Patent · US Expired

Optical method and apparatus for inspecting large area planar objects

US6809809B2 · kind B2 · utility

69Cited by
50References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 4, 2003
Grant dateOct 26, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 4, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/9501
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical inspection module is provided for detecting defects on a substrate having first and second opposite planar surfaces. The module includes a substrate holding position and first and second measurement instruments. The first instrument includes a first illumination path extending to the substrate holding position and having a grazing angle of incidence with the first surface, which illuminates substantially the entire first surface. A first optical element is oriented to collect non-specularly reflected light scattered by the first surface. A first photodetector has a plurality of pixels positioned within a focal plane of the first lens, which together form a field of view that covers substantially the entire first surface. The second instrument includes a sensor oriented for sensing a physical characteristic of the second surface when the substrate is held in the substrate holding position and the first surface is being illuminated.

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