Ultra fast 100 percent examination under the microscope

12-Nov-2015 - Germany

Large-scale components with tiny details often have to be examined under the microscope for quality control. The demand for microscopic test methods is particularly high in the semi-conductor and electronics industry due to the high degree of miniaturization. However, the recording process is very tedious when examining large objects microscopically, because thousands of individual photos must be taken and analyzed. Fraunhofer IPT is presenting a new recording process, with which large-scale objects can be examined under the microscope in a matter of seconds.

High-Speed-Microscopy for quality control

Traditional recording processes for large components with high magnification often take so long that 100 percent examinations cannot be performed due to a lack of time meaning that only random samples can be examined. After all, the number of photos and therefore the time required depend on the magnification used in microscopy: the large-scale component must be precisely positioned with the sample table before the individual photos can be produced and analyzed.

Fraunhofer IPT has now developed a new recording process, with which large-scale components can be examined under the microscope in just a few seconds: the table moves the object continually during the recording procedure, in contrast to the conventional “Stop-and-Go” operation. This allows the sample to be digitalized with very high image rates – with more than 100 frames per second depending on the camera. Due to the fact that the object is only exposed extremely briefly with a flash, the photo is also free of any motion blur. During the continuous scanning process, the focus is readjusted using real-time-capable hardware autofocus systems so that the sample is displayed with a sharp focus at all points.

High-performance data and image processing

The time-optimized scanning process is combined with real-time-capable data handling and image preprocessing stages. Even intensive computing steps such as stitching processes run almost without delay thanks to GPU support. Automated image processing work for quality control can already be carried out parallel to the scan, so that the results of the examination process are available immediately after the high-speed scanning process. This new system is the first to allow a successful 100 percent microscopic examination that can keep up with the rapid speed of industrial production.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/155522/ultra-fast-100-percent-examination-under-the-microscope.html