IP Library Patent Application 18252293
Patent Application
App. No. 18/252,293

Film Thickness Measurement Device and Method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
18/252,293
Abstract

A storage unit stores a reference image. A camera captures a film thickness measuring portion of a coating film to be measured. A determination circuit determines whether or not an image captured by the camera and the reference image match. A film thickness meter measures a film thickness of the coating film at the film thickness measuring portion in a case where the determination circuit determines that the image and the reference image match. The film thickness meter measures a film thickness of the coating film by, for example, optical coherence tomography.

Claims (38)

1 - 4 . (canceled)

5 . A film thickness measurement method comprising:

capturing an image of a part of a coating film;

determining whether or not the image of the part of the coating film matches a reference image; and

measuring a film thickness of the coating film at the part of the coating film in response to determining that the image and the reference image match.

6 . The film thickness measurement method according to claim 5 , wherein the film thickness of the coating film is measured through optical coherence tomography.

7 . The film thickness measurement method according to claim 6 , wherein film thickness meter includes:

a wavelength sweep light source;

an optical branch coupler configured to branch light from the wavelength sweep light source into two;

a reference interferometer configured to use first light branched by the optical branch coupler; and

a first light detector configured to receive light from the reference interferometer.

8 . The film thickness measurement method according to claim 7 , wherein film thickness meter further includes:

a measurement interferometer configured to use second light branched by the optical branch coupler;

a light deflector attached to a light emitter of the measurement interferometer;

a second light detector configured to receive light from the measurement interferometer;

a first information processor configured to configure a sampling point using an interference signal from the reference interferometer; and

a second information processor configured to analyze an interference signal of the measurement interferometer based on data from the first information processor.

9 . The film thickness measurement method according to claim 5 , wherein the reference image is an image the part of the coating film taken prior to capturing the image of the part of the coating film.

10 . The film thickness measurement method according to claim 9 , wherein the reference image is an image the part of the coating film taken immediately after applying the coating film.

11 . A film thickness measurement apparatus comprising:

a storage device configured to store a reference image;

a camera configured to capture an image of a part of a coating film;

a determination circuit configured to determine whether or not an image captured by the camera and the reference image match; and

a film thickness meter configured to measure a film thickness of the coating film at the part of the coating film in response to the determination circuit determining that the image and the reference image match.

12 . The film thickness measurement apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the film thickness meter is configured to measure the film thickness of the coating film through optical coherence tomography.

13 . The film thickness measurement apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein film thickness meter includes:

a wavelength sweep light source;

an optical branch coupler configured to branch light from the wavelength sweep light source into two;

a reference interferometer configured to use first light branched by the optical branch coupler; and

a first light detector configured to receive light from the reference interferometer.

14 . The film thickness measurement apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein film thickness meter further includes:

a measurement interferometer configured to use second light branched by the optical branch coupler;

a light deflector attached to a light emitter of the measurement interferometer;

a second light detector configured to receive light from the measurement interferometer;

a first information processor configured to configure a sampling point using an interference signal from the reference interferometer; and

a second information processor configured to analyze an interference signal of the measurement interferometer based on data from the first information processor.

15 . The film thickness measurement apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the reference image is an image the part of the coating film taken prior to capturing the image of the part of the coating film.

16 . The film thickness measurement apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the reference image is an image the part of the coating film taken immediately after applying the coating film.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 27, 2025
From: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
To: NTT, INC.
Reel/Frame 072649/0291 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2023
From: TANAKA, YURINA; ISHII, AZUSA; OKA, SOICHI
To: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063590/0795 →