Abstract: A cantilever for a scanning probe microscope comprises a lever section and a probe section disposed near the free end thereof. The probe section includes a conical distal end portion having a narrow point angle and a bulging proximal end portion continuous with the distal end portion. The cantilever is manufactured by utilizing a semiconductor process.

Abstract: A cantilever chip for scanning probe microscope includes a cantilever portion, a probe portion formed at a free end of the cantilever portion, a mirror portion formed on the cantilever portion on a side opposite to a side where the probe portion is formed, and a support portion for supporting the proximal end of the cantilever portion. A step is formed between the cantilever portion and the support portion, so that the support portion is set back from the surface of the cantilever portion on the side where the probe portion is formed.

Abstract: An atomic probe microscope comprises a cantilever which includes a lever section provided with a probe, a lever attaching section for supporting the lever section, and a positioning striking section formed at the lever attaching section. A cantilever unit comprises a seat for supporting the cantilever and provided with a face against which the positioning striking section is received.

Abstract: An integrated optical displacement sensor for measuring displacement of a sample, comprises a semiconductor substrate, laser for generating a laser beam, two micro-lens for focusing the laser beam generated from the laser on a surface of the sample, and an optical detector for detecting a reflection light reflected on the surface of the sample and for obtaining an output signal which varies in accordance with displacement of the sample. The laser, lens and detector are integrated with the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a predetermined circuit pattern on a circuit substrate by using a .mu.-STM write head, the .mu.-STM write head comprising a write head substrate having a flat surface, a plurality of micro chip electrodes formed upright on the flat surface of the write head substrate and constituting a .mu.-STM, a level of a distal end of each of the chip electrodes being set to be constant, and scanning means for scanning the micro chip electrodes on the circuit substrate by moving the micro chip electrodes and the circuit substrate relative to each other in two-dimensional directions.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a negative lens, a variable focussing lens unit including a material with an electrooptic effect, a light blocking unit, including the material with the electrooptic effect, capable of changing an aperture diameter, and a switch, interlocked with each other, capable of supplying electric power to the variable focussing lens unit and the light blocking unit which are arranged in order on an optical axis from an object side to an image side. When the switch is turned off, the variable focussing lens unit is set to bring an object at a far point into focus and the light blocking unit is set so that an aperture is determined by an aperture stop, while on the other hand, when the swtich is turned on, the variable focussing lens unit is set so that an object at a near point is in focus and the light blocking unit is set to be smaller in aperture.

Abstract: A micro scanning tunneling microscope ("STM") arithmetic circuit device comprises an information-rewritable micro STM recording medium and a micro STM recording apparatus which temporarily stores information on the recording medium such that the information can be read as a variation in a tunnel current. The recording apparatus has a probe (probes) for writing/reading information on the recording medium and a scanner for varying a relationship in position between the probe and the recording medium. The micro STM recording apparatus uses a recording medium having a specific format as the micro STM recording medium in which recorded information is read as a variation in a tunnel current. That is, the recording medium has an address area in which address information is recorded and a data area in which data information is recorded.

Abstract: A probe for scanning a sample is attached to a probe electrode supported by a cylindrical piezoelectric actuator. The actuator has four drive electrodes on its periphery, and deforms in the three axial directions in accordance with the voltage applied to the drive electrodes. A girdling electrode is provided between the actuator and the probe electrode. The girdling electrode is insulated from the probe electrode and the drive electrodes by insulator members provided on its upper and lower surfaces. A bias voltage signal S1 is input to an operational amplifier of which the output is connected to the girdling electrode. The amplifier is a voltage follower for equalizing the potential of the girdling electrode to that of the bias voltage signal S1. An operational amplifier has a non-inversion input to which the bias voltage signal S1 is input, and an inversion input connected to the probe electrode.

Abstract: An objective optical system is provided with at least one liquid crystal lens whose polarizing characteristic selected in a direction such that polarizing components of light reflected from the lens are counterbalanced and a variable liquid crystal stop is arranged at an angle with respect to an optical axis so that an incident direction of light is deviated to the side on which contrast between transmission and blocked states of light is maximized. The objective optical system enables the balance of the polarizing components to bring about a proper image for observation, can moderate asymmetry, relative to the optical axis, of the contract between the transmission and blocked states of light of the liquid crystal stop, and can secure an adjustable object image.

Abstract: A memory device comprises a base plate with a memory element supporting layer, a probe with a pointed tip portion, and a fine scan element for causing the probe to scan over the surface of the memory element supporting layer. When the probe is approached to the surface of the memory element supporting layer and a suitable bias voltage is applied across the probe and the memory element supporting layer, a tunnel current is cause to flow therebetween and a specific region of the surface of the supporting layer is excited. The excited region can adsorb one molecule of, for example, di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. By causing the memory element to be adsorbed selectively on the memory element supporting layer, data is recorded in the form of a projection-and-recess pattern. The recorded data can be read out by observing the surface configuration of the supporting layer in accordance with the principle of an STM (scanning tunneling microscope).

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a negative lens, a variable focal length lens unit including a material with an electrooptic effect, a light blocking unit, including the material with the electrooptic effect, capable of changing an aperture diameter, and a switch, interlocked with each other, capable of supplying electric power to the variable focal length lens unit and the light blocking unit which are arranged in order on an optical axis from an object side to an image side. When the switch is turned off, the variable focal length lens unit is set to bring an object at a far point into focus and the light blocking unit is set so that an aperture is determined by an aperture stop, while on the other hand, when the switch is turned on, the variable focal length lens unit is set so that an object at a near point is in focus and the light blocking unit is set to be smaller in aperture.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus includes a first lever body having a piezoelectric driving section, and a second lever body which is disposed to separate from and to be perpendicular to the first lever body, and has a piezoelectric driving section. A recording medium is formed on a portion of the second lever body, and records desired data. A plurality of probes are disposed on a portion of the first lever body to oppose the recording medium at a predetermined interval, and detect a change in state at predetermined positions on the recording medium as a change in tunnel current or a change in three-dimensional pattern. A voltage applying circuit alternately applies predetermined voltages to the piezoelectric driving sections of the first and second lever bodies to separately drive the plurality of probes in different directions, thereby three-dimensionally scanning the recording medium.

Abstract: At least a part of an image forming optical system is formed of a liquid crystal assembly consisting of a plurality of liquid crystals having a refractive index anisotropy and having different response frequencies of molecule orientation so that the transmittivity and refractive index of the plurality of liquid crystals may be independently controlled with few signal lines by varying the frequency of the driving signal applied to the liquid crystal assembly.

Abstract: A scanning tunneling microscopy apparatus includes a specimen mount on which a specimen is located, a probe for scanning the surface of the specimen, and a scanning unit for two- or three-dimensionally changing a relative positional relation between the specimen and the probe. A temperature control mechanism is located near the probe and/or the specimen to achieve temperature control. It is thus possible to eliminate an adverse effect upon the resolution of a microscope which results from a temperature variation and to make a measurement under any given temperature condition. The temperature control mechanism includes a Peltier element as a source for heating and cooling and a temperature sensor.

Abstract: The focussed point detecting optical system comprises an objective lens, a pair of reimaging lenses arranged on the side opposite to the objective lens at a location apart from the imaging plane of the objective lens, and a variable refractive index optical element arranged in the vicinity of said imaging plane so as to have, as a plane of symmetry, the plane including the optical axis of the objective lens and perpendicular to the straight line passing through the centers of said pair of reimaging lenses. This focussed point detecting optical system permits changing base length and is capable of favorably detecting focussed points of lenses having various F number. The variable refractive index optical element is a liquid crystal prism so composed as to permit varying voltage to be applied.

Abstract: A fine surface profile meter includes an X-Y stage, supported by a leaf spring, for supporting a sample thereon, a piezoelectric actuator for two-dimensionally scanning the X-Y stage, a positioning table, disposed below the X-Y stage, for positioning the X-Y stage at an arbitrary position, an objective lens disposed above the X-Y stage, an observation optical system for allowing an operator to observe an enlarged sample image, a measurement optical system, an optical axis of which is aligned with an optical path of the objective lens through a beam splitter, the measurement optical system for emitting a laser beam onto the sample through the objective lens and to receive the laser beam reflected by the sample, a calculator circuit for calculating height information of the sample using an output from the measurement optical system and for obtaining a two-dimensional distribution of the height information, a cover for shielding the X-Y stage, the positioning means, the objective lens, the beam splitter, the obs

Abstract: A liquid crystal lens includes a liquid crystal cell formed by lens component members, at least one of the lens component members being formed of a Fresnel lens whose surface is formed by a number of annular ring-shaped Fresnel grooves with their crests leveled.

Abstract: A stereoscopic optical instrument employing liquid crystal lenses such as a pair of spectacles and stereoscopic optical devices has a construction in which left and right liquid crystal lenses are incorporated thereinto such that liquid crystal molecular directors within the lenses are in mirror symmetry with respect to a plane of symmetry which passes through the middle point of the center line connecting the centers of both the lenses and whose normal is the center line.

Abstract: An array of light emitting elements comprises an insulating substrate, a dot anode array including a multitude of dot anodes defined by conductors and phosphors formed on the substrate, a thermionic emission cathode disposed in opposing relationship with the dot anode array, and a grid interposed between the cathode and the dot anode array. An accelerating electric field is selectively established between the dot anodes and the cathode to excite the phosphors on the dot anodes with low speed electron beams, thus causing the phosphors to emit light. The array is primarily used in an electrophotographic printer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic color copying paper has a transparent substrate layer, a color filter layer formed on one side of the transparent substrate layer, and a transparent photosensitive layer formed on the other side of the transparent substrate layer. Using this copying paper, an electrophotographic color copy is obtained by a method having the steps of effecting a uniform charging on the side of the copying paper carrying the transparent photosensitive layer, effecting a color light image exposure from the side of the copying paper carrying the color filter so as to form an electrostatic latent image on the transparent photosensitive layer, and developing the electrostatic latent image on the transparent photosensitive layer by a black toner.