Method and apparatus for inspection of surface mounted devices
US5371690A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 17, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30141
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention provides methods and apparatus for inspecting a surface mounted device to estimate its position. The methods and apparatus provide for storing a description of the component to be inspected; devising a plan for inspecting features of the surface mounted device to determine their characteristics arid, from them, to estimate a position of the device itself; generating an image of at least a portion of the component being inspected; and estimating the component's position by inspecting successive features in accord with the plan. A resulting output signal provides that estimate, for example, to placement equipment which can make final adjustments in placement. According to one aspect of the invention, that plan is intended to reduce with inspection of each successive feature any uncertainty in the estimation of the position of the component.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.