Transparent Air Pipe Joint for Substrate Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the FPD industry, air pipe joints on glass stages obstruct light from reaching the substrate during measurements, creating blind spots and affecting measurement accuracy due to their opaque materials.
Innovation Solution
An air pipe joint design with a hollow pipe body containing a light source, where the light is emitted from the air outlet end, and a reflection mirror is used to redirect light, minimizing obstruction and enhancing illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If opaque resin or metal joints are used for air pipes on the glass stage, then the air pipe joint can firmly fix the glass substrate and facilitate positioning, but the joint obstructs light from reaching the substrate, creating blind spots and affecting measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical property of the air pipe joint from opaque to transparent by using transparent resin material. This allows light to pass through the joint and reach the substrate, eliminating blind spots while maintaining the joint's structural function for fixing and positioning the glass substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material design by combining transparent resin with metallic reinforcing ribs inside the joint. The transparent resin allows light transmission while the metallic ribs provide structural strength and positioning accuracy, achieving both optical transparency and mechanical reliability.
2Illumination intensity
If a light source is placed under the glass stage for translucent illumination, then the illumination can pass through the glass stage and substrate to improve image contrast and clarity, but the opaque air pipe joint blocks the light path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical property of the air pipe joint from opaque to transparent, allowing the illumination light from below to pass through the joint and reach the substrate without obstruction, thereby eliminating blind spots and maintaining uniform illumination across the measurement area.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent joint acts as an optical intermediary that allows light transmission while maintaining the air pipe's structural function. The transparent material serves as a mediator between the light source below and the substrate above, enabling both illumination and air flow functions simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces blind spots and improves measurement accuracy by ensuring light reaches the substrate, while the air pipe joint's internal light source and reflective elements maintain reliable sealing and positioning.
Implementation Method 1
a reflection mirror is disposed in the pipe body for reflecting the light emitted from the light source toward the air outlet end
Data Source
AI summary
This invention discloses an air pipe joint for inspecting a substrate, including a hollow pipe body and a light source. The pipe body comprises a first pipe body and a second pipe body which are bent to and communicated with each other. Free ends of the first pipe body and the second pipe body are respectively an air inlet end for connecting an air intake pipe and an air outlet end for discharging air. The light source is fixed inside the pipe body. The light emitted by the light source is emitted from the air outlet end. This invention further discloses a measurement system for substrate inspection. The air pipe joint can emit light from the air outlet end thereof, reduce a blind spot on the transparent stage and influence on measurement accuracy due to a blocking of the air pipe joint itself against the light source.