# US 10,481,103 B2 · Inspection device, inspection facility and inspection device failure confirmation method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,103 B2 - Document ID: US10481103B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/157,625 - Filed: 2018-10-11 - Published: 2019-04-25 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-20 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamagata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481103B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/95: characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined (G01N21/89 - G01N21/91, G01N21/94 take precedence) - G01N 21/84: Systems specially adapted for particular applications - G01N 21/8803: {Visual inspection (measuring projectors G01B9/08)} - G01N 21/93: Detection standards; Calibrating {baseline adjustment, drift correction} - G02B 7/00: Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements - H01M 8/04686: {of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors} - G01N 2201/0683: Brewster plate; polarisation controlling elements - G02B 27/288: {Filters employing polarising elements, e.g. Lyot or Solc filters (G02B5/3016 takes precedence)} - H01M 8/1004: characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An inspection device is adapted for inspecting whether or not there is a foreign matter or dirt adhered to a surface of a workpiece or whether or not there is a scratch on the surface of the workpiece. A first polarizing plate having a polarizing axis in a first direction is attached to an open window of the cover part, and a second polarizing plate having a polarizing axis in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is attached to the open window so as to open and close. In a state where the second polarizing plate is closed, the second polarizing plate overlaps the first polarizing plate. In a state where the second polarizing plate is open, the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate are present on a straight line connecting the outside light source and the fuel cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inspection device that inspects whether or not there is a foreign matter or dirt adhered to a surface of a workpiece or whether or not there is a scratch on the surface of the workpiece, the inspection device comprising: a mounting part on which the workpiece is mounted; a light source part that irradiates the surface of the workpiece; and a cover part that covers the mounting part and the light source part and blocks light coming from an outside light source from entering the inspection device, the outside light source being positioned outside the inspection device, wherein: a first polarizing plate having a polarizing axis in a first direction is attached to an open window provided in the cover part, and a second polarizing plate having a polarizing axis in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is attached to the open window so that the second polarizing plate is able to open and close; and the second polarizing plate overlaps the first polarizing plate in a state where the second polarizing plate is closed, and the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate are present on a straight line that connects the outside light source and the workpiece in a state where the second polarizing plate is open. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the second polarizing plate and the first polarizing plate is 90 degrees or smaller in the state where the second polarizing plate is open. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein: the open window of the cover part is provided in a side surface of the cover part and at a position lower than the outside light source; and the second polarizing plate is attached so as to be able to open upwardly with respect to the open window. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The inspection device according to claim 3, further comprising a holding device that is configured to hold the second polarizing plate in the state where the second polarizing plate is open. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece includes a fuel cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An inspection facility that detects whether or not there is a foreign matter or dirt adhered to a surface of a workpiece or whether or not there is a scratch on the surface of the workpiece, the inspection facility comprising: the inspection device according to claim 1; and the outside light source. ### Claim 7 An inspection device failure confirmation method in which a failure of an inspection device is confirmed, the inspection device detecting whether or not there is a foreign matter or dirt adhered to a surface of a workpiece or whether or not there is a scratch on the surface of the workpiece, wherein: the inspection device includes a mounting part on which the workpiece is mounted, a light source part that irradiates the surface of the workpiece, and a cover part that covers the mounting part and the light source part and blocks light coming from an outside light source from entering the inspection device, the outside light source being positioned outside the inspection device; a first polarizing plate having a polarizing axis in a first direction is attached to an open window provided in the cover part, and a second polarizing plate having a polarizing axis in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is attached to the open window so as to be able to open and close; the inspection device failure confirmation method, comprising: installing the outside light source and the inspection device so that the second polarizing plate overlaps the first polarizing plate in a state where the second polarizing plate is closed, and the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate are present on a straight line that connects the outside light source and the workpiece in the state where the second polarizing plate is open; and inspecting an inside of the inspection device visually through the first polarizing plate in the state where the second polarizing plate is open so that it is able to confirm whether or not there is a failure in the inspection device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The inspection device failure confirmation method according to claim 7, wherein an angle between the second polarizing plate and the first polarizing plate is 90 degrees or smaller in the state where the second polarizing plate is open. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The inspection device failure confirmation method according to claim 7, wherein the workpiece includes a fuel cell.