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EP 4 285 100 A1

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(43) Date of publication: 06.12.2023 Bulletin 2023/49 (21) Application number: 21923502.5 (22) Date of filing: 27.12.2021

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01N 21/21(2006.01) G01J 3/00(2006.01) G01J 4/00(2006.01) G01N 21/35(2014.01) G01J 3/12(2006.01) G02F 1/35(2006.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): G01J 1/58; G01J 3/2803; G02F 1/3528 (86) International application number: PCT/US2021/010069 (87) International publication number: WO 2022/164417 (04.08.2022 Gazette 2022/31)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 29.01.2021 US 202163143187 P 05.03.2021 US 202117300091 17.08.2021 US 202163259830 P (71) Applicant: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc. Lincoln, NE 68508 (US)

(72) Inventors: HE, Ping Lincoln, Nebraska 68512 (US) LIPHARDT, Martin M. Lincoln, Nebraska 68523 (US) VAN DERSLICE, Jeremy A. Dwight, Nebraska 68635 (US) HERZINGER, Craig M. Lincoln, Nebraska 68506 (US) HALE, Jeffrey S. Lincoln, Nebraska (US) GUENTHER, Brian D. Lincoln, Nebraska 68516 (US) MEYER, Duane E. Nebraska (US) SCHOECHE, Stefan Albany, NY 12203 (US) WELCH, James D. Omaha, Nebraska 68124 (US) (74) Representative: Beck Greener LLP  Fulwood House 12 Fulwood Place London WC1V 6HR London WC1V 6HR (GB)