IP Library Granted Patent US 12,659,585
Granted Patent B2
US 12,659,585 · App. 19/076,026 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Inspection method, inspection device, and recording medium

Inventor: Shinichiro Hashimoto (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: MAGNOLIA BLUE CORPORATION
H04N23/675G06T7/0004H04N23/71G06T2207/10148G06T2207/20048G06T2207/30121
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,659,585
App. No.
19/076,026
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inspection method includes: obtaining a one-dimensional luminance profile by performing image processing of compressing a luminance of an inspection image of a pixel region of a display panel captured by an imaging device, into a one-dimensional luminance; generating a frequency spectrum intensity profile by performing Fourier transform on the one-dimensional luminance profile; calculating, based on a periodic structure of pixels shown in the pixel region, an imaging magnification of the imaging device from one or more peak positions included in the frequency spectrum intensity profile; and estimating a current focus position from the imaging magnification calculated and magnification information indicating a relationship between a focus position and an imaging magnification of the imaging device, the current focus position being a focus position of the imaging device in the inspection image.

Claims (23)

1 . An inspection method, to be performed by a computer, for inspecting a display panel, the inspection method comprising:

obtaining a one-dimensional luminance profile by performing image processing of compressing a luminance of an inspection image of a pixel region of the display panel captured by an imaging device, into a one-dimensional luminance on an axis in a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of a plurality of subpixels included in one pixel of a plurality pixels each including a plurality of subpixels;

generating a frequency spectrum intensity profile by performing Fourier transform on the one-dimensional luminance profile;

calculating, based on a fact that the plurality of pixels are arranged in a periodic structure in the pixel region, an imaging magnification of the imaging device from one or more peak positions included in the frequency spectrum intensity profile; and

estimating a current focus position from the imaging magnification calculated and magnification information indicating a relationship between a focus position and an imaging magnification of the imaging device, the current focus position being a focus position of the imaging device in the inspection image.

2 . The inspection method according to claim 1 , wherein

in the calculating, among the one or more peak positions, a peak position of a fundamental frequency is estimated to be a peak position corresponding to a one-pixel unit structure of the pixel region shown in the inspection image, and the imaging magnification of the imaging device is calculated from the peak position of the fundamental frequency.

3 . The inspection method according to claim 2 , wherein

in the generating, the frequency spectrum intensity profile is generated by performing the Fourier transform twice on the one-dimensional luminance profile.

4 . The inspection method according to claim 2 , wherein

when an image of the pixel region of the display panel is captured by the imaging device at each of a plurality of focus positions of the imaging device, and a value of a fundamental frequency obtained by performing the Fourier transform on a one-dimensional luminance profile of the image captured at the focus position is used as the imaging magnification, the magnification information is information indicating a relationship between the value of the fundamental frequency and the focus position.

5 . The inspection method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

calculating, from the current focus position estimated and the magnification information, an amount of movement of the imaging device necessary for achieving focus, and adjusting a position of the imaging device using the amount of movement.

6 . An inspection device that inspects a display panel, the inspection device comprising:

an obtainer that obtains a one-dimensional luminance profile by performing image processing of compressing a luminance of an inspection image of a pixel region of the display panel captured by an imaging device, into a one-dimensional luminance on an axis in a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of a plurality of subpixels included in one pixel of a plurality pixels each including a plurality of subpixels;

a generator that generates a frequency spectrum intensity profile by performing Fourier transform on the one-dimensional luminance profile;

a calculator that calculates, based on a fact that the plurality of pixels are arranged in a periodic structure in the pixel region, an imaging magnification of the imaging device from one or more peak positions included in the frequency spectrum intensity profile; and

an estimator that estimates a current focus position from the imaging magnification calculated and magnification information indicating a relationship between a focus position and an imaging magnification of the imaging device, the current focus position being a focus position of the imaging device in the inspection image.

7 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute an inspection method for inspecting a display panel, the inspection method including:

obtaining a one-dimensional luminance profile by performing image processing of compressing a luminance of an inspection image of a pixel region of the display panel captured by an imaging device, into a one-dimensional luminance on an axis in a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of a plurality of subpixels included in one pixel of a plurality pixels each including a plurality of subpixels;

generating a frequency spectrum intensity profile by performing Fourier transform on the one-dimensional luminance profile;

calculating, based on a fact that the plurality of pixels are arranged in a periodic structure in the pixel region, an imaging magnification of the imaging device from one or more peak positions included in the frequency spectrum intensity profile; and

estimating a current focus position from the imaging magnification calculated and magnification information indicating a relationship between a focus position and an imaging magnification of the imaging device, the current focus position being a focus position of the imaging device in the inspection image.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 10, 2025
From: JDI DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT G.K.
To: MAGNOLIA BLUE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071665/0807 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2025
From: HASHIMOTO, SHINICHIRO
To: JDI DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT G.K.
Reel/Frame 070470/0215 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-145333 · Sep 13, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2023031889 · Aug 31, 2023
Related Publication 20250211856A1 · Jun 26, 2025
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