Abstract: In a probe microscope 120 for causing a sample 112 and a tip portion 118a of a probe 118 on the sample side to approach each other, detecting an interaction between the sample 112 and the sample-side probe tip portion 118a, and obtaining surface information of the sample 112 from the interaction, the probe 118 being a flexible needle-like probe; the probe microscope 120 comprises vibrating means 122 capable of rotating the probe 118 while flexing the sample-side tip portion 118a thereof so as to draw a circle having a size corresponding to an increase and decrease in the interaction between the sample surface 112 and the tip portion 118a, and detecting means 124 for detecting the increase and decrease in the size of the circle drawn by the sample-side probe tip portion 118a due to the interaction and obtaining, from the increase and decrease in the size of the circle, information about the distance between the sample 112 and the sample-side probe tip portion 118a.

Abstract: In a probe microscope 120 for causing a sample 112 and a tip portion 118a of a probe 118 on the sample side to approach each other, detecting an interaction between the sample 112 and the sample-side probe tip portion 118a, and obtaining surface information of the sample 112 from the interaction, the probe 118 being a flexible needle-like probe; the probe microscope 120 comprises vibrating means 122 capable of rotating the probe 118 while flexing the sample-side tip portion 118a thereof so as to draw a circle having a size corresponding to an increase and decrease in the interaction between the sample surface 112 and the tip portion 118a, and detecting means 124 for detecting the increase and decrease in the size of the circle drawn by the sample-side probe tip portion 118a due to the interaction and obtaining, from the increase and decrease in the size of the circle, information about the distance between the sample 112 and the sample-side probe tip portion 118a.

Abstract: A rangefinder 10 comprises a light source 12 for emitting a luminous flux L1 having a predetermined beam diameter; interfering means 14 which is an object having an optical axis substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the object to be measured can be dislocated, the interfering means 14 having a transmission type diffraction grating 20 as one object for splitting the luminous flux L1 from the light source 12 into two diffraction luminous fluxes L2, L3 having respective directions different from each other, the two diffraction luminous fluxes L2, L3 being caused to impinge on a reflection type diffraction grating 22 as the other object, respective reflection luminous fluxes L2, L3 thereof being superposed on each other again by the transmission type diffraction grating 20 so as to interfere with each other; detecting means 16 for photoelectrically detecting interference light L4 obtained by the interfering means 14; and signal processing means 18 for measuring an intensity change and interference p

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically performing a sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay. The apparatus includes a rack for holding test tubes. In the test tubes are beads which provide surfaces for the immuochemical reactions. The rack can be moved in lengthwise and transverse directions. Nozzles for supplying and withdrawing liquids from the test tubes are included. The bead in one tube can be transferred to a second tube. The absorbance of a final liquid is measured spectrophotometrically, and the results are recorded by a printer.