Patent · US Expired

Optical inspection method and apparatus utilizing a variable angle design

US6469784B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
17References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 30, 2001
Grant dateOct 22, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 30, 2021

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.