Methods of processing a viscous ribbon include supplying a molten material from a supply vessel. Methods include forming the molten material into the viscous ribbon. The viscous ribbon travels along a travel path. Methods include receiving thermal light energy produced from the viscous ribbon. Methods include generating an image of the viscous ribbon from the thermal light energy. Methods include detecting a defect of the viscous ribbon from the image.

A method for detecting optical film defects based on differential interference, comprising: an incident light is adjusted into a planar light wave, and the surface of an optical film to be detected is adjusted to be perpendicular to the planar light wave; the planar light wave sequentially passes through a diaphragm, the optical film, a first collimating lens and a lenticular lens, and then form two parallel outgoing beams by differential interference; the two parallel outgoing beams pass through a second collimating lens to form a differential interference image on a photodetector; and the differential interference image is analyzed to detect both superficial and internal defects of the optical film.

A lighting for defect inspection of sheet-shaped objects includes: an elongated light application unit configured to apply illumination light to a sheet-shaped object, the light application unit extending in a second direction that is orthogonal to a first direction on a surface of the sheet-shaped object; a first light shielding unit that is located on a light path from the light application unit to the sheet-shaped object, the first light shielding unit having light shielding sections and opening sections alternately arranged; and a second light shielding unit that is located between the first light shielding unit and the sheet-shaped object, the second light shielding unit having light shielding sections and opening sections alternately arranged in a direction parallel to the second direction.

Methods of inspecting a material include moving the material and identifying a defect location of a defect. Methods include moving a camera along a second travel path in a second travel direction such that a field of view (FOV) of the camera moves relative to the material along the second travel path to match the defect location. Methods include passing the defect through the field of view (FOV) as the material moves and capturing images of the defect with the camera as the material moves and the defect moves through the FOV. The images include a first image of a first major surface, a second image of a second major surface, and a third image of an intermediate portion of the material between the first major surface and the second major surface. Methods include reviewing the plurality of images to characterize the defect.

Methods of inspecting a material include moving the material and identifying a defect location of a defect. Methods include moving a camera along a second travel path in a second travel direction such that a field of view (FOV) of the camera moves relative to the material along the second travel path to match the defect location. Methods include passing the defect through the field of view (FOV) as the material moves and capturing images of the defect with the camera as the material moves and the defect moves through the FOV. The images include a first image of a first major surface, a second image of a second major surface, and a third image of an intermediate portion of the material between the first major surface and the second major surface. Methods include reviewing the plurality of images to characterize the defect.

One pixel unit including at least one light receiving element of a light receiving element array (photodiode array) and a light source have a one-to-one correspondence, and only when the light source emits light, the light beam is detected by at least one light receiving element (one pixel unit) corresponding to the light source. An illumination optical system includes a light guiding means for guiding to an inspection object by reducing an interval between optical axes of light beams emitted from a plurality of light sources in an arrangement direction of a plurality of the light sources.

An apparatus includes a cassette configured to hold optical fiber comprising one or more optical sensors. The cassette comprises a spool configured to one or more of extract and retract the optical fiber from the cassette. A fiber monitor is coupled to the cassette. The fiber monitor is configured to monitor at least one parameter of the optical fiber as the optical fiber is extracted from the cassette.

An apparatus includes a cassette configured to hold optical fiber comprising one or more optical sensors. The cassette comprises a spool configured to one or more of extract and retract the optical fiber from the cassette. A fiber monitor is coupled to the cassette. The fiber monitor is configured to monitor at least one parameter of the optical fiber as the optical fiber is extracted from the cassette.

The systems and methods include generating polarization-switched (PS) detector and reference signals using a polarization switch controlled by a digital control signal generated by digital input/output card. A gain adjustment is performed on the PS detector and reference signals to define gain-adjusted detector and reference signals. The digital control signal is used to synchronize the gain-adjusted PS detector and reference signals to define gain-adjusted synchronized PS detector and reference signals each having respective steady-state portions. The steady state portions are used to define a measurement signal. The measurement signal is then used to calculate a stress-based characteristic of the sample being measured. The sample can be moved continuously or discretely through different measurement positions, which are synchronized with the operation of the polarization switch using the digital control signal.

A method and system for automated in-line inspection of optically transparent material is disclosed herein. The method includes illuminating a top and bottom surface of the optically transparent material with at least one sheet of light and then generating an image based on light that is received by an imaging device. The image that is generated may either be a bright field image or a dark field image.