Method and apparatus for inspecting printed circuit boards at different magnifications
US5517235A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 14, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/18
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A printed circuit board inspection system acquires images for purposes of inspection from viewing fields defined along the surface of the printed circuit board to be inspected which can be varied in size to accommodate the density and tolerance of components associated with the printed circuit board under inspection. To this end, the cameras of the inspection head associated with the printed circuit board inspection system are provided with zoom lenses, which are capable of controlled operation responsive to the existing microprocessor systems of the printed circuit board inspection system. This allows the magnification of images acquired by the cameras to be varied, as desired, in turn varying the size of the viewing fields defined for inspection purposes. The inspection head is then operated at a rate commensurate with the size of the viewing fields which have been selected. Such operations can be varied automatically, by the printed circuit board inspection system, to effectively inspect printed circuit boards of different type and configuration. The printed circuit board inspection system can also perform successive inspections of a printed circuit board, at different magnifica…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.