IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,631,574
Granted Patent B2
US 12,631,574 · App. 18/407,190 · Granted May 19, 2026

X-ray transmission inspection apparatus and X-ray transmission inspection method

Inventor: Satoshi Matsubara (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH ANALYSIS CORPORATION
G01N23/083G01N2223/304
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,631,574
App. No.
18/407,190
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Proposed are an X-ray transmission inspection apparatus and an X-ray transmission inspection method, in which transmission images with a large difference between irradiation angles are obtained so that the depth of the position of a foreign object can be obtained with high precision. The apparatus includes an X-ray source, an X-ray sensor configured to detect a transmitted X-ray, a sample moving mechanism configured to move the sample in a specific transport direction, and a calculation part configured to calculate a height position of a foreign object in a thickness direction in the sample on the basis of the transmitted X-ray detected by the X-ray sensor, wherein the X-ray source and the X-ray sensor include X-ray sources and X-ray sensors, the X-ray sources irradiate the sample with x-rays, and the X-ray sensors are disposed to respectively detect only transmitted X-rays of X-rays from the corresponding X-ray sources.

Claims (23)

1 . An X-ray transmission inspection apparatus comprising:

a plurality of X-ray sources, each X-ray source of the plurality of X-ray sources configured to irradiate a sample with X-rays;

a plurality of X-ray sensors, each X-ray sensor of the plurality of X-ray sensors installed on a side opposite to the X-ray source relative to the sample and configured to detect transmitted X-rays when X-rays pass through the sample;

a sample moving mechanism configured to move the sample in a transport direction; and

a calculation part configured to calculate a height position of a foreign object in a thickness direction in the sample based on the transmitted X-rays detected by the X-ray sensor,

wherein a plurality of sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence are provided,

each X-ray source of the plurality of sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence irradiates the sample with X-rays at a different irradiation angle with respect to the thickness direction of the sample, and

a position in the transport direction at which the foreign object in the sample is first detected by the X-ray sensor of one of the plurality of sets is set as a first passing point; a position in the transport direction at which the foreign object in the sample is detected based on transmitted X-rays detected by the X-ray sensor of the other one of the plurality of sets after the first passing point is detected is set as a second passing point; and the calculation part calculates the height position of the foreign object based on a distance between the first passing point and the second passing point, and the irradiation angles of the sets that detected the foreign object.

2 . The X-ray transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an imaging start position of the sample in a predetermined transport direction is set as a reference point; and a distance between the first passing point and the second passing point is calculated based on the reference point.

3 . The X-ray transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the X-ray sensor is a TDI sensor.

4 . The X-ray transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the X-ray sensor is a TDI sensor.

5 . The X-ray transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a reference piece installed on a surface of the sample,

wherein the calculation part calculates the height position of the foreign object by comparison with a height position of the reference piece.

6 . The X-ray transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each X-ray source of the plurality of sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence perform irradiation with X-rays in directions in which X-rays intersect one another.

7 . The X-ray transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein each X-ray source of the plurality of sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence perform irradiation with X-rays in directions in which X-rays intersect one another.

8 . The X-ray transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each X-ray source of the plurality of sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence irradiates regions spaced apart from one another in the transport direction with X-rays.

9 . The X-ray transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein each X-ray source of the plurality of sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence irradiates regions spaced apart from one another in the transport direction with X-rays.

10 . An X-ray transmission inspection method using the X-ray transmission inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , the X-ray transmission inspection apparatus comprising two sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence, the method comprising:

moving the sample in the transport direction;

detecting, as the first passing point, the position in the transport direction at which the foreign object in the sample is detected based on transmitted X-rays detected by the X-ray sensor of one of two sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence;

detecting, as the second passing point, the position in the transport direction at which the foreign object in the sample is detected based on transmitted X-rays detected by the X-ray sensor of the other one of two sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence; and

calculating the height position of the foreign object in the sample based on the first passing point, the second passing point, and the irradiation angles of the plurality of X-ray sources of the two sets of the plurality of X-ray sources paired with the plurality of X-ray sensors in one-to-one correspondence.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2025
From: MATSUBARA, SATOSHI
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECH SCIENCE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071707/0846 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 14, 2025
From: HITACHI HIGH-TECH SCIENCE CORPORATION
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECH ANALYSIS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071701/0397 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240255443A1 · Aug 1, 2024
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