IP Library Granted Patent US 11,047,805
Granted Patent B2
US 11,047,805 · App. 16/066,208 · Granted Jun 29, 2021

Inspection device and detector

Inventor: Shunichi Matsumoto (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
G01N21/9501G01N2201/063G01N2201/06126
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,047,805
App. No.
16/066,208
Granted
Jun 29, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inspection device has an illuminating optical system for forming an illuminated area on a sample, a converging optical system for converging the light from the sample, and a detector for detecting the light converged by the converging optical system. The converging optical system includes an image forming element that includes a lens group that has divided apertures and is configured so as to form a plurality of images. The detector detects a signal for the images formed by the image forming element. The detector has a plurality of partitions disposed in a matrix, the partitions include first and second pixels, and the images are projected onto the partitions.

Claims (35)

1. An inspection device comprising:

an illuminating optical system for forming an illuminated area having a longitudinal direction on a sample;

a detecting optical system for converging light from the sample; and

a detector having an arrangement of partitions each including at least a first photodetector element and a second photodetector element,

wherein

the detecting optical system is disposed such that an optical axis thereof is inclined with respect to a direction of a normal line of a surface of the sample,

the detecting optical system is a reducing optical system having an imaging magnification of less than 1,

the detecting optical system includes an image forming element including a lens group, the lens group having divided apertures and being configured to form a plurality of images of the illuminated area on the detector, and

each of the plurality of images formed on the detector is formed across the first photodetector element and the second photodetector element.

2. The inspection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the first photodetector element and the second photodetector element includes an avalanche photodiode,

the avalanche photodiode of the first photodetector element is connected with a first quenching resistance, and

the avalanche photodiode of the second photodetector element is connected with a second quenching resistance.

3. The inspection device according to claim 2 , further comprising a signal processing unit for performing defect detection processing on each of a first signal and a second signal outputted from the first photodetector element and the second photodetector element operating in Geiger mode.

4. The inspection device according to claim 3 ,

wherein the image forming element is a microlens array.

5. The inspection device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the reducing optical system is disposed obliquely to the sample.

6. The inspection device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the number of the partitions is substantially the same as that of microlenses constituting the microlens array.

7. The inspection device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the size of the partition is substantially the same as that of the microlens.

8. The inspection device according to claim 1 , further comprising a signal processing unit for performing defect detection processing on each of a first signal outputted from the first photodetector element and a second signal outputted from the second photodetector element.

9. The inspection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image forming element is a microlens array, and

the number of the partitions is substantially the same as that of microlenses constituting the microlens array.

10. The inspection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the image forming element is a microlens array, and

the size of the partition is substantially the same as that of a microlens constituting the microlens array.

11. The inspection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the illuminated area is formed in an illumination intensity distribution exhibiting a Gaussian distribution in the longitudinal direction.

12. The inspection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the illuminated area is formed in an illumination intensity distribution exhibiting a flat line in the longitudinal direction.

13. The inspection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the illuminated area is formed in an illumination intensity distribution including plural spots in the longitudinal direction.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 14, 2020
From: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052398/0249 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2018
From: MATSUMOTO, SHUNICHI
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046207/0282 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200271594A1 · Aug 27, 2020