Patent · US Active

Method and system for inspecting surfaces with improved light efficiency

US7564544B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
6References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 2007
Grant dateJul 21, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 5, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2201/0627
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The radiation beam of discrete light source such as LEDs is shaped by a cylindrical lens and a spherical lens to form two perpendicular narrow lines to illuminate a surface. The first line is projected onto a sample surface to improve illumination efficiency, and the second line is projected onto a pupil plane of an imaging lens to improve illumination uniformity. The layout of the LED chip is optimized to match the aspect ratio of the imaging detector. Multiple LEDs at different wavelengths are combined to improve sensitivity. The full surface of the sample is inspected through the relative motion between the sample and the optics.

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