INSPECTION APPARATUS

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for inspecting, for example, sheet material, in which a beam of radiation l2 is scanned across a sheet l3 by means of a first facet 4l of a rotating mirror drum 22. Scattered radiation from the sheet is received by a second facet 46 and 2 is passed to a photodetector 49 for analysis.

Description: The present invention relates to inspection apparatus. In particular, the apparatus, in general terms, refers to an apparatus of a similar type to our earlier European patent application number 182471 and our previous GB-A- 2054835, the latter disclosing an apparatus including the features set out in the first parts of claims 1 and 5. The apparatus may be of a type for inspecting an object on faults, for example for inspecting its surface or, if the object is transparent to the radiation used in the inspection, for inspecting the bulk of the object. Preferred arrangements for the apparatus are particularly applicable to the inspection of sheet material. Our earlier European patent application 182471 published on 28.05.86 shows an inspection apparatus for inspecting, for example, sheet material in which a beam of radiation is scanned across a sheet 13 by means of a rotating mirror drum 22, radiation from the sheet 13 being influenced by the sheet 13 and thereafter being passed to a retroreflective screen 24; the image 15 on the retroreflective screen 24 is inspected by bringing the reflected light back to a focus 25, on a target 33 via the same facet of the mirror drum 22 so that the conjugate image 25 is stationary (ie is descanned) and may be viewed by a photodetector 27. The present invention provides inspection apparatus comprising a radiation source, a multiple mirror scanner, and a radiation detector means in which, in use a beam of radiation is scanned across an object by reflection from a facet of the multiple mirror scanner and radiation influenced by the object passed back to the multiple mirror scanner and reflected by another facet to the radiation detector means. Although we refer throughout to "light" and "optical" it will be understood that this invention can be used with radiation of other wavelengths, for example, infra-red and ultra violet. Indeed, in examining some materials such as light sensitive sheets it is essential to use wavelengths to which the light sensitive sheets are not sensitive. The invention will be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows, in diagramatic form, part of the optical arrangement of the apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a perspective view partly cut away, of a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figures 3A to 3E show diagrammatically two areas of a target detector and the incidence of a beam on these areas, and Figure 4 shows signal outputs of the target detector corresponding to Figures 3A to 3E. Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, an incident light beam 12 from a laser 11 strikes a facet 41 of a rotating polygonal mirror drum 22 and passes to a sheet 13 across which it is scanned by rotation of the mirror drum 22. The light then passes to a retroreflective screen 24 where an image 15 is formed, although it will be understood that the image 15 is not necessarily in focus. The image 15 is focussed by lens 32 back onto target 33 via the facet 41 of the mirror drum 22 and beam splitter 31. A front view of the target apparatus 33 is shown in Figure 3. In this case there is provided a first area in the form of a central circle 36 of material which transmits half of the incident beam. The central circle 36 is surrounded by an outer annulus 37 which transmits all of the incident beam. Referring now to Figure 3A it will be understood that the outline of the image 25 is equal to or less than the diameter of the central circle 36 and so long as the sheet material does not have any faults or flaws which delfect the beam then the image 25 will remain in the central circle 36. Figure 4 shows the signal output corresponding to Figures 3A to 3E. If the beam passes through an absorbing defect in the sheet 13 then the light received by photomultipler 27 behind the target 33 will be reduced as is indicated by the signal at C in Figure 4. If the beam 12 passes through a portion of the sheet 13 which includes a defect which deflects the beam then the image 15 will move away from the portion it would otherwise hold and hence the image 25 will be deflected away from the central circle 36 into the outer annulus 37 and hence the light passing through to the photomultiplier 27 will be increased as is shown at D in Figure 4. Indeed deflections of the beam in any direction will produce an increase in the signal produced by the photomultiplier 27. This latter arrangement therefore has the advantage that deflection of the beam in any direction by the sheet 13 will be readily indicated. Let us consider the particular circumstances whereby there is a flaw in the sheet 13 which causes the beam to scatter and so instead of there being a small defined spot 15 on the screen 24, the beam 12 forms a central spot together with a larger area of scattered light. In the drawing (Fig.1), the central beam path which forms the central spot is indicated at 42 whereas the peripheral beam path which forms the surrounding zone of scattered light is indicated at 43. If the fault in the sheet 13 is such as to effectively eliminate the bright central spot then the conjugate image 25 formed via the facet 41 will be easily analysed as the output signal from the two parts of the detector 36, 37 will be of the same order of magnitude. However, it is common for the central spot created by the central beam 42 to be very much brighter than the surrounding scattered light surface area and this effect is emphasised by the use of retroreflective material in screen 24. Retroreflective material returns an incident beam of light along the same beam path, but with a small cone angle. The cone angle may be as low as one degree. Now as is clear from the accompanying drawing, most of the light from the central beam 42 will be returned to the facet 41, but scattered light, at, say the periphery of beam path 43 will tend to be returned in a cone illustrated by the dotted lines 44. Thus a substantial proportion of the scattered light at the periphery of the scattered light area will not be returned to the facet 41 and so the relative light signal received by the two photodetector portions 36, 37 will be disproportionate, that received by portion 37 being very much less than that received by portion 36. In normal operation, therefore, it is likely that the signal from the scattered light detector may well be swamped by the central cone, since the scattered light signal will be disproportionately smaller than the central light signal. We, therefore, propose that in addition to viewing the image on the surface 24 via the same facet 41 as the incident beam 12 there is provided an optical system for collecting light returning from the image 15 on the surface 24 via at least one adjacent facet, for example, facet 46. It will be clear that the light returning to facet 46 will, in this case, contain a proportionately increased amount of scattered light compared with the central beam 42 and in circumstances where we wish to consider the scattered light in more detail this is a preferred arrangement. The optical system to collect the light reflected back to the facet 46 comprises a plane mirror 47 an imaging lens 48 and a photodetector 49 which may be of the general type similar to the photo detector 33. In this way the relative ratio between the signals received by the two parts 36, 37 of the photo detector 49 will proportionately favour the scattered light and, therefore, the signal relating to scattered light will be proportionately larger than the signal for the central beam. Figure 2 illustrates in more detail a preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the invention. Apparatus is mounted within a closed cabinet 35 the front face of which includes a slot 30. The cabinet 35 mounts therein a laser 11, and beam shaping optical components 11A for producing the beam 12. The beam 12 is reflected from a mirror 29 and is passed to a beam splitter 31 in the form of a mirror having a central aperture 31A through which the beam 12 passes. The beam 12 is passed to the mirror drum scanner 22 which is mounted inside a hood 22A, the mirror drum scanner 22 rotating and scanning the beam 12 through the slot 30 across the object 13 under inspection. Some of the returning light passes back to the facet 41 which has reflected the outgoing beam 12 and this is received by the mirror 31 and reflected to a lens 32, photomultipliers 27, target 33 and optical fibers 33A in a manner described in our European Patent Application 182471. The scattered light is, as with Figure 1, indicated as returning along the lines 44 and passes to an adjacent facet 46 of the mirror drum 22 and is reflected to the mirror 47 and via the imaging lens 48 onto the photodector 49. The operation of this part of the apparatus is as described with reference to Figure 1.

Claims: Inspection apparatus comprising a radiation source means (11,11A) for providing a beam of radiation (12), a mirror scanner (22) having a plurality of facets, (41, 46) and a radiation detector means (48, 49) the radiation source means (11, 11A) and the mirror scanner (22) being disposed so that, in use, the beam of radiation (12) is scanned across an object (13) to be inspected by reflection from one facet (41) of the mirror scanner (22) characterised in that radiation influenced by the object (13) is passed back to the mirror scanner (22) and the radiation detector means (48, 49) is disposed relative to the object (13) and mirror scanner (22) so as to receive the radiation, which has been influenced by the object and passed back to the mirror scanner, reflected by another facet (46) of the mirror scanner. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterised by retroreflective material (24) positioned so that the beam of radiation (12) after scanning across said object (13) is intercepted by said retroreflector material (24) and retrorefracted back to the object (13) and back to the mirror scanner (22). Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that further radiation detector means (27) is provided to receive radiation which has been influenced by the object (13) and then reflected by said one facet (41). Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the radiation source means (11, 11A) comprises a laser (11) and beam focusing means (11A). Inspection apparatus for inspecting an object comprising a laser (11), optical components (11A) for shaping a beam (12) from said laser (11), a mirror scanner (22) having a plurality of facets (41, 46) the mirror scanner (22) being rotatable about an axis, Wherein in use the beam (12) from the beam shaping means (11A) is passed to a first facet (41) of the mirror scanner (22) and rotation of said mirror scanner (22) causes said facet (41) to scan said beam (12) across an object to be inspected (13), characterised in that radiation influenced by the object (13) is passed back from the object to the mirror scanner (22) and that optical focusing means (48), and photo detector means (49) are arranged so that some radiation influenced by the object (13) and passed back to the mirror scanner is reflected by another facet (46) of said mirro scanner (22) to the optical focusing means (48) and thence to the photodetector means (49). Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 characterised in that further optical focusing means (32) is provided and further photo detector means (27) is provided, said further optical focusing means (32) and photodetector means (37) being arranged so as to receive radiation from the object (13) and then reflected by said first facet (41).

Inventors: WEST, ROBERT NOEL
Applicants: SIRA LIMITED
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G01N21
IPC codes: G01M11, G01N21