Back-lighted fiducial recognition system and method of use
First Claim
1. A method of precisely locating a printed circuit board panel containing at least one fiducial on a vacuum chuck of a drilling machine, comprising the steps of:
- a. positioning the panel on the vacuum chuck;
b. projecting an image of the fiducial towards an overhead camera vision system by shining a light upwards through the fiducial from a source located below the panel; and
c. recording the position of the fiducial with the overhead camera vision system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for exact positioning of a printed circuit board to be drilled utilizing a camera vision system. The fiducial is formed in a semi-opaque area of the circuit board panel that is free of copper or other metallic layer material on top and bottom surfaces thereof, enabling light to be directed upwardly through a transparent surface area of a vacuum chuck on which the panel is disposed. In this manner, the outline of the fiducial is silhouetted through this back lighted arrangement so that the camera vision system can easily ‘see’ the fiducial to communicate the precise location of the circuit board and enable movement of the vacuum chuck in X and Y directions to effect the desired precise drilling at predetermined locations on the panel.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method of precisely locating a printed circuit board panel containing at least one fiducial on a vacuum chuck of a drilling machine, comprising the steps of:
-
a. positioning the panel on the vacuum chuck;
b. projecting an image of the fiducial towards an overhead camera vision system by shining a light upwards through the fiducial from a source located below the panel; and
c. recording the position of the fiducial with the overhead camera vision system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
13. A laser drilling apparatus, comprising:
-
a. a laser radiation source positioned for generating a laser beam;
b. a motorized table beneath the laser beam;
c. a vacuum chuck positioned on the table to receive a circuit board panel to be drilled;
d. a light source positioned below a panel support upper surface of the vacuum chuck for transmitting light upwardly to back light a portion of the panel containing the fiducial;
e. an overhead camera vision system for detecting the image of the fiducial to determine the exact positioning of the panel on the table; and
f. a scanner operatively connected to the camera vision system to point the laser beam to drill holes in precise predetermined locations in the panel.
-
Specification