IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,345,653
Granted Patent B2
US 12,345,653 · App. 18/013,401 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Defect inspection apparatus

Inventors: Hiroshi Horikawa (Kyoto, JP); Kenji Takubo (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
G01N21/8806G01B9/02095G01B9/02098G01N29/045G01N2021/1765G01N2201/06113
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,345,653
App. No.
18/013,401
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

This defect inspection apparatus ( 100 ) is provided with an excitation unit ( 1 ), a laser illumination unit ( 2 ), an interference unit ( 30 ), an imaging unit ( 31 ), a holding member ( 4 ) for holding the imaging unit at a position spaced apart from an inspection target ( 90 ) by a predetermined distance, a connecting member ( 5 ) for connecting the holding member or the imaging unit and the excitation unit, and a controller ( 6 ) for generating an image ( 61 ) related to the propagation of an elastic wave on an inspection target.

Claims (91)

1. A defect inspection apparatus comprising:

an excitation unit configured to excite an elastic wave in an inspection target;

a laser illumination unit configured to irradiate the inspection target with laser light;

an interference unit configured to cause the laser light reflected from mutually different positions of the inspection target excited by the excitation unit to interfere;

an imaging unit configured to image interfered laser light;

a holding member configured to hold the imaging unit at a position spaced apart from the inspection target by a predetermined distance;

a connecting member configured to connect the holding member or the imaging unit and the excitation unit;

a controller configured to generate an image related to propagation of the elastic wave of the inspection target, based on the interfered laser light imaged by the imaging unit, and

a vibration absorbing member provided between the excitation unit and the imaging unit, the vibration absorbing member being configured to absorb vibrations from the excitation unit.

2. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the holding member includes an imaging unit holder for holding the imaging unit and a plurality of legs provided on the imaging unit holder, and

wherein the excitation unit is provided on any one of the plurality of legs via the connecting member.

3. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the holding member is provided with an imaging unit holder for holding the imaging unit and a plurality of legs provided on the imaging unit holder, and

wherein the excitation unit is provided on at least two legs out of the plurality of legs via the connecting member.

4. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 2 ,

wherein the excitation unit is provided on the leg such that when the leg is brought into contact with the inspection target, the excitation unit is brought into contact with the inspection target at a position where a relative position of the excitation unit with respect to the imaging unit is determined in advance.

5. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 2 ,

wherein the excitation unit includes a housing, a vibrator, and the vibration absorbing member,

wherein the housing is connected to the leg via the connecting member,

wherein the vibrator and the vibration absorbing member are provided inside the housing, and

wherein the vibration absorbing member is provided between the housing and the vibrator.

6. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 2 ,

wherein the plurality of legs is provided with a suction portion for supporting the holding member by suctioning the inspection target, or a contact member which comes into contact with the inspection target, and

wherein the excitation unit is provided on the leg together with the suction portion or the contact member.

7. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 6 ,

wherein the excitation unit is provided on the leg together with the suction portion.

8. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 6 ,

wherein the excitation unit is provided on the leg together with the contact member, and

wherein the suction portion is provided on the leg on which the excitation unit is not provided.

9. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 6 ,

wherein the excitation unit is integrally provided inside or outside the suction portion.

10. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 2 ,

wherein the connecting member is configured to be able to adjust a position where the excitation unit comes into contact with the inspection target.

11. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 10 ,

wherein the connecting member includes a biasing member for biasing the excitation unit against the inspection target.

12. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 10 ,

wherein the connecting member is configured to be rotatable in a circumferential direction about the leg.

13. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 2 ,

wherein the excitation unit is configured to excite the elastic wave in the inspection target by supplying a current via a cable, and

wherein the cable is accommodated inside the leg.

14. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 2 ,

wherein the plurality of legs includes an excitation leg on which the excitation unit is provided and a supporting leg supporting the holding member.

15. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 2 ,

wherein the plurality of legs is each provided with a light shielding member for covering a space surrounded by the plurality of legs.

16. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 3 ,

wherein the excitation unit is provided on the leg such that when the leg is brought into contact with the inspection target, the excitation unit is brought into contact with the inspection target at a position where a relative position of the excitation unit with respect to the imaging unit is determined in advance.

17. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 3 ,

wherein the excitation unit includes a housing, a vibrator, and the vibration absorbing member,

wherein the housing is connected to the leg via the connecting member,

wherein the vibrator and the vibration absorbing member are provided inside the housing, and

wherein the vibration absorbing member is provided between the housing and the vibrator.

18. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 3 ,

wherein the plurality of legs is provided with a suction portion for supporting the holding member by suctioning the inspection target, or a contact member which comes into contact with the inspection target, and

wherein the excitation unit is provided on the leg together with the suction portion or the contact member.

19. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 3 ,

wherein the connecting member is configured to be able to adjust a position where the excitation unit comes into contact with the inspection target.

20. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 3 ,

wherein the excitation unit is configured to excite the elastic wave in the inspection target by supplying a current via a cable, and

wherein the cable is accommodated inside the leg.

21. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 3 ,

wherein the plurality of legs includes an excitation leg on which the excitation unit is provided and a supporting leg supporting the holding member.

22. The defect inspection apparatus as recited in claim 3 ,

wherein the plurality of legs is each provided with a light shielding member for covering a space surrounded by the plurality of legs.

23. A defect inspection apparatus comprising:

an excitation unit configured to excite an elastic wave in an inspection target;

a laser illumination unit configured to irradiate the inspection target with laser light;

an interference unit configured to cause the laser light reflected from mutually different positions of the inspection target excited by the excitation unit to interfere;

an imaging unit configured to image interfered laser light;

a holding member configured to hold the imaging unit at a position spaced apart from the inspection target by a predetermined distance so that the imaging unit does not change from a predetermined distance from the inspection target;

a connecting member configured to connect the holding member or the imaging unit and the excitation unit;

a controller configured to generate an image related to propagation of the elastic wave of the inspection target, based on the interfered laser light imaged by the imaging unit, and

a vibration absorbing member provided between the excitation unit and the imaging unit, the vibration absorbing member being configured to absorb vibrations from the excitation unit.

24. A defect inspection apparatus comprising:

an excitation unit configured to excite an elastic wave in an inspection target;

a laser illumination unit configured to irradiate the inspection target with laser light;

an interference unit configured to cause the laser light reflected from mutually different positions of the inspection target excited by the excitation unit to interfere;

an imaging unit configured to image interfered laser light;

a holding member including an imaging unit holding part for holding the imaging unit and a plurality of legs provided on the imaging unit holding part, and configured to hold the imaging unit at a position spaced apart from the inspection target by a predetermined distance;

a connecting member configured to connect the holding member or the imaging unit and the excitation unit;

a controller configured to generate an image related to propagation of the elastic wave of the inspection target, based on the interfered laser light imaged by the imaging unit, and

a vibration absorbing member provided between the excitation unit and the imaging unit, the vibration absorbing member being configured to absorb vibrations from the excitation unit.

25. A defect inspection apparatus comprising:

an excitation unit configured to excite an elastic wave in an inspection target;

a laser illumination unit configured to irradiate the inspection target with laser light;

an interference unit configured to cause the laser light reflected from mutually different positions of the inspection target excited by the excitation unit to interfere;

an imaging unit configured to image interfered laser light;

a holding member configured to hold the imaging unit at a position spaced apart from the inspection target by a predetermined distance;

a connecting member configured to connect the holding member or the imaging unit and the excitation unit;

a controller configured to generate an image related to propagation of the elastic wave of the inspection target, based on the interfered laser light imaged by the imaging unit, and

a vibration absorbing member configured to absorb vibrations from the excitation unit and bias the excitation unit so as to come into close contact with the inspection target.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2023
From: HORIKAWA, HIROSHI; TAKUBO, KENJI
To: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063487/0765 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230251204A1 · Aug 10, 2023
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