Multi-wavelength aperture and vision system and method using same

1. A vision system for use with at least one light source and providing a plurality of images representing plural depths of field of a device, the system comprising:

a beamsplitter for receiving an image of the device illuminated by the at least one light source, the beamsplitter providing one of the plurality of images of the device based in a wavelength of the light source;

an aperture having a plurality of effective diameters based on the wavelength of light from the at least one light source, the aperture determining a depth of field of the image of the device; and

an optical element for receiving the image of the device, the optical element magnifying the image by a predetermined magnification factor to produce a magnified image having the determined depth of field.

2. The vision system according to claim 1 , wherein the aperture is a dichroic aperture.

3. The vision system according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical detector to receive the magnified image.

4. The vision system according to claim 3 , wherein the optical detector is a camera.

5. The vision system according to claim 3 , wherein the optical detector is a position sensitive detector.

6. The vision system according to claim 1 , wherein the light has a wavelength in one of i) a visible spectrum and ii) an ultraviolet spectrum.

7. The vision system according to claim 1 , wherein the beamsplitter is a dichroic splitter.

8. The vision system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical elements is at least one lens.

9. The vision system according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one lens has a predetermined magnification factor.

10. The vision system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is a monochromatic light source.

11. The vision system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is a plurality of monochromatic light sources, each of the plurality of light sources having a respective wavelength.

12. The vision system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is i) a first light source comprising a plurality of monochromatic light sources and ii) at least one further light monochromatic source.

13. The vision system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is i) a first light source comprising a plurality of monochromatic light sources and ii) a respective plurality of further light monochromatic sources, each of the plurality of further light monochromatic sources having a wavelength equal to a wavelength of a respective one of the plurality of monochromatic light sources.

14. A vision system for use with at least one light source and providing a plurality of images representing plural depths of field of a device, the system comprising:

a first beamsplitter for receiving an image of the device illuminated by the at least one light source, the beamsplitter providing a plurality of images of the device;

an aperture having a plurality of effective diameters based on a wavelength of light from the at least one light source, the aperture determining a depth of field of the plurality of images of the device;

a plurality of optical elements for receiving respective ones of the plural images of the device, each of the plurality of optical elements magnifying the image by a predetermined magnification factor to produce a plurality of magnified images; and

a second beamsplitter for receiving the plurality of magnified images and filtering the magnified images based on a wavelength of the light source.

15. A method for providing a plurality of images representing plural depths of field of a device, the method comprising the steps of:

illuminating the device with light having a first wavelength;

receiving an image of the device illuminated by the light;

adjusting a depth of field of the image based on the first wavelength of the light; and

providing the image to an optical detector.

16. A method for providing a plurality of magnified images of a device, the method comprising the steps of:

illuminating the device with a light;

receiving an image of the device illuminated by the light;

adjusting a depth of field of the image of the device based on the a wavelength of the light;

providing a plurality of images of the device based on the wavelength of the light;

receiving respective ones of the plural images of the device;

magnifying each of the respective ones of the plural images of the device by a predetermined magnification factor to produce a plurality of magnified images;

receiving the plurality of magnified images; and

detecting one of the plurality of magnified images based on the wavelength of the light.

17. A vision system for use with a light source having a plurality of wavelengths of light and providing a plurality of images of a device, the system comprising:

a first beamsplitter for receiving an image of the device illuminated by a first wavelength of light of the light source, the beamsplitter providing a first image of the device;

a second beamsplitter for receiving an image of the device illuminated by a second wavelength of light of the light source, the beamsplitter providing a second image of the device;

an aperture having a plurality of effective diameters based on a wavelength of the light source, the aperture determining a depth of field of the image of the device;

a plurality of optical elements for receiving a respective one of the first and second images of the device, each of the plurality of optical elements magnifying the image by a predetermined magnification factor to produce a respective magnified image; and

a detector for receiving one of the magnified images based on the wavelength of light from the light source illuminating the device.

18. The vision system according to claim 17 , wherein the light source has a variable light wavelength.

19. The vision system according to claim 17 , wherein the light source has a plurality of discrete light wavelengths.

20. The vision system according to claim 17 , wherein the light source is at least two light sources.

21. A vision system for use with a plurality of light wavelengths and providing a respective plurality of images of a device, the system comprising:

a first beamsplitter for receiving an image of the device illuminated by a first one of the plurality of light wavelengths, the beamsplitter providing a first image of the device;

a second beamsplitter for receiving an image of the device illuminated by a second one of the plurality of light wavelengths, the beamsplitter providing a second image of the device;

a third beamsplitter for receiving an image of the device illuminated by a third one of the plurality of light wavelengths, the beamsplitter providing a third image of the device;

an aperture having a plurality of effective diameters based on respective wavelengths of the plurality of light wavelengths, the aperture determining a depth of field of the image of the device;

a plurality of optical elements for receiving a respective one of the first, second and third images of the device, each of the plurality of optical elements magnifying the image by a predetermined magnification factor to produce a respective magnified image; and

a detector for receiving one of the magnified images based on which of the plurality of light wavelengths illuminates the device.

22. The vision system according to claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of light wavelengths is different from that of the remaining plurality of light wavelengths.

23. The vision system according to claim 21 , wherein the plurality of light wavelengths is at least three light wavelengths.