IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,821,846
Granted Patent B2
US 11,821,846 · App. 17/735,521 · Granted Nov 21, 2023

Focus-less inspection apparatus and method

Inventors: Chan Kwon Lee (Ansan-si, KR); Moon Young Jeon (Seongnam-si, KR); Jung Hur (Bucheon-si, KR); Deok Hwa Hong (Gwangmyeong-si, KR); Eun Ha Jo (Gwangmyeong-si, KR)
Assignee: KOH YOUNG TECHNOLOGY INC.
G01N21/9501G01N21/4738
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 11,821,846
App. No.
17/735,521
Granted
Nov 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inspection apparatus may include: a structured-light source configured to sequentially radiate a plurality of structured lights having one phase range; a lens configured to adjust, for each of the plurality of structured lights, optical paths of light beams corresponding to phases of the phase range such that a light beam corresponding to one phase of the phase range arrives at each point of a partial region on an object; an image sensor configured to capture a plurality of reflected lights generated by the structured lights being reflected from the partial region; and a processor configured to acquire a light quantity value of the reflected lights; and derive an angle of the surface by deriving phase values of the reflected lights based on the light quantity value for the reflected lights.

Claims (22)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a structured-light source configured to sequentially radiate a plurality of structured lights having a predetermined phase range;

at least one lens configured to adjust optical paths of the plurality of structured lights such that each light beam of the plurality of structured lights corresponding to each phase of the phase range is divided into and incident on each point of a region on an object, rather than being focused at one point of the region on the object;

an image sensor configured to capture a plurality of reflected lights generated by the plurality of structured lights reflected from the region;

a memory that stores reference information on an inclination of the region; and

a processor configured to:

acquire light quantity values of the plurality of reflected lights from the image sensor; and

derive an angle of the region with respect to a reference plane based on the light quantity values and the reference information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reference information indicates a relation between the angle of the region and the light quantity values of the plurality of reflected lights.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the phase range is not an integer multiple of a period of the plurality of structured lights.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structured lights are generated by phase-shifting one structured light by a predetermined phase interval.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structured lights have the same predetermined phase range.

6. A method, comprising:

sequentially radiating, by a structured-light source, a plurality of structured lights having a predetermined phase range;

adjusting, by at least one lens, optical paths of the plurality of structured lights such that each light beam of the plurality of structured lights corresponding to each phase of the phase range is divided into and incident on each point of a region on an object, rather than being focused at one point of the region on the object;

capturing, by an image sensor, a plurality of reflected lights generated by the plurality of structured lights reflected from the region;

acquiring, by a processor, light quantity values of the plurality of reflected lights from the image sensor; and

deriving, by the processor, an angle of the region with respect to a reference plane based on the light quantity values and reference information on an inclination of the region stored in a memory.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the reference information indicates a relation between the angle of the region and the light quantity values of the plurality of reflected lights.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the phase range is not an integer multiple of a period of the plurality of structured lights.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of structured lights are generated by phase-shifting one structured light by a predetermined phase interval.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of structured lights have the same predetermined phase range.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2022
From: LEE, CHAN KWON; JEON, MOON YOUNG; HUR, JUNG; HONG, DEOK HWA; JO, EUN HA
To: KOH YOUNG TECHNOLOGY INC.
Reel/Frame 059798/0881 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2018-0122354 · Oct 15, 2018 · national
KR 10-2018-0159872 · Dec 12, 2018 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17123901 · Dec 16, 2020
Continuation 16653291 · Oct 15, 2019
Related Publication 20220260503A1 · Aug 18, 2022