Method and apparatus for measuring body to lead tolerances of very odd components
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for sensing a position of a lead of a component comprising:
- (a) a sensor body defining a feedthrough area for allowing passage of the component;
(b) at least three independent light sources in the sensor body;
(c) means for receiving light from the light sources;
(d) calculation means for(i) monitoring the means for receiving so that respective interruptions in all of the light sources are detected as the lead passes through the feedthrough area; and
(ii) calculating a position of the lead based on the respective interruptions.
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Abstract
An improved sensor for body-to-lead tolerances for very odd components includes multiple light beams formed by LED/photodiode pairs, or multiple independent light detectors with a multidirectional light source. The sensor is self-contained, not requiring position data from a robot carrying the components.
17 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for sensing a position of a lead of a component comprising:
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(a) a sensor body defining a feedthrough area for allowing passage of the component; (b) at least three independent light sources in the sensor body; (c) means for receiving light from the light sources; (d) calculation means for (i) monitoring the means for receiving so that respective interruptions in all of the light sources are detected as the lead passes through the feedthrough area; and (ii) calculating a position of the lead based on the respective interruptions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for sensing a position of a lead of a component comprising;
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(a) a sensor body defining a feedthrough area for allowing passage of the component; (b) at least one light source in the sensor body; (c) means for receiving light from the light source; (d) means disposed within the sensor body for identifying a position of a robot carrying the component; (e) calculation means for (i) monitoring the means for receiving so that interruptions in the light source are detected as the lead passes through the feedthrough area; and (ii) calculating respective relative positions of the robot and the lead based on the interruptions and an output from the identifying means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for sensing a position of a lead of a component comprising:
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(a) a sensor body defining a feedthrough area for allowing passage of the component; (b) at least one multidirectional light source in the sensor body; (c) at least two independent light detectors in the sensor body, the light detectors each having a respective opening which has a width similar to a typical width of a lead of the component; (d) calculating means for (i) monitoring the detectors so that interruptions in the light source are detected as the lead passes through the feedthrough area; and (ii) calculating a position of the lead based on the interruptions.
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17. A method for directing a robot to place a component comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing a position of a robot carrying a component; (b) sensing a layout of leads of the component; (c) receiving data representing an expected layout of leads of the component; (d) calculating translational and rotational differences between the sensed layout and expected layout; and (d) transmitting the translational and rotational differences to a robot controller. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification