Apparatus and method for illuminating a printed circuit board for inspection
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said apparatus comprising:
- means for illuminating said printed circuit board and said components; and
camera means for receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components, and for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means;
wherein said illuminating means in comprised of a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining a plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture, and means for selectively controlling the light producing elements to activate subsets of the light producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A printed circuit board inspection device includes a lighting system for use with the series of cameras associated with the printed circuit board inspection device which is essentially domed in configuration, and which incorporates a plurality of selectively controllable light emitting diodes for developing desired lighting patterns. The light emitting diodes are arranged within the domed fixture to form an array of defined latitudes and longitudes, and are capable of selective activation to develop the particular lighting patterns which are desired. This permits an acquisition of images useful in developing a "topographical display" of the acquired image, which is useful in enhancing the subsequent inspections which are to be performed.
129 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said apparatus comprising:
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means for illuminating said printed circuit board and said components; and camera means for receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components, and for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means; wherein said illuminating means in comprised of a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining a plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture, and means for selectively controlling the light producing elements to activate subsets of the light producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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- 15. In an apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said apparatus comprising means for illuminating said printed circuit board and said components, and camera means for receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components, and for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means, an improved illuminating means comprising a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining a plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture, and means for selectively controlling the light producing elements to activate subsets of the light-producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture.
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24. A method for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said method comprising the steps of:
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illuminating said printed circuit board and said components making use of illuminating means including a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture; selectively controlling the light-producing elements to activate subsets of the light-producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture; and receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components making use of camera means for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification