IP Library Granted Patent US 12,467,739
Granted Patent B2
US 12,467,739 · App. 17/797,179 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Height measurement apparatus and height measurement method

Inventors: Tomonori Nakamura (Hamamatsu, JP); Kunihiko Tsuchiya (Hamamatsu, JP)
Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
G01B11/06G01B11/0608G01B11/0633G01B11/0691G01B15/02G01J3/027G01J9/00G02B27/141
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,467,739
App. No.
17/797,179
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A height measurement apparatus includes: a light irradiation unit that irradiates a sample with irradiation light; a camera system that detects light from the sample irradiated with the irradiation light; and a control apparatus that calculates a height of the sample based on the wavelength information. The camera system includes an inclined dichroic mirror of which a transmittance and a reflectance change according to a wavelength in a predetermined wavelength range and which separates the light from the sample by transmitting and reflecting the light, a light detector that detects a reflected light quantity from light reflected by the inclined dichroic mirror, a light detector that detects a transmitted light quantity from light transmitted through the inclined dichroic mirror, and a processing unit that calculates the wavelength information based on a ratio between the reflected light quantity and the transmitted light quantity, to output the wavelength information.

Claims (23)

1 . A height measurement apparatus comprising:

a light irradiator configured to irradiate a measurement object with irradiation light comprising a plurality of light fluxes arranged in a direction intersecting an optical axis direction and having different wavelengths, at an angle inclined with respect to a height direction of the measurement object;

a light detector configured to detect light from the measurement object irradiated with the irradiation light, and output wavelength information of the light; and

an analyzer configured to calculate a height of the measurement object based on the wavelength information,

wherein the light detector comprises an optical filter of which a transmittance and a reflectance monotonically change according to a wavelength in a predetermined wavelength range and which separates the light from the object by transmitting and reflecting the light, a first light detector configured to detect a reflected light quantity from light reflected by the optical filter, a first bandpass filter disposed between the optical filter and the first light detector configured to remove light in a wavelength range other than the predetermined wavelength range, a second light detector configured to detect a transmitted light quantity from light transmitted through the optical filter, a second bandpass filter disposed between the optical filter and the second light detector configured to remove light in a wavelength range other than the predetermined wavelength range, and a processor configured to calculate the wavelength information based on a ratio between the reflected light quantity and the transmitted light quantity, and output the wavelength information, and

the light from the measurement object has a spectral luminance peak in the predetermined wavelength range of the optical filter.

2 . The height measurement apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first light detector and the second light detector are line sensors.

3 . The height measurement apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light irradiator irradiates the measurement object with the irradiation light comprising the plurality of light fluxes that are parallel light.

4 . The height measurement apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light irradiator comprises a light source configured to emit white light, and a spectral element configured to split the white light output from the light source, to output the irradiation light comprising the plurality of light fluxes having different wavelengths, in the direction intersecting the optical axis direction.

5 . The height measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a dark box configured to block light other than the light with which the measurement object is irradiated by the light irradiator, as light with which the measurement object is to be irradiated.

6 . The height measurement apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a conveyor configured to move the measurement object.

7 . A height measurement method comprising:

irradiating a measurement object with irradiation light comprising a plurality of light fluxes arranged in a direction intersecting an optical axis direction and having different wavelengths, at an angle inclined with respect to a height direction of the measurement object;

calculating wavelength information of light from the measurement object based on a ratio between a reflected light quantity and a transmitted light quantity obtained by an optical filter of which a transmittance and a reflectance monotonically change according to a wavelength in a predetermined wavelength range and which separates the light from the object by transmitting and reflecting the light, by a first light detector configured to detect the reflected light quantity from light reflected by the optical filter, a first bandpass filter disposed between the optical filter and the first light detector configured to remove light in a wavelength range other than the predetermined wavelength range, a second light detector configured to detect the transmitted light quantity from light transmitted through the optical filter, and a second bandpass filter disposed between the optical filter and the second light detector configured to remove light in a wavelength range other than the predetermined wavelength range; and

calculating a height of the measurement object based on the wavelength information,

wherein the light from the measurement object has a spectral luminance peak in the predetermined wavelength range of the optical filter.

8 . The height measurement method according to claim 7 ,

wherein in the light irradiation step, an irradiation point of the irradiation light on the measurement object is continuously changed by moving the measurement object, and in the height calculation step, a shape of the measurement object is derived by calculating a height corresponding to the each irradiation point on the measurement object.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: NAKAMURA, TOMONORI; TSUCHIYA, KUNIHIKO
To: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
Reel/Frame 060706/0908 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-022724 · Feb 13, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230066638A1 · Mar 2, 2023
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