IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,620,389
Granted Patent B1
US 10,620,389 · App. 16/556,303 · Granted Apr 14, 2020

Optical inspection apparatus

Inventors: Takahiro Kamikawa (Tokyo, JP); Hiroshi Ohno (Tokyo, JP); Takehiro Hato (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
G02B6/4201G02B6/0096G02B5/09
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 10,620,389
App. No.
16/556,303
Granted
Apr 14, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

An optical inspection apparatus includes an imaging optical system facing an inspection target, a light guide, a plurality of light sources, and a plurality of mirror surfaces. The light guide has a plurality of corner portions and extending along an optical axis of the imaging optical system. The plurality of light sources face a first end face of the light guide at positions corresponding to the plurality of corner portions. The plurality of mirror surfaces are respectively provided on second end faces of the light guide. Each of the mirror surfaces is oblique relative to the optical axis. The mirror surfaces are configured to reflect light entered into the light guide from the light sources toward the inspection target.

Claims (21)

1. An optical inspection apparatus comprising:

an imaging optical system facing an inspection target;

a light guide having a polygonal cylindrical shape with a plurality of corner portions extending along an optical axis of the imaging optical system and including a first end face and a plurality of second end faces, each of the second end faces facing the first end face;

a plurality of light sources facing the first end face of the light guide at positions corresponding to the plurality of corner portions; and

mirror surfaces respectively provided on the second end faces of the light guide, each of the mirror surfaces being oblique relative to the optical axis and configured to reflect light entered into the light guide from the light sources toward the inspection target.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the light guide includes inner surfaces, and

each of the mirror surfaces is inclined so as to approach the adjacent inner surface of the light guide to the optical axis with an increase in distance with respect to the first end face.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the light guide includes inner surfaces and transmission surfaces provided on the inner surfaces of the light guide at a position facing the mirror surfaces; and

the apparatus further comprises light-shielding plates covering the inner surfaces of the light guide at a position out of the transmission surfaces.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the second end faces of the light guide includes a chamfer formed by chamfering so as to remove an imaginary ridge line located at an intersection position between a first end portion of the light guide which is located alongside the inspection target and an outer surface of the light guide, and

each of the mirror surfaces is formed on the chamfer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an angle formed by each of the mirror surfaces and the optical axis is 30° to 70°.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an incident angle of light emitted from the light guide to the inspection target on a surface of the inspection target is 60° to 80° with respect to the optical axis of the imaging optical system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cover covering an outside of the light guide.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical axis of the imaging optical system extends through a hollow region inside the light guide.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light guide has a polygonal cylinder that is square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources are provided around the imaging optical system.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink thermally connected to the plurality of light sources.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2019
From: KAMIKAWA, TAKAHIRO; OHNO, HIROSHI; HATO, TAKEHIRO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 050634/0717 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-014268 · Jan 30, 2019 · national
Cited By (2)
US 12,188,876 US 12,748,247