Patent · US Expired

Computer controlled, multiple angle illumination system

US5185638A · kind A · utility

51Cited by
15References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 26, 1991
Grant dateFeb 9, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 26, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2201/069
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The illumination system as a part of an optical inspection system, the total inspection system itself, and the method of illuminating and inspecting a workpiece. The illumination system is computer controlled as to a level of intensity and adjustable as to angle of incidence. The illumination system includes illumination control electronics, a quad quartz halogen lamp array light source, a fiber optic line converter and an illumination collection system, having a collimator lens array and a focusing/field coverage lens. As a result of the present invention, determinations of false defects on the PCB are minimized. Human contact with the PCB is also minimized and the rate of inspections performable is increased.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.