Abstract:
Photovoltaic thin film quality control is obtained where the thin film is supported by a support and a section of the film is illuminated by a polychromatic illumination source. The source forms on the thin film a continuous illuminated line. Discrete sampled points located on the illuminated line are imaged onto a two dimensional optical switch. A concordance look-up-table between the coordinates of the above sampled points on the thin film and their coordinates on the two dimensional optical switch are generated. The spectral composition of the illumination reflected by the sampled points is determined and photovoltaic thin film parameters applicable to the quality control are derived from the spectral composition of reflected or transmitted by the photovoltaic thin film illumination.
Abstract:
An apparatus images a surface. An imager stage (20) linearly translates the surface in a first direction. A light path has a first end defining an input aperture (48) perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the surface, and a second end defining an output aperture (52). A plurality of radiation beams (62) linearly scan and interact in time-multiplexed alternating turns with the surface below the input aperture to produce a time-multiplexed light signal that is collected by the input aperture and transmitted by the light path to the output aperture. A photodetector (98) arrangement detects the light signal at the output aperture. A processor processes the detected time-multiplexed light.
Abstract:
A system for detecting optically-sensitive properties of sheet materials during manufacture includes a first group of bundles of optical fibers that convey light to selected transmitting locations adjacent one face of the sheet material. The system further includes a second group of bundles of optical fibers that collect and convey light transmitted through the sheet material to a light detector. The light detector measures the intensity of light received from each of the bundles of the second group to provide measurements of optically-sensitive properties of the sheet material at selected cross-directional locations.
Abstract:
An apparatus (10) for inspecting the surface of an object S moving in the direction of travel (23) relative to the apparatus comprises a modular sensing head assembly (11) including a plurality of sensing head modules (12, 13), each of which includes a number of sensing stations (16 - 21). Each sensing station includes a light source (77, 81, 84) for generating a line of light extending across substantially the width of the surface of the object and a plurality of optical detector means for detecting light scattered from the line of light by the surface of the object. The optical detectors are positioned and oriented to receive scattered light scattered along paths lying in detection planes which are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the surface of the object. Signal processing electronics are provided to convert the light received by the detectors into analog signals which are multiplexed, converted to digital signals, filtered and then compared to preselected thresholds to determine the existence of any defects in the surface.
Abstract:
Appareil (10) servant à examiner la surface d'un objets se déplaçant dans un sens de parcours (23) par rapport à l'appareil. Ledit appareil (10) est constitué d'un ensemble tête de détection (11) modulaire comprenant une pluralité de modules (12, 13) de tête de détection qui comportent chacun plusieurs unités de détection (16, 21). Chaque unité de détection comprend une source de lumière (77, 81, 84) qui génère un rayon de lumière s'étendant pratiquement sur la largeur de la surface de l'objet, et plusieurs détecteurs optiques qui détectent la lumière du rayon de lumière qui est dispersée par la surface de l'objet. Les détecteurs optiques sont positionnés et orientés de manière à recevoir la lumière dispersée selon des trajectoires situées dans des plans de détection qui sont perpendiculaires entre eux et par rapport à la surface de l'objet. Des systèmes électroniques de traitement des signaux sont prévus pour transformer la lumière reçue par les détecteurs en signaux analogiques qui sont multiplexés, convertis en signaux numériques, filtrés et ensuite comparés à des seuils présélectionnés pour déterminer la présence d'un quelconque défaut dans cette surface.
Abstract:
An optical inspection system and method for detecting flaws on a diffractive surface such as a reticle or wafer, includes illuminating a surface to be inspected to generate a first scattered energy angular distribution in response to a flaw on the surface and a second scattered energy angular distribution in response to an unflawed surface; the first and second energy distributions are sensed and the minimum energy detection energy level is established; determining whether the minimum detected energy level is in a first or second predetermined energy range and indicating that no flaw is present when the minimum detected energy level is in the first range and a flaw is present when the minimum detected energy level is in the second range.