# US 9,435,748 B2 · Detection of contaminated areas

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- Number: US 9,435,748 B2
- Document ID: US9435748B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/373,619
- Filed: 2013-01-21
- Published: 2014-12-11
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-01-27
- Assignees: SpåRab Produkter AB
- Applicants: SpåRab Produkter AB
- Inventors: Per Anders Stjern; Tobias Halthur
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435748B2

## CPC

- G01N 21/94: Investigating contamination, e.g. dust (G01N21/85 takes precedence)
- G01N 21/6447: {by visual observation}
- G01N 21/91: using penetration of dyes, e.g. fluorescent ink
- G01N 21/47: Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection (G01N21/25, G01N21/41 take precedence {G01N21/55 takes precedence})
- G01N 21/64: Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
- G01N 2021/646: {Detecting fluorescent inhomogeneities at a position, e.g. for detecting defects}
- G03F 1/82: Auxiliary processes, e.g. cleaning or inspecting
- G03F 1/84: Inspecting
- G03F 7/70566: {Polarisation control}
- G03F 7/707: {Chucks, e.g. chucking or un-chucking operations or structural details}
- G03F 7/7085: {Detection arrangement, e.g. detectors of apparatus alignment possibly mounted on wafers, exposure dose, photo-cleaning flux, stray light, thermal load}
- G03F 7/70916: {Pollution mitigation, i.e. mitigating effect of contamination or debris, e.g. foil traps}
- 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)
- G03F: PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR; (phototypographic composing devices B41B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; electrophotography, sensitive layers or processes therefor G03G)

## Abstract

The present invention describes a method for the detection of contamination on a surface before performing a coating of the surface, said method comprising bringing a marker into contact with the surface, wherein the marker has the ability of accumulating at a contaminated area on the surface, and detecting the marker on the surface, wherein the marker is non-polar or amphiphilic.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Method for detection of contamination on a surface before performing a coating of the surface, said method comprising bringing a marker into contact with the surface, wherein the marker has an ability of accumulating at a contaminated area on the surface, and detecting the marker on the surface, wherein the marker is non-polar or amphiphilic, wherein the marker is a silicone tracer and the method involves detection of silicone, if present, wherein the marker is fluorescent and is Nile blue or Nile red, or a combination thereof, and wherein the detection of the marker on the surface involves detection of fluorescence performed by applying ultraviolet light.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the marker is environmentally sensitive and changes a frequency of emitted light depending on a polarity of a surrounding medium.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the marker associates with at least one contaminant present on the surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Method according to claim 3, wherein association between the marker and the contaminant is driven by a hydrophobic interaction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the coating comprises one or more of a painting technique, a varnishing technique and a covering technique.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, wherein the surface is a surface of a vehicle.