Optical interprogation system for use in constructing flat tension shadow mask CRTS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for interrogating at least one CRT workpiece, comprising;
- a) a plurality of video cameras placed in known locations, the cameras each having a field of view on at least one CRT workpiece;
b) means for representing each field of view as a series of pixels;
c) means for valuing each pixel in a single-bit image value;
d) processor means for serially comparing each camera'"'"'s series of pixel image values in parallel to determine where transitions take place between pixel image values for each camera;
e) means for filtering the transition locations to determine where desired features in the fields of view occur.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical interrogation system has camera arrays useful for determining the locations of a plurality of apertures on a flat tension shadow mask and fiducial marks on a screened front panel of a CRT. The system determines the actual location of apertures or fiducial marks with respect to the cameras'"'"' field of view. By eliminating gray scaling, the processing only for light/dark transitions in single-bit binary valued pixels from each of the cameras in parallel, i.e., simultaneously, remarkable rapidity is obtained in the interrogation of widely spaced fields with minimal hardware. The system may also be used to interrogate mask support surfaces on the front panel prior to welding the mask thereto.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for interrogating at least one CRT workpiece, comprising;
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a) a plurality of video cameras placed in known locations, the cameras each having a field of view on at least one CRT workpiece; b) means for representing each field of view as a series of pixels; c) means for valuing each pixel in a single-bit image value; d) processor means for serially comparing each camera'"'"'s series of pixel image values in parallel to determine where transitions take place between pixel image values for each camera; e) means for filtering the transition locations to determine where desired features in the fields of view occur. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In the manufacture of CRTs a system for registering undedicated flat tension masks to phosphorescent screens deposited on CRT front panels, comprising:
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(a) an assembly station where the mask and panel are joined together; (b) a mask module for supporting the mask for transport to the assembly station; (c) a panel module for supporting the panel for transport to the assembly station; (d) module registration means at the assembly station for locating serially the mask module and the panel module; (e) interrogation means for interrogating the mask and the panel to determine the locations of the desired features of the mask and panel, including;
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7. ) a spaced array of video cameras, each camera located in a known position and each producing a video signal electronically representing its field of view;
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2.) means for sampling the signal to provide a series of pixels;
each pixel having a single bit image value;3.) means for parallel grouping of like-ordered pixel image values from each camera'"'"'s pixel series into one or more bytes; and 4.) means for serially comparing the bytes to simultaneously determine, for each camera, the locations of transitions between its pixel image values; and
,(f) movement means for producing registration movement between the mask and panel, the movement means being responsive to the interrogation means.
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8. A method of interrogating at least one CRT workpiece, comprising:
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(a) positioning a plurality of cameras in known positions; (b) viewing at least one CRT workpiece with the plurality of cameras thereby establishing a field of view for each camera; (c) electronically representing the field of view of each camera as a series of pixels; (d) assigning each pixel a single-bit image value; (e) serially comparing each camera'"'"'s series of pixel image values in parallel to determine where transitions take place between pixel image values for each camera; (f) processing the transition locations to determine where desired features in the fields of view occur - View Dependent Claims (10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24)
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9. A method of registering and assembling a CRT faceplate assembly including a shadow mask and a screened panel comprising:
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(a) placing an array of video cameras in known position to view the panel and the shadow mask; (b) simultaneously viewing the shadow mask and the panel with the cameras thereby producing from each camera a video signal electronically representing the field of view of each camera; (c) dividing each signal into a series of pixels each having a single bit image value; (d) grouping like-ordered binary pixel image values, from the pixel series of each camera, in parallel into one or more bytes; (e) serially comparing bytes to simultaneously determine the locations of transitions between the pixel image values for each camera; and
,(f) registering and joining the panel and the shadow mask according to the locations determined. - View Dependent Claims (11, 14)
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16. An apparatus for simultaneous optical interrogation of a plurality of fields on CRT shadow mask and screened faceplate comprising;
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a) two spaced arrays of video cameras, one array viewing the shadow mask and one array viewing the faceplate, each camera located in a known position and producing a video signal electronically representing its field of view; b) means for dividing each signal into a series of pixels; c) means for valuing each pixel of each signal in a single bit image value; d) means for grouping like ordered pixel image values from each camera in parallel into one or more bytes; and
,e) means for serially comparing the bytes to simultaneously determine the locations of transitions in the pixel image values for each camera. - View Dependent Claims (18, 20, 22)
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Specification