Scanning probe microscope assembly and method for making spectrophotometric, near-field, and scanning probe measurements

1. A scanning probe microscope (SPM) assembly for examining an object comprising:

a probe having a tip with a sharp end and a base;

means for detecting the interaction of the probe tip and object; and

a confocal optical system for collecting optical data from the object and tip; and

means for combining data from the detecting means and the optical data in one data base.

2. The scanning probe microscope assembly of claim 1 wherein an optical color of a surface area is used to create a color that is used with the data from the detecting means and the optical data.

3. The scanning probe microscope assembly of claim 1 comprising means, responsive to a magnification command, for determining whether SPM or confocal specimen data is collected.

4. A scanning probe microscope (SPM) assembly for examining an object comprising:

a probe having a tip with a sharp end and a base;

means for detecting the interaction of the probe tip and object; and

an inverted scanning confocal optical system for collecting optical data from the object and tip while allowing scanning of a confocal spot independent of the position of the tip;

wherein the detecting means is configured to allow the viewing of the specimen and the probe tip with the inverted confocal optical system.

5. The scanning probe microscope assembly of claim 4 wherein three-dimensional image data from the confocal optical system is used to place the probe in a designated three-dimensional region of the specimen inclusive of the surface of the specimen closest to the probe.

6. The scanning probe microscope assembly of claim 4 wherein the SPM is an atomic force microscope (AFM).

7. The scanning probe microscope assembly of claim 4 wherein the SPM is a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM).

8. The scanning probe microscope assembly of claim 4 wherein the SPM is a scanning tunneling microscope (STM).