Optical inspection system, illumination apparatus and method for use in imaging specular objects based on illumination gradients
First Claim
1. An optical inspection system, comprising:
- means for receiving illumination reflected from the surface of an object; and
means for producing image data representing the intensity of the reflected illumination from spatial locations on the surface of the object; and
means for processing said image data to discern between illumination intensities of an illumination gradient associated with the reflected illumination to determine surface gradients at the spatial locations on the surface of the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical inspection system uses an illumination gradient to gradually spatially vary the intensity and/or specular characteristics of the illumination reflected from the surface of a specular object to determine surface gradients of the object. The surface gradients can be used to reconstruct a three-dimensional image of the object. The illumination gradient can be produced by an illumination apparatus that includes circular arrays of light-emitting elements. The illumination gradient can also be produced using an optical element that gradually alters the illumination intensity of the reflected illumination in accordance with the incidence characteristics of the reflected illumination on the optical element. The illumination gradient enables the use of numerous illumination angles to reduce error in estimated surface gradients without increasing imaging or processing time.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An optical inspection system, comprising:
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means for receiving illumination reflected from the surface of an object; and
means for producing image data representing the intensity of the reflected illumination from spatial locations on the surface of the object; and
means for processing said image data to discern between illumination intensities of an illumination gradient associated with the reflected illumination to determine surface gradients at the spatial locations on the surface of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An illumination apparatus for use in an optical inspection system, comprising:
light-emitting elements disposed in concentric circular arrays around an axis extending from a plane in which an object under inspection is located, said light-emitting elements being configured to illuminate the object with illumination characterized by at least one illumination parameter having an illumination gradient across at least a contiguous portion of said light-emitting elements. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical inspection system for inspecting an object, comprising:
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a sensing apparatus disposed in relation to the object to receive illumination reflected from the surface of the object, said sensing apparatus being configured to produce image data representing the intensity of the reflected illumination from spatial locations on the surface of the object, the image data for use in determining surface gradients at the spatial locations on the surface of the object; and
an optical element disposed between the object and said sensing apparatus to produce an illumination gradient by altering the illumination intensity of the reflected illumination over incidence characteristics of the reflected illumination on said optical element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An optical inspection system for inspecting an object, comprising:
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an illumination source disposed in relation to the object to illuminate the object with illumination characterized by at least one illumination parameter having an illumination gradient; and
a sensing apparatus disposed in relation to the object to receive illumination reflected from the surface of the object, said sensing apparatus being configured to produce image data representing the illumination parameter of the reflected illumination from spatial locations on the surface of the object, the image data for use in determining surface gradients at the spatial locations on the surface of the object to reconstruct a greater than two-dimensional image of the shape of the surface of the object. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for inspecting an object using an optical inspection system, comprising:
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receiving illumination reflected from the surface of an object;
producing image data representing the intensity of the reflected illumination from spatial locations on the surface of the object; and
in response to said image data, discerning between illumination intensities of an illumination gradient associated with the reflected illumination to determine surface gradients at the spatial locations on the surface of the object.
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Specification