to a recording information an optical recording medium comprising a polydiacetylene derivative compound and a compound selected from the above-mentioned group.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided which comprises an image forming layer containing molecules of an organic compound capable of phase transition, and functional molecules such as those of a photochromic compound. An image forming process is also provided which employs the above-mentioned device.

Abstract: An image forming medium is provided which has an image forming layer comprising a monomolecular film of a diacetylene derivative compound or its built-up film and a radiation absorbing layer. The diacetylene derivative compound may be polymeric. An image forming device employing the image forming medium is also provided.