Patent ID: 6400455
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: G01N,H01L

Abstract:
An observation apparatus for observing an observation object, comprising:a light source portion equipped with a plurality of light-emitting bodies; an optical element for focusing illumination light from the light source portion onto the observation object; and a light-receiving portion for receiving light reflected from or passing through the observation object; wherein the light source portion is arranged at or near the focal plane of the optical element and includes: a first arrangement of at least one light-emitting body for providing a first bright field illumination, arranged on the optical axis of the optical element; a second arrangement of at least one light-emitting body for providing a second bright field illumination, arranged near the optical axis so as to shine light onto the observation object at an incidence angle which allows the light source image to completely cover the light-receiving portion; a third arrangement of at least one light-emitting body for providing an incomplete bright field or incomplete dark field illumination, arranged near the optical axis so as to shine light onto the observation object at an incidence angle which allows the light source image to cover a partial portion of the light-receiving portion; and a fourth arrangement of at least one light-emitting body for providing a dark field illumination, arranged near the optical axis so as to shine light onto the observation object at an incidence angle which prevents the light source image from covering any of the light-receiving portion, in which the light-emitting bodies are adapted for selective activation.