Patent · US Expired

Distributed light delivery system

US5418879A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
16References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 4, 1994
Grant dateMay 23, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 4, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S385/901
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A distributed light delivery system for the illumination of printed circuit boards during fault detection operations is provided. The system has at least one light delivery bar having at least two optical light lines. Each optical light line is composed of an array of optical fibers. The entire array of optical fibers are oriented within the light delivery bar at one of at least two predetermined angles. When the light bar is properly mounted and directed on a staging apparatus, the light delivery bar is effective to illuminate all four sides and the top of three-dimensional components. The distributed light delivery system thus provides uniform and substantially shadow-free illumination of discrete through-hole technology components inserted through printed circuit boards, solder paste screened onto bare circuit boards, and/or SMD technology components mounted on printed circuit boards.

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