Abstract: A method for detecting a slope of a surface of an information record medium in an apparatus for detecting/writing information using one or a plurality of probes from/in the information record medium. The surface of the information record medium is scanned using the probe. The information from the surface of the information record medium is detected through the probe when the scanning is executed, and the slope of the surface of the information record medium is detected on the basis of the detected information.

Abstract: An information recording and/or reproducing apparatus performs at least one of record and reproduction of information on an information record medium with a plurality of probes. The apparatus includes a support plate supporting the plurality of probes and segmented into a plurality of blocks, and a driving mechanism for driving the plurality of blocks independently of one another. Another apparatus may include an information record medium segmented into a plurality of blocks, a support plate supporting a plurality of probes, and a driving mechanism for driving the plurality of blocks independently of one another.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of detecting a displacement of a probe from a track of a recording medium caused by track fluctuations and vibrations at a recording/reproducing period. For example, a probe is maintained to vibrate at a frequency and in the direction perpendicular to a data train at a amplitude smaller than the width of the data train. In this case, the amplitude of a reproduced signal of the data train changes with the displacement between the probe and the data train. An envelope signal of the reproduced signal is phase detected using as a reference signal the vibration waveform (standard signal) at frequency f.sub.o of the probe, to obtain a signal proportional to the displacement from the data train. Using this signal, it becomes possible to feedback control the probe so as to make it trace the data train.

Abstract: A memory apparatus for effecting the writing or reading of information on a recording medium by a probe has a base having the probe attached thereto, a substrate supporting the recording medium thereon and movable relative to the base, and a frame containing the base and the substrate therein, and the coefficients of linear expansion of the base and the substrate are made approximate to each other since the coefficients of linear expansion of the base and the substrate are approximate to each other, any relative positional deviation between the probe and the recording medium will not occur even if temperature changes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording information on an information recording medium and/or reproducing information from the recording medium. Probes for recording and/or reproducing information and a support for supporting the probes are arranged so that the probes are positioned to face the information recording medium. The support and the information recording medium are relatively moved by sliding on sliding surfaces thereof. The distance between the support and the recording medium is roughly set by projections formed between the support and the recording medium, and is finely adjusted during operation by a mechanism for moving the probes.

Abstract: An information carrier for performing information recording and/or reproducing through a probe provided in an information recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes an information recording medium having a recording plane for recording and/or reproducing through the probe, and a frame which is formed detachably in the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus to accommodate the information recording medium airtightly. A mechanism is provided in the frame which can be opened or closed to allow the recording plane of the information recording medium to be open when the frame is mounted in the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: An information detection apparatus is disclosed. A plurality of probes are arranged in the apparatus so as to face a medium which carries an information, Each of the plurality of probes produces a detection signal from the medium. A performance testing device is provided in the apparatus for testing the performance of each of the plurality of probes. A detection device in the apparatus selects the signal from at least one normal probe on the basis of the test result of the testing device and detects the information in accordance with the selected signal. By such the construction in the apparatus, the detection of the information can be continuously effected even if one of the probes is broken.

Abstract: Information is recorded by providing a recording medium having a recording layer on an electroconductive substrate transmitting an electromagnetic wave and an electroconductive optical probe arranged proximate to the recording medium, and applying a voltage between the substrate and the optical probe. The recorded information is read by irradiating an electromagnetic wave, preferably with a plurality of wavelengths, on the recording layer from the substrate side, and detecting with the optical probe an electromagnetic wave oozed out on the surface of the recording layer.

Abstract: An encoder or an information reading device detects a scale with a probe that is vibrated at a predetermined frequency and amplitude in a predetermined direction. The angular positional relationship between the direction of probe vibration and the scale is detected according to frequency spectrum information of a detection signal obtained by detecting the scale with the vibrating probe.

Abstract: An information carrier for performing information recording and/or reproducing through a probe provided in an information recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes an information recording medium having a recording plane for recording and/or reproducing through the probe, and a frame which is formed detachably in the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus to accommodate the information recording medium airtightly. A mechanism is provided in the frame which can be opened or closed to allow the recording plane of the information recording medium to be open when the frame is mounted in the information recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope is provided with a probe, a scanning device, a detecting device and an output device. The probe is disposed to face the surface of a sample. The scanning device two-dimensionally scans the surface of the sample using the probe. A signal corresponding to the structure of the sample is detected from the probe by the detecting device. From the signal detected in the detecting device, an observation image of the sample is output by the output device. The apparatus is further provided with a correcting device for correcting the scan by the scanning device so that the observation image output from the outputting device is not shifted.

Abstract: A cantilever type probe comprising a piezoelectric bimorph cantilever containing a piezoelectric material provided between driving electrodes for driving a cantilever, a probe formed thereon and a drawing electrode for a probe provided along the surface where a probe is formed, wherein there is provided a shielding electrode for electrically isolating the probe and the drawing electrode from the driving electrodes.

Abstract: An edge detector is disclosed, which detector is improved by providing a probe moving relatively with a tested pattern, a device for detecting a working force or a tunnel current generated between the probe and the tested pattern, and a device for detecting an edge of the tested pattern according to the detected working force or tunnel current. An edge of the tested pattern is detected at high resolution by detecting the tunnel current flowing between a conductive tested pattern and a probe kept closely opposite thereto, or by detecting an atomic force or a magnetic force working between an insulated or a magnetic tested pattern and a lever.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for driving an object comprises a pair of piezoelectric elements, one of them being arranged on the one side of the object while the other of them on the other side of the object, and the respective electrode arrangement directions of the pair of piezoelectric elements being substantially identical to each other, and a control circuit which applies a predetermined voltage across the outer electrodes of the pair of piezoelectric elements respectively, gives an equipotential to the inner electrodes thereof, and causes the pair of piezoelectric elements to drive the object by varying the value of the potential given to the inner electrodes. Hence, the increased amount of a voltage applied to one piezoelectric element is exactly identical to the decreased amount for the other so as to make the extended and contracted amounts of the piezoelectric elements on both sides of the object the same.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing information onto/from a medium through a probe electrode. A voltage is applied between the medium and the probe electrode and a distance between the medium and the probe electrode is adjusted in such a manner that current becomes a predetermined current value, the current flowing to the probe when the voltage is applied between the medium and the probe electrode. The predetermined current value is changed in accordance with the voltage being applied.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus includes a recording medium and a reproducing probe, and reproduces information from a signal between the recording medium and the probe. The apparatus further includes a unit for obtaining reproduced information from each of a plurality of data unit areas of the recording medium under different conditions. By obtaining a plurality of different kinds of information from scanning each recording region under the different conditions in a reproducing operation, it is possible to perform correction by discriminating a change in a tunnel current reflecting a recording bit from a tunnel current caused by projections and recesses of the surface and to remove a resulting error.

Abstract: A micro-displacement type information detection probe device capable of following all of the undulation on the .mu.m order, and the periodical surface unevenness on the nm order, of the recording medium or the substrate in performing recording and/or reproduction, by use of, for example, tunnel current, is provided. By forming a cantilever of the first stage by extending the insulation layer laminated on the substrate, providing a lalyer structure having a piezoelectric material sandwiched between the electrode members on the cantilever of the first stage, forming further a cantilever of the second stage on the extension from the tip end of the first cantilever having said layer structure and also forming an information detection probe at the free end of the cantilever of said second stage, and utilizing the reverse piezoelectric effect formed by application of a voltage between the electrodes of said layer structure, the cantilever of the above first stage is displaced.

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 cantilever unit comprises a cantilever for supporting a probe and a displacement amount detecting means, the displacement amount detecting means being integrated with the cantilever. An information processing apparatus comprises the cantilever unit and optionally an information recording medium stationed in close vicinity to the unit, wherein an information in the medium is reproduced at a signal on the basis of an displacement amount of the cantilever. An atomic force microscope and magnetic force microscope comprise the cantilever unit, respectively.

Abstract: A method of access of a probe electrode to a recording medium having on the surface thereof an edge portion having a level difference larger than a recording recess-projection or having an electron state different from a recording electron state includes steps of detecting the edge portion; causing the probe electrode to scan at a certain angle to the edge portion; and moving the recording medium in a direction along the edge portion.