Patent · US Active

Combined surface inspection using multiple scanners

US10018570B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
1References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 9, 2016
Grant dateJul 10, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 9, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2201/061
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for inspecting surfaces of various components, such as evaluating height deviations on these surfaces. A method involves aggregating inspection data from multiple line scanners into a combined data set. This combined data set represents a portion of the surface that is larger than the field of measurement any one of the scanners. Furthermore, each pair of adjacent scanners operate at different periods of time to avoid interference. Because operating periods are offset, surface portions scanned by the pair of adjacent scanners can overlap without interference. This overlap of the scanned portions ensures that the entire surface is analyzed. The position of scanners relative to the inspection surface may be changed in between the scans and, in some embodiments, even during the scan. This approach allows precise scanning of large surfaces.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.