System and method for controlling a tracking autofocus (TAF) sensor in a machine vision inspection system
US9444995B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 2013 |
| Grant date | Sep 13, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B21/365
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is provided for controlling a Tracking AutoFocus (TAF) portion of a machine vision inspection system including an imaging portion, a movable workpiece stage, a control portion, and graphical user interface (GUI). The TAF portion automatically adjusts a focus position of the imaging portion to focus at a Z height corresponding to a current surface height of the workpiece. The method includes providing the TAF portion, and providing TAF enable and disable operations, wherein: the TAF disable operations comprise a first set of TAF automatic interrupt operations that are automatically triggered by user-initiated operations that include changing the Z height, and the TAF disable operations may further comprise automatic interrupt operations that are automatically triggered based on at least one respective TAF Z height surface tracking characteristic exceeding a previously set TAF disable limit for that respective TAF Z height surface tracking characteristic.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.