The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 21, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 26, 2001
Applicant:
Inventor:
Kouji Yoshida, Tokyo, JP;
Assignee:
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06K 9/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06K 9/00 ;
Abstract
A statistical processing unit compares the gray levels at identical positions in raw and reference images using a raw image having three or more gray levels obtained by sensing an object by an image pick-up unit. As the reference image, a predetermined designed image or at least one shift image obtained by shifting the raw image by an integer multiple of the repetition period in the repetition direction of a specific pattern is used. The statistical processing unit statistically analyzes the occurrence state of the difference between the raw and reference images, thus accurately obtaining the formation state of repetitive patterns on the object.