Abstract: A cantilever type probe comprises a cantilever-shaped displacement element and a tip which displacement element has a first electrode layer, a first piezoelectric material film and a second piezoelectric material film which films are laminated on opposite sides of the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer and a third electrode layer which layer are laminated on outer surfaces of the piezoelectric material films, and which tip is connected with a leader electrode located at a free end of the surface of the displacement element; wherein in the width direction of the cantilever both ends of the first electrode layer protrude outward more than each end of the second and third electrode layers. A scanning tunneling microscope comprises the cantilever type probe, a driving means for displacing the probe, a stage for specimen so as to approach and locate the specimen to the tip, and a potential applying means for applying a bias voltage between the tip and the specimen.

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.

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 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 comprises 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 to a direction along the edge portion.

Abstract: Recording, reproduction or erasing of information is performed on a recording medium having a recording layer provided on an electrode substrate. The electrode substrate has a regular periodic structure within a plane and the structure is detected through the recording layer by use of a probe electrode to determine a desired position on the recording medium.

Abstract: A mask structure for lithography including an annular base plate supporting a peripheral portion of a masking-material-holding film provided on a surface thereof with a desired pattern of the making material is provided which is characterized in that the masking-material-holding film and the base plate are bonded together at an outer peripheral surface, which is connected smoothly or with an appropriate angle to the topmost flat end surface of the base plate and is at a lower level than the topmost flat end surface of the base plate, or at a surface contiguous to the outer peripheral surface.

Abstract: A switching device comprises a pair of electrodes, an organic insulating layer and an inorganic oxide layer which are held between the electrodes. The organic insulating layer is comprised of an organic compound having at least one .pi.-electron level and the inorganic oxide layer is comprised of a metal oxide. Another switching device comprises a pair of electrodes, an organic insulating thin film provided between the electrodes and said organic insulating thin film in such a manner than an electrification region between the electrodes may be restricted.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is provided which has a pair of substrates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal with the molecules thereof arranged in a plurality of layers perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the surface of said pair of substrates. The device is characterized in that at least one of said pair of substrates is coated with a film of a polymeric material for aligning the plurality of layers preferentially in one direction, and the film of the polymeric material is formed of a monomecular film or a monomolecular built-up film of a polymeric compound having both a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion within a molecule.

Abstract: A probe unit comprises a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, a bridge-shaped flexible member formed on the substrate and insulated by a cavity from the first electrode, and a probe provided in contact with the flexible member. The flexible member is constituted of a laminate comprising a second electrode layer, an insulating layer, and a third electrode layer for applying a voltage to the probe. The first electrode may be included in the flexible member. A piezoelectric layer is between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A mask structure for lithography comprising an annular base plate supporting a peripheral portion of a masking-material-holding film provided on a surface thereof with a desired pattern of the masking material is provided which is characterized in that the masking-material-holding film and the base plate are bonded together at an outer peripheral surface, which is connected smoothly or with an appropriate angle to the topmost flat end surface of the base plate and is at a lower level than the topmost flat end surface of the base plate, or at a surface contiguous to the outer peripheral surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a battery charger which supplementally charges a secondary battery such as a battery and so forth in an automobile with use of a solar cell in which a diffusion-blocking layer is formed between a semiconductor and a reverse electrode for the purpose of preventing deterioration of a semiconductor layer, and in which electric potential of the secondary battery can be measured and displayed, and in which the solar cell can be securely provided in a compartment of an automobile in such a manner that the solar cell always faces sunbeams, and which can be freely attached and detached.

Abstract: An electric circuit member comprises a substrate provided with a thin film transistor array thereon, an inorganic insulating layer formed over said thin film transistor array and an organic insulating layer formed over said inorganic insulating layer.

Abstract: An anchor includes an approximately frustoconical main body having a small height, and a chain attaching shank is located at the center of the main body and is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.