Patent · US Expired

Optical inspection method and apparatus utilizing a variable angle design

US6366352B1 · kind B1 · utility

18Cited by
14References
48Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 10, 1999
Grant dateApr 2, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 10, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/94
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Method and apparatus for optical inspection of an article are presented. The apparatus comprises an illumination unit and at least one detection unit. The illumination unit generates an incident beam and directs it onto a predetermined region of the article. The detection unit includes a light collection system and a detector. The light collection system collects light scattered from the illuminated region with a predetermined constant maximum collection angle, and utilizes a variable angle design for selectively selecting from collected light at least one light component propagating with a solid angle segment of the maximum collection angle, and directing it to the detector.

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