Patent · US Active

Oblique illuminator for inspecting manufactured substrates

US8794801B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
15References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 2011
Grant dateAug 5, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 2, 2032

Classification

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

Abstract

One embodiment relates to an oblique illuminator. The oblique illuminator includes a light source emitting a light beam, a first reflective surface, and a second reflective surface. The first reflective surface has a convex cylindrical shape with a projected parabolic profile along the non-powered direction which is configured to reflect the light beam from the light source and which defines a focal line. The second reflective surface has a concave cylindrical shape with a projected elliptical profile which is configured to reflect the light beam from the first reflective surface and which defines first and second focal lines. The focal line of the first reflective surface is coincident with the first focal line of the second reflective surface. The first and second focal lines of the second reflective surface may be a same line in which case the elliptical curvature is a projected spherical profile. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.

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