High-Performance Coherence Scanning Interferometry Sensors Capture 5 Million Points/Second
With the smartWLI nimbus8 and firebolt8, GBS metrology presents two high-end surface measurement sensors designed for demanding industrial and scientific applications. Both systems are based on coherence scanning (white-light) interferometry and combine high-speed data acquisition, advanced real-time processing, intelligent software functions, and flexible optical configurations to deliver outstanding measurement performance.
Advanced Sensor Technology
The smartWLI nimbus8 and firebolt8 are based on coherence scanning (white-light) interferometry, a proven optical measuring principle for precise 3D surface characterization. This technology enables reliable, traceable measurements with nanometer-scale vertical resolution on smooth, rough, and structured surfaces.
Both sensors are equipped with an 8-megapixel 10GigE camera, enabling high-resolution image acquisition at very high data rates. The large sensor format ensures detailed surface capture within a single scan while maintaining excellent lateral resolution.
Real-Time Processing and Extreme Measurement Speed
A key feature of the smartWLI nimbus8 and firebolt8 is their real-time image processing and data evaluation on NVIDIA graphics boards. By leveraging GPU-accelerated computing, large volumes of image and interferometric data are processed efficiently and without delay.
This architecture enables an effective measurement speed exceeding 5 million measuring points per second, positioning these sensors among the fastest systems based on coherence scanning (white-light) interferometry. At the same time, they deliver a higher resolution in single scans compared with competitive sensors, combining maximum speed with exceptional detail.
Intelligent Software Functions for Robust Measurements
To further improve measurement reliability and data quality, the smartWLI nimbus8 and firebolt8 integrate advanced software functions specifically developed for challenging surfaces.
The sensors use ICCE (Image Correction and Contrast Enhancement) to improve measurement results on objects with low reflectivity. ICCE enhances signal quality and contrast, increasing the effective acceptance angles and enabling reliable measurements on difficult materials and steep surface features.
In addition, AQC (Advanced Quality Control) is employed to avoid outliers on fine-structured surfaces and sloped geometries with potential multi-reflections. AQC is based on FFT-based comparisons of the sensor signal for each measuring point (correlogram), allowing invalid or ambiguous signals to be detected and suppressed automatically. This results in cleaner datasets and improved robustness, particularly in complex measurement scenarios.
Flexible Optical Configurations
The smartWLI nimbus8 is available with an objective turret, enabling fast and automated switching between multiple objectives. This makes the system ideal for automated measurement systems, inline inspection, and applications requiring frequent changes in magnification or measurement range.
The firebolt8 features manual exchangeable objectives, offering a flexible and efficient solution for laboratory and production environments where optical configurations are adapted manually. Despite its manual approach, the firebolt8 maintains the same high-performance sensor technology and software capabilities.
For more information: www.gbs-metrology.com
