Patent ID: 7773213
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An optical exterior inspection apparatus comprising: an inspection beam irradiation unit for irradiating an inspection beam toward an inspected object; a positioning unit for establishing prescribed positioning of the inspected object relative to the inspection beam; a light reception unit for receiving at least one of a reflected inspection beam reflected by the inspected object and a transmitted inspection beam transmitted through the inspected object; an image processor for performing image processing based on the at least one of the reflected inspection beam and the transmitted inspection beam; a liquid immersion unit for storing the inspected object therein, wherein the liquid immersion unit is to be filled with a liquid so as to refract the inspection beam irradiated toward the inspected object, the liquid having a refraction factor greater than one; and, an objective lens through which the inspection beam is to be irradiated from the inspection beam irradiation unit toward the inspected object, the objective lens having a numerical aperture of at least 0.8, wherein the objective lens is positioned so that the inspection beam is to pass through the liquid that is to refract the inspection beam and then is to converge on the inspected object at a predetermined angle, and wherein the numerical aperture of the objective lens is equal to the refraction factor of the liquid multiplied by a sine of the predetermined angle.