US 12,348,879 B2
Unscanned optical inspection system using a micro camera array
Mark Harfouche, Pasadena, CA (US); Roarke Horstmeyer, Durham, NC (US); and Robert Horstmeyer, Durham, NC (US)
Filed by Ramona Optics Inc., Durham, NC (US)
Filed on Nov. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/508,115.
Application 18/508,115 is a continuation of application No. 17/500,379, filed on Oct. 13, 2021, granted, now 11,818,471.
Application 17/500,379 is a continuation of application No. 16/954,960, granted, now 11,153,508, issued on Oct. 19, 2021, previously published as PCT/US2018/065958, filed on Dec. 17, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0080579 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 23/90 (2023.01); G01B 11/245 (2006.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/90 (2023.01) [G01B 11/245 (2013.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/695 (2023.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inspection system comprising
a digital camera subsystem,
wherein the digital camera subsystem comprises an array of multiple micro-cameras mounted on a printed circuit board,
wherein each micro-camera comprises a digital image sensor and a lens system that is configured to image a fraction of an item at an image resolution of 20 micrometers or smaller, and
wherein the digital camera subsystem is configured to detect optical radiation over a field-of-view of 100 mm or more in a diagonal dimension in a single snapshot,
wherein the printed circuit board comprises a steering device coupled to a sensor of at least a micro-camera of the multiple micro-cameras, with the steering device configured to move the sensor axially to change a plane of focus of the at least a micro-camera;
a control subsystem configured to control an image data acquisition process by the digital camera subsystem.