Method and apparatus for obtaining quantitative measurements using a probe based instrument

A method comprising:

• (A) indenting a sample with a tip of a probe, the tip being mounted on an active cantilever having a free end and a base;
• and
• (B) during the indentation process,
• i. monitoring probe reaction to the interaction, and
• ii. using information obtained from the monitoring step as feedback energizing at least one of the active cantilever and a separate actuator to maintain at least one lateral-force dependent characteristic parameter of the cantilever at least generally constant, thereby to at least substantially completely counteract lateral forces imposed on the tip by the sample by the probe-sample interaction.

An instrument comprising:

• (A) a probe including an active cantilever having a base and a free end;
• (B) a z position actuator that drives at least one of the probe and a sample support to move in a z direction to alter a probe/sample spacing;
• and
• (C) a controller that, while the probe interacts with the sample, uses a closed loop feedback process to control at least one of the cantilever and the z position actuator to maintain a lateral-force dependent characteristic parameter of the probe at least essentially constant so as counteract lateral forces imposed on the probe during the probe-sample interaction the feedback control process using information obtained from monitoring reaction of the probe to the interaction as feedback.

An instrument comprising:

• (A) a probe;
• and
• (B) means for
• i causing the probe to interact with a sample, and,
• while the probe interacts with the sample,
• a monitoring probe reaction to the interaction, and
• b. using information obtained from the monitoring step as feedback, maintaining a lateral-force dependent probe characteristic parameter of the probe at least essentially constant to thereby counteract lateral forces imposed on the probe during the probe-sample interaction.