Method of reading optical image of inspected surface and image reading system employable therein

Claim 2

The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises the step of: (a-1) positioning an edge of said light source on an optical axis of said imaging optical system.

Claim 3

The method of claim 2, wherein said step (a) further comprises the step of: (a-2) covering half said angular aperture of said imaging optical system with said light source.

Claim 4

An image reading system for reading an image of an object, comprising: (a) an imaging optical system facing said object; (b) light source means provided in a part of an angular aperture of said imaging optical system and emitting illumination light toward said object, wherein said illumination light is reflected on said object to become a reflected light; and (c) image sensor means provided on the opposite side of said imaging optical system from said object, for receiving said reflected light through said imaging optical system to obtain an image of said object.

Claim 5

The image reading system of claim 4, wherein said light source means has an edge located on an optical axis of said imaging optical system.

Claim 6

The image reading system of claim 5, wherein said light source means has a body covering half said angular aperture of said imaging optical system.

Claim 7

The image reading system of claim 6, wherein said light source means is a first light source means; said illumination light is a first illumination light; said reflected light is a first reflected light; and said image reading system further comprises: (d) a second light source means provided out of said angular aperture, for emitting a second illumination light toward said object, wherein said second illumination light is reflected on said object to become a second reflected light, said second reflected light being received by said image sensor.

Claim 8

The image reading system of claim 7, which is provided for inspecting a printed board having an insulating substrate on which a wiring pattern is formed and through which a through hole is provided: wherein said printed board is said object; said imaging optical system is located to face said wiring pattern; said first and second light source means are located between said printed board and said imaging optical system for applying said first and second illumination lights for illuminating said wiring pattern.

Claim 9

The image reading system of claim 8, wherein said image sensor means is a first image sensor; and said image reading system further comprises: (e) a third light source means provided on the opposite side of said printed board from said imaging optical system, for emitting a third illumination light to said through hole, wherein said third illumination light is transmitted through said through hole to become a transmitted light which then meets said first and second reflected lights and passes through said imaging optical system in the form of a compound light consisting of said first and second reflected lights and said transmitted light; (f) a second image sensor provided in a different position from said first image sensor; and (g) light splitting means provided in the opposite side of said printed board across said imaging optical system, for splitting said compound light into: said first and second reflected lights;and said transmitted light, and for directing: said first and second reflected lights to said first image sensor; and said transmitted light to said second image sensor.

Claim 10

The image reading system of claim 9, wherein said first and second illumination lights have a first wavelength; said third illumination light has a second wavelength; and said light splitting means comprises; (g-1) optical means for splitting said compound light into said first and second reflected lights and said transmitted light according to the respective wavelengths thereof.

Claim 11

The image reading system of claim 9, wherein said first and second illumination lights are polarized in a first direction; said third illumination light is polarized in a second direction; and said light splitting means comprises; (g-2) optical means for splitting said compound light into said first and second reflected lights and said transmitted light according to respective directions.

Claim 12

The image reading system of claim 9, wherein said imaging optical system is telecentric at least on the side of said printed board.

Claim 14

The method of claim 13, wherein said step (a) comprises the steps of; (a-1) applying a first component of said first light from a position defined in a part of an angular aperture of said imaging optical system to said first surface of said printed board; and (a-2) applying a second component of said first light from a position out of said angular aperture of said imaging optical system to said first surface of said printed board.

Claim 15

The method of claim 14, wherein said step (a-1) comprises the steps of; providing a light source having a body whose edge is on an optical axis of said imaging optical axis; and enabling said light source to emit said first component of said first light.

Claim 16

The method of claim 15, wherein said first light is red light and said second light is infrared light; and said light splitter is a cold mirror reflecting said red light and transmitting said infrared light.

Claim 17

An image reading system for reading respective images of a wiring pattern and a through hole of a printed board having first and second surfaces opposite to each other, in which said wiring pattern is formed on said first surface and said through hole is provided between said first and second surfaces, said image reading system comprising : (a) an imaging optical system facing said first surface of said printed board; (b) first light source means facing said first surface of said printed board to emit a first light having a first wavelength to said first surface of said printed board, wherein said first light is reflected on said wiring pattern to become a reflected light; (c) second light source means facing said second surface of said printed board to emit a second light having a second wavelength to said second surface of said printed board, wherein said second light is transmitted through said through hole to become a transmitted light which is overlapped with said reflected light to obtain a compound light entering said imaging optical system; (d) light splitter means for receiving said compound light having passed through said imaging optical system to split said compound light into said reflected light and said transmitted light; (e) first image sensor means for receiving said reflected light to obtain an image of said wiring pattern; and (f) second image sensor means for receiving said transmitted light to obtain an image of said through hole.

Claim 18

The image reading system of claim 17, wherein said first light source means comprises: (b-1) first illuminant means provided in a position defined in a part of an angular aperture of said imaging optical system to emit a first component of said first light; and (b-2) second illuminant means provided out of said angular aperture of said imaging optical system to emit a second component of said first light.

Claim 19

The image reading system of claim 18, wherein said first illumination means has a body whose edge is located on an optical axis of said imaging optical system.

Claim 20

The image reading system of claim 19, wherein said body of said first illumination means covers half said angular aperture of said imaging optical system.

Claim 22

The method of claim 21, wherein said step (a) comprises the steps of: (a-1) applying a first component of said first light from a position defined in a part of an angular aperture of said imaging optical system to said first surface of said printed board; and (a-2) applying a second component of said first light from a position out of said angular aperture of said imaging optical system to said first surface of said printed board.

Claim 23

The method of claim 22, wherein said step (a-1) comprises the steps of: providing a light source having a body whose edge is on an optical axis of said imaging optical axis; and enabling said light source to emit said first component of said first light.

Claim 24

An image reading system for reading respective images of a wiring pattern and a through hole of a printed board having first and second surfaces opposite to each other, in which said wiring pattern is formed on said first surface and said through hole is provided between said first and second surfaces, said image reading system comprising: (a) an imaging optical system facing said first surface of said printed board; (b) first light source means facing said first surface of said printed board to emit a first light polarized in a first direction to said first surface of said printed board, wherein said first light is reflected on said wiring pattern to become a reflected light; (c) second light source means facing said second surface of said printed board to emit a second light polarized in a second direction to said second surface of said printed board, wherein said second light is transmitted through said through hole to become a transmitted light which is overlapped with said reflected light to obtain a compound light entering said imaging optical system; (d) light splitter means for receiving said compound light having passed through said imaging optical system to split said compound light into said reflected light and said transmitted light; (e) first image sensor means for receiving said reflected light to obtain an image of said wiring pattern; and (f) second image sensor means for receiving said transmitted light to obtain an image of said through hole.

Claim 25

The image reading system of claim 24, wherein said first light source means comprises: (b-1) first illuminant means provided in a position defined in a part of an angular aperture of said imaging optical system to emit a first component of said first light; and (b-2) second illuminant means provided out of said angular aperture of said imaging optical system to emit a second component of said first light.

Claim 26

The image reading system of claim 25, wherein said first illumination means has a body whose edge is located on an optical axis of said imaging optical system.

Claim 27

The image reading system of claim 26, wherein said body of said first illumination means covers half said angular aperture of said imaging optical system.

Claim 29

The method of claim 28, wherein said first light is a light having a first wavelength; said second light is a light having a second wavelength; and said light splitter is a mirror reflecting only one of said first light and said second light in said compound light.

Claim 30

The method of claim 29, wherein said first light is a light polarized in a first direction; said second light is a light polarized in a second direction; and said light splitter is a polarization beam splitter mirror reflecting only one of said first light and said second light in said compound light.

Claim 31

The method of claim 28, wherein said boundary substantially divides said angular aperture into two equal parts.

Claim 32

The method of claim 31, wherein said selective reflection mirror comprises a transparent substrate and a selective photo-reflection film selectively formed on said transparent substrate; said first region is an exposed surface of said selective photo-reflection film; and said second region is an exposed surface of said transparent substrate.

Claim 33

An image reading system for reading respective images of a wiring pattern and a through hole of a printed board having first and second surfaces opposite to each other, in which said wiring pattern is formed on said first surface and said through hole is provided between said first and second surfaces, said image reading system comprising : (a) imaging optical system; (b) a selective reflection mirror covering the whole of an angular aperture of said imaging optical system and comprising a surface which consists of: a first region capable of reflecting a first light of a first optical character and capable of transmitting a second light of a second optical character; and a second region capable of reflecting said first and second lights; wherein said angular aperture of said imaging optical system is divided into two parts with a boundary of said first and second regions; (c) first light source means provided out of an angular aperture of said imaging optical system, for emitting said first light toward said selective reflection mirror to direct said first light to said first surface of said printed board to obtain a reflected light through reflection of said first light on said wiring pattern; (d) second light source means provided on the said second surface side, for emitting said second light toward said second surface of said printed board to obtain a transmitted light through transmittance of said second light through said through hole; wherein said reflected light and said transmitted light are overlapped with each other to form a compound light; and said compound light enters said selective reflection mirror and then passes through said imaging optical system; (e) light splitter means for receiving said compound light having passed through said imaging optical system to split said compound light into said reflected light and said transmitted light; (f) first image sensor means for receiving said reflected light to obtain an image of said wiring pattern; and (g) second image sensor means for receiving said transmitted light to obtain an image of said through hole.

Claim 34

The image reading system of claim 33, wherein said first light source means comprises: (c-1) a first illuminator means for emitting light having a first wavelength as said first light; said second light source means comprises: (b-1) a second illuminator means for emitting light having a second wavelength as said second light; and said light splitter means comprises: (e-1) a mirror reflecting only one of said first light and said second light in said compound light.

Claim 35

The image reading system of claim 33, wherein said first light source means comprises: (c-2) a first illuminator means for emitting light polarized in a first direction as said first light; said second light source means comprises: (b-2) a second illuminator means for emitting light polarized in a second direction as said second light; and said light splitter means comprises: (e-2) a polarization beam splitter reflecting only one of said first light and said second light in said compound light.

Claim 36

The image reading system of claim 33, wherein said boundary substantially divides said angular aperture into two equal parts.

Claim 37

The method of claim 36, wherein said selective reflection mirror comprises: (b-1) a transparent substrate; and (b-2) a selective photo-reflection film selectively formed on said transparent substrate; and wherein said first region is an exposed surface of said selective photo-reflection film; and said second region is an exposed surface of said transparent substrate.

Claim 38

The method of claim 37, wherein said first light source means emits said first light in a direction perpendicular to said optical axis; and said selective reflection mirror is inclined from said optical axis by 45°.

Claim 40

The method of claim 39, wherein said first light is a light having a first wavelength; said second light is a light having a second wavelength; and said light splitter is a mirror reflecting only one of said first light and said second light in said compound light.

Claim 41

The method of claim 39, wherein said first light is a light polarized in a first direction; said second light is a light polarized in a second direction; and said light splitter is a polarization beam splitter mirror reflecting only one of said first light and said second light in said compound light.

Claim 42

The method of claim 39, wherein said selective reflection mirror has an edge located on an optical axis of said imaging optical system.

Claim 43

The method of claim 42, wherein said selective reflection mirror comprises a transparent substrate and a selective photo-reflection film formed on said transparent substrate.

Claim 44

The method of claim 43, wherein said edge of said selective reflection mirror is processed into a wedge.

Claim 45

An image reading system for reading respective images of a wiring pattern and a through hole of a printed board having first and second surfaces opposite to each other, in which said wiring pattern is formed on said first surface and said through hole is provided between said first and second surfaces, said image reading system comprising : (a) an imaging optical system; (b) a selective reflection mirror covering a part of an angular aperture of said imaging optical system and capable of reflecting a first light of a first optical character and capable of transmitting a second light of a second optical character; (c) first light source means provided out of said angular aperture of said imaging optical system, for emitting said first light toward said selective reflection mirror to direct said first light to said first surface of said printed board and to obtain a reflected light through reflection of said first light on said wiring pattern; (d) second light source means provided on the said second surface side, for emitting said second light toward said second surface of said printed board to obtain a transmitted light through transmittance of said second light through said through hole; wherein said reflected light and said transmitted light are overlapped with each other to form a compound light; said compound light passes through a space in which said selective reflection mirror is provided and then enters said imaging optical system; with respect to said reflected light included in said compound light, only a part thereof bypassing said selective reflection mirror is received by said selective reflection mirror; and with respect to said transmitted light included in said compound light, both of a first part thereof passing through said selective reflection mirror and a second part bypassing said selective reflection mirror are received by said selective reflection mirror; (e) light splitter means for receiving said compound light having passed through said imaging optical system to split said compound light into said reflected light and said transmitted light; (f) first image sensor means for receiving said reflected light to obtain an image of said wiring pattern; and (g) second image sensor means for receiving said transmitted light to obtain an image of said through hole.

Claim 46

The image reading system of claim 45, wherein said first light source means comprises: (c-1) a first illuminator means for emitting light having a first wavelength as said first light; said second light source means comprises: (b-1) a second illuminator means for emitting light having a second wavelength as said second light; and said light splitter means comprises: (e-1) a mirror reflecting only one of said first light and said second light in said compound light.

Claim 47

The image reading system of claim 45, wherein said first light source means comprises: (c-2) a first illuminator means for emitting light polarized in a first direction as said first light; said second light source means comprises: (b-2) a second illuminator means for emitting light polarized in a second direction as said second light; and said light splitter means comprises: (e-2) a polarization light splitter reflecting only one of said first light and said second light in said compound light.

Claim 48

The method of claim 45, wherein said selective reflection mirror has an edge located on an optical axis of said imaging optical system.

Claim 49

The image reading system of claim 48, wherein said edge substantially divides said angular aperture into two equal parts.

Claim 50

The method of claim 49, wherein said selective reflection mirror comprises a transparent substrate and a selective photo-reflection film formed on said transparent substrate.

Claim 51

The method of claim 43, wherein said edge of said selective reflection mirror is processed into a wedge.