Abstract: A recording/reproduction of information is effected using a probe electrode arranged to oppose a recording medium. A distance between the probe electrode and the recording medium is controlled by applying a voltage therebetween. A current flowing through the probe electrode upon application of the voltage is detected while the scanning is performed with the probe electrode over the recording medium. A correlation between a signal output according to the current detection and a reference signal is obtained to produce a reproduction signal from which a noise component due to an influence of an atomic step present on a surface of the recording medium is removed. The reproduction of information is effected in accordance with the generated reproduction signal.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes first, second and third upper electrodes provided on a first substrate, and first, second and third lower electrodes provided on a second substrate opposed to the first, second and third upper electrodes, respectively. Also provided are first, second and third detectors for detecting a first capacitance between the first upper and lower electrodes, a second capacitance between the second upper and lower electrodes and a third capacitance between the third upper and lower electrodes.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope is used to observe a sample. The same portion of a surface of the sample is scanned forward and backward using a probe. A first signal corresponding to a structure of the sample is detected from the probe during a period in which the probe scans the surface of the sample forward. A second signal corresponding to the structure of the sample is detected from the probe during a period in which the probe scans the surface of the sample backward. When a difference is caused in at least a portion between the first and second signals, the portion of one of the first and the second signals is replaced by a portion of the other signal to generate a corrected signal. An image of the sample is formed using the corrected signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of moving a probe for causing a physical phenomenon to occur between it and a predetermined object and moving the probe and the object relative to each other to make the probe approach the object. At least one of the probe and the object is driven in a predetermined direction to displace one of the probe and the object in the predetermined direction relative to the other. A physical phenomenon occurring between the probe and the object is detected. At least one of the probe and the object is driven so as to bring the probe and the object close to each other. The driving for the approach of the probe to the object is controlled on the basis of the result of the detection of the physical phenomenon during the driving in the predetermined direction. The specification also discloses an information detection and/or input apparatus using such apparatus and method.

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: Information recording/reproducing apparatus and method by use of probe electrodes are disclosed. In this method, information to be recorded on a recording medium is encoded. The encoded information is distributed to a plurality of probe electrodes. The plurality of probe electrodes are driven on the basis of the distributed information so as to record the information on the recording medium. In reproduction, the information recorded on the recording medium is read out from the recording medium by use of the plurality of probe electrodes. The information read out from the recording medium is stored by use of the plurality of probe electrodes. The stored information is decoded to reproduce the information recorded on the recording medium. The encoding is performed by changing the information to be recorded to information added with an error correction code.

Abstract: In order to effect the reading-out of a signal from a recording medium at a high speed and without the collision of a probe electrode, the control of the spacing between the probe electrode and the signal recording layer of the recording medium is effected by sampling a tunnel current detected by the probe electrode at the timing of a reproduction clock, and reproduction is effected with this sampled value as a reference. Also, in order to effect information recording with good reproducibility and at high density, the control variable of a servo control circuit for controlling the spacing between the probe electrode and the recording layer is changed over during the periods before and after a writing pulse is applied to the probe electrode. Also, in order to effect re-recording reliably, the prior recorded state at the re-writing position is detected, and from the result of this detection, an optimal servo control variable, the waveform of a pulse voltage applied, etc. are set.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus effects at least one of recording, reproduction and erasure of information on a recording medium having a track groove by use of a probe electrode. Relative movement between the probe electrode and the recording medium is effected by the moving mechanism. A predetermined driving signal is inputted to the moving mechanism so that a predetermined movement of the probe electrode to the groove track is effected. The physical phenomenon caused between the probe electrode and the recording medium is detected, so that the track groove is detected and a correction value for correcting the movement of the probe electrode from the driving signal on the basis of the timing of the detection. The moving mechanism is controlled on the basis of the driving signal and the correction value.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus effects recording of information by moving a probe close to a recording medium and scanning a surface of the medium parallelly with the probe, reading out information by using a micro signal obtained from a physical phenomenon occurring in the scan. The apparatus is provided with plate electrodes and a capacity detecting device. One of the plate electrodes is formed on a substrate which supports the probe. The other plate electrode is formed on a substrate which supports the recording medium. A capacity between the plate electrodes is detected by the capacity detecting device. A gap between the probe and the recording medium is controlled in accordance with the detection result.

Abstract: A switching device is characterized by having periodical layer structure of an organic insulator between a pair of electrodes and having memorizability with respect to switching characteristic. The layer structure is formed of an amphiphilic compound according to the LB method.

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 processing apparatus for effecting recording of information on and/or reproduction of information from a recording medium is provided with a probe electrode, a cantilever piezo-electric member, a controller and a detector. The probe electrode is relatively displaced to the recording medium by the cantilever piezo-electric member. The controller applies a control signal to the cantilever piezo-electric member to control the cantilever piezo-electric member. The detector detects a minute signal obtained on the tunnel effect caused between the probe electrode and the recording medium. A switch element is further provided on the apparatus so as to electrically disconnect between the cantilever piezo-electric member and the controller during the minute signal being detected by the detector.

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: There is disclosed an information recording/ reproducing apparatus utilizing a probe electrode and a recording medium, based on the principle of scanning tunnel microscope. When a track groove on the recording medium is detected, the distance control between the probe electrode and the recording medium is suspended. Consequently, the tip of the probe electrode does not enter the track groove, and is prevented from collision with the recording medium. The scanning speed of the probe electrode can, therefore, be increased without the danger of such collision.

Abstract: In a reproducing operation, scanning information is detected while scanning an information string with a probe such that a density of the scan lines is higher than a density of the recorded information, and a logical-sum signal of the plurality of scanning information is used as a reproduced signal. It is thereby possible to prevent deterioration during information processing of the S/N ratio and the like produced due to a positional error of a recording-medium control mechanism caused by various factors.

Abstract: An information transfer method comprises connecting a plurality of MIM devices comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or built-up films thereof as the insulating layer and having the switching memory function, and transferring the information on the side nearer to the oscillation source of the information every second bit or every second line or every second picture face successively to the side farther from the oscillation source. An information transfer apparatus comprises using an array or a plurality of arrays of circuits with devices having rectifiability connected in series with the rectifying directions being aligned, connecting one terminal of a two-terminal circuit having an MIM device having switching memory function to each connecting point A, connecting the other terminal of every odd number to provide a second terminal, and having a voltage application means capable of taking a disconnected state relative to the connecting point A.

Abstract: A method of driving a device having a pair of electrodes and organic insulating layer sandwiched therebetween. The device exhibits at least three states of different electroconductivities in response to an applied voltage. A transition from the first state to the second state is achieved by applying a voltage within a first predetermined range to the device in the first state, and a transition from the second state to the third state is achieved by applying a voltage within a second predetermined range to the device in the second state.

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.