US 7,092,107 B2
Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structureGeneral
US 7,092,107 B2
Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
Tech Center:
2800 Semiconductors/Memory, Circuits/Measuring and Testing, Optics/Photocopying, Printing/Measuring and Testing
Examiner:
Gregory J. Toatley, Jr.
Art Unit:
2877 Optics
Agent:
Inventors:
Noam Babayoff; Isaia Glaser-Inbari
Assignee:
Priority:
08/05/98
Filed:
07/07/05
Granted:
08/15/06
Expiration:
08/05/19
Abstract
Determining surface topology of a portion (26) of a three-dimensional structure is provided. An array of incident light beams (36) passing through a focusing optics (42) and a probing face is shone on said portion. The focusing optics defines one or more focal planes forward the probing face in a position which can be changed (72) by the focusing optics. The beams generate illuminated spots (52) on the structure and the intensity of returning light rays propagating in an optical path opposite to that of the incident light rays is measured (60) at various positions of the focal plane(s). By determining spot-specific positions yielding a maximum intensity of the returned light beams, data is generated which is representative of said topology.
Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
A61A61C13/0004A61B1/00096A61CG01B11/24G01BG16H20/40G16H