Lead inspection system for surface-mounted circuit packages
First Claim
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1. A process for inspecting leads on circuit packages of the surface-mounted type, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a circuit package for inspection on a generally horizontal reference surface having a reference edge that parallels the surface;
providing illumination of the package leads to produce sharp-contrast at the edges and contact ends of the leads;
moving a vertically-arranged linear array of photosensitive elements parallel to the reference edge;
operating the array of photosensitive elements to provide a series of one-dimensional optical samples vertically along the leads; and
analyzing signal information obtained from the optical samples to detect and measure selected geometrical properties of the inspected leads.
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Abstract
An electro-optical system for detecting selected geometrical properties of leads on circuit packages of the surface-mounted type. The system employs a vertically-arranged linear array of photosensitive elements which is carried horizontally parallel to a reference surface and operated to provide a series of one-dimensional scans vertically along the leads.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A process for inspecting leads on circuit packages of the surface-mounted type, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a circuit package for inspection on a generally horizontal reference surface having a reference edge that parallels the surface; providing illumination of the package leads to produce sharp-contrast at the edges and contact ends of the leads; moving a vertically-arranged linear array of photosensitive elements parallel to the reference edge; operating the array of photosensitive elements to provide a series of one-dimensional optical samples vertically along the leads; and analyzing signal information obtained from the optical samples to detect and measure selected geometrical properties of the inspected leads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10)
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7. A process according to claim I wherein the signal information is analyzed to measure the extent to which, within preselected limits, the contact ends of the leads deviate from the plane of the reference surface.
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11. A process for inspecting leads on circuit packages of the surface-mounted type comprising the steps of:
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positioning a circuit package for inspection on a generally horizontal reference surface having a reference edge that parallels the surface; moving a vertically-arranged linear array of photosensitive elements parallel to the reference edge; operating the photosensitive elements of the linear array to provide a series of one-dimensional optical samples vertically along the leads; analyzing signal information provided by the vertical samples to measure selected geometrical properties of the inspected leads. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for inspecting leads on circuit packages of the surface-mounted type, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a circuit package for inspection on a generally horizontal surface having a reference edge that parallels the surface; providing illumination to silhouette the package leads so as to produce high-contrast at the edges and contact ends of the leads; moving a vertically-arranged linear array of photosensitive elements parallel to the reference edge, and detecting the position of the moving array; operating the array of photosensitive elements to provide a series of one-dimensional sample scans vertically along the inspected leads; and analyzing the signal information obtained from the vertical sample scans and the information as to the detected position of the array to measure selected geometrical properties of the inspected leads.
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17. A system for inspecting leads on circuit packages of the surface-mounted type comprising:
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support means for providing a surface for supporting a circuit package for inspection; reference means for providing a generally horizontal reference edge parallel to the surface; illumination means for silhouetting contact ends of the package leads; a linear array of photosensitive elements mounted to extend vertically and positioned to provide one-dimensional vertical scans of the leads of the package under inspection; carrying means for moving the linear array horizontally relative to the support means; and means for analyzing the signal information provided by the photosensitive elements of the linear array during a series of the one-dimensional scans to provide selected information as to geometrical properties of the inspected leads. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for inspecting leads on circuit packages of the surface-mounted type comprising:
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support means for providing a reference surface for supporting a circuit package for inspection; reference means for providing a generally horizontal reference edge parallel to the reference surface; a linear array of photosensitive elements mounted to extend vertically and connected to provide first signal information indicating a one-dimensional scan of a lead relative to the reference edge; carrying means for moving the linear array parallel to the reference edge while providing second signal information relating to the position of the array of photosensitive elements horizontally along the reference edge; and means for analyzing the first signal information provided by the linear array and the second signal information provided by the carrying means to provide output signals which indicate selected geometrical properties of the leads. means to detect selected geometrical properties of the leads. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification