Inspection illuminator

• US 6,533,429 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2002
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CCS Corporation
• Original Assignee: CCS Corporation
• Inventors: Yoneda, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US10/041,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/800, 362/249, 362/252, 362/555
• US Class Current: 362/600
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/20 of light guides of a generally planar shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention provides an inspection illuminator capable of reliably detecting defects on the inspection face of articles to be inspected, while making the brightness of light uniform. In this inspection illuminator, a plurality of illuminant rows are provided, in each of which a multiplicity of illuminants 4 are circularly aligned so as to encircle an opening 1K formed approximately in the center; a plurality of annular transparent bodies 6 for dispersing light from the illuminants of the illuminant rows and guiding such light toward the central axis side of the opening 1K are layered in front of such illuminant rows in a state of being optically shielded with shielding means 7; and the light emitting faces 6A of the transparent bodies 6 are formed into an incline plane such that the upper part thereof is closer to the central axis.

Claims

1. An inspection illuminator, wherein a plurality of illuminant rows are provided in each of which a multiplicity of illuminants are circularly aligned so as to encircle an opening formed approximately in the center;

a plurality of annular transparent bodies for dispersing light from the illuminants of said illuminant rows and guiding such light toward the central axis side of said opening are layered at the front part of such illuminant rows in a state of being optically shielded with a shielding means; and

the light emitting face of said transparent bodies are formed into an inclined plane, such that the upper part thereof is closer to the central axis.

2. An inspection illuminator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of rows of circularly aligned illuminants are juxtaposed in the vertical direction in a state where the light emitting face of said respective illuminants are directed toward the inner peripheral face side;

and said plurality of transparent bodies are disposed in front of such plurality of rows of illuminants.

3. An inspection illuminator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of rows of circularly aligned illuminants are juxtaposed in the vertical direction in a state where the light emitting face of said respective illuminants are directed toward the inner peripheral face side;

said multiplicity of illuminants are divided into a plurality of groups in the peripheral direction; and

a plurality of said transparent bodies for guiding light from the illuminants divided into groups in the horizontal direction are disposed in front of said illuminant groups in a state of being optically shielded.

4. An inspection illuminator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of rows of circularly aligned illuminants are juxtaposed in the horizontal direction in a state where the light emitting face of said respective illuminants are directed downward;

and said plurality of transparent bodies are disposed below the plurality of illuminant rows, respectively.

5. An inspection illuminator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said multiplicity of illuminants are mounted on a single substrate so as to constitute said plurality of illuminant rows.

6. An inspection illuminator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inclined plane of said transparent bodies is formed in a gentle curvature face.

7. An inspection illuminator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein gaps produced between said illuminants and said transparent bodies are filled with a filling material such as transparent silicone or the like.

8. An inspection illuminator according to claim 1, wherein said shielding means is constituted by a reflective layer for returning the light applied to the shielding means back into said transparent bodies.

9. An inspection illuminator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the illuminant rows juxtaposed in the vertical direction or the illuminant groups divided in the horizontal direction are constructed so as to be capable of being turned on and turned off individually for each row or each group.

10. An inspection illuminator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the illuminant rows juxtaposed in the vertical direction or the illuminant groups divided in the horizontal direction have different colors respectively.

11. An inspection illuminator according to claim 2 or claim 3, comprising an adjustment means for adjusting the light volume to be emitted through said transparent bodies from the respective illuminant rows juxtaposed in said vertical direction.