Abstract: This specification discloses a method of recording information on a recording medium which has the relative scanning of the recording medium by a probe for information recording, the relative scanning being effected along the surface of the recording medium, the recording medium being capable of forming two or more kinds of state changes relative to the state of non-recording, and a recording process onto the recording medium through the probe effecting the relative scanning, the recording process being carried out by intermittently forming bits on the recording medium, each of the bits being formed with one of the two or more kinds of state changes in conformity with recording information. The specification also discloses a method of reproducing information recorded on a recording medium by such information recording method. The specification further discloses an apparatus for carrying out the information recording method, and an apparatus for carrying out the information reproducing method.

Abstract: Information detecting apparatus comprises a probe arranged to face an information medium so as to relatively move to the information medium with thereby detect information thereon, a first vibrating device for vibrating the probe relative to the information medium in a first direction parallel with the information medium, and a first movement detecting device for detecting a state of relative displacement of the probe for the information medium in the first direction on the basis of information obtained by the probe which is caused to vibrate by the first vibrating device.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus is provided with a probe electrode supported by a probe plate and arranged to face a recording medium supported by a recording medium plate, drive elements for relatively moving the recording medium and the probe electrode, voltage application circuit for applying a voltage between the recording medium and the probe electrode and an electric wire take-out portion for taking out an electric wire provided on at least one of a plane of the probe plate opposite to the probe electrode and a plane of the recording medium plate opposite to the recording medium.

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: 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 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 probe for reading an information from an object and/or inputting an information to an object is disclosed. The probe has a supporting member and a rod-shaped projection of which the end is positioned opposed to the object for information reading therefrom and/or information input thereto. The rod-shaped projection protrudes from a partial area of the supporting member. The information reading from the object and/or information input to the object is effected at the longitudinal end of the probe. The probe provides precise and accurate output and/or input of information regardless of the surface state of the object.

Abstract: An information recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a recording medium having a plurality of segmented planar electrodes, a plurality of probe electrodes respectively facing and electrically connected to the plural planar electrodes, and a circuit for independently applying a voltage for recording and/or reproducing between each pair of the planar electrodes and the probe electrodes. The information recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a circuit for inputting information to be recorded on the recording medium. A memory other than the recording medium is used for temporarily storing the input information, and a control circuit applies the recording voltages between the plurality of probe electrodes and the segmented planar electrodes in correspondence with the information stored in the memory.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: A microtip has a tip portion formed by gathering of three crystal faces of a single crystal, at least one of the crystal faces being an etched face at and around the tip portion. The microtip is produced by breaking and splitting a single crystal by applying a stress, and subjecting the face formed by breaking of the single crystal to anisotropic etching by utilizing facial orientation, thus forming a tip portion as a gathering point of three crystal faces of the single crystal. A surface-observing apparatus for observing a surface of a specimen and an information-treating apparatus comprise a tip in proximity to the specimen to be observed or a recording medium, and conduct the surface observation or the writing or reading by using the tip, respectively.

Abstract: A cantilever type probe comprises a cantilever-shaped displacement element having electrodes for driving which displace two layers of piezoelectric material at the interface and first and second surfaces of the layers, respectively, and each of the electrodes being arranged separately within the same plane, and a tip for information input and output connected to electrodes for drawing out arranged separately from the electrodes for driving at the free end of either one of the first and second surfaces of the element. A scanning tunneling microscopy or an information processing device comprises the cantilever type probe, a driver for driving the displacement element of the cantilever type probe and a bias or pulse voltage applicator for applying a bias or pulse voltage between a sample and the probe.

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: An encoder has a reference scale having periodic structure of atoms or molecules in a predetermined direction, a probe disposed in opposed relationship with the reference scale, the probe being used to detect the structural variation information of the periodic structure of the reference scale, and relative displacement amount detecting means for detecting the amount of relative displacement of the reference scale and the probe along a predetermined direction from the structural variation information obtained by the probe.