Inspecting apparatus

• US 10,678,385 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2017
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec-Read Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec-Read Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Koji, Matsukawa, Toshihide, Iwami, Koji, Fujita, Shigeki, Hikita, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Piziali, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US15/680,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20170344159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2221 to test input/output devices or peripheral units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

An inspection apparatus is provided with a holder configured to set an inspection target thereon, the inspection target configured to detect a contact position on the inspection target touched by a human finger; pseudo finger(s) configured to be detected as the human finger upon contact with the inspection target; a positioner configured to move the pseudo finger(s) relative to the inspection target and to change the contact position of the pseudo finger(s) relative to the inspection target; a memory configured to store, respectively, a value of a pressing force in a range of pressing forces said range including a zero pressing force for each of the pseudo finger(s) on the inspection target; a controller configured to regulate the pressing force for pseudo finger(s) of the pseudo finger(s) based on the respective value; and a sensor configured to acquire an electric signal output from the inspection target.

Claims

1. An inspection apparatus comprising:

a holder configured to set an inspection target on a front side of the holder, the inspection target configured to detect a first change from a no-contact condition to a contact condition on the inspection target by a human finger and/or a second change from the contact condition to the no-contact condition on the inspection target by the human finger, wherein the front side of the holder extends in an X-Y plane defined by an X-axis and a Y-axis, and wherein a Z-axis is defined as perpendicular to the X-Y plane;

one or more pseudo fingers, each configured be detected as the human finger by the inspection target, each of the one or more pseudo fingers being an elongated member;

a memory configured to store a respective value of a pressing force in a range of pressing forces, said range including a zero pressing force value, for each of the one or more pseudo fingers;

a positioner configured to linearly move at least one of the one or more pseudo fingers in a Z-axis direction, toward and/or away from the inspection target;

a housing comprising a chamber for accommodating the one or more pseudo fingers so that an upper portion of each of the one or more pseudo fingers is within the housing, wherein the one or more pseudo fingers are configured to linearly move relative to the housing;

a controller configured to regulate the pressing force for the at least one or more pseudo fingers by controlling the positioner based on the one or more respective values; and

a sensor configured to acquire from the inspection target a first electric signal output indicating the first change and/or a second electrical signal output indicating the second change.

2. The inspection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioner is configured to move the at least one of the one or more pseudo fingers in an X-Y direction which is parallel to the X-Y plane and orthogonal to the Z-axis direction, while independently controlling the pressing force thereof based on the respective value.

3. The inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pressing force is configured to be maintained constant during movement in the X-Y direction.

4. The inspection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more pseudo fingers are configured to be held in the housing in a non-contact manner.

5. The inspection apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one or more pseudo fingers are configured to be held in the housing in a non-contact manner by an air bearing.