Placement system using a split imaging system coaxially coupled to a component pickup means
First Claim
1. A placement system for placing a circuit component on a circuit board, said placement system comprising:
- a viewing system providing a single optical perspective via a split imaging system;
a first stage, for positioning the circuit board onto which the component is to be placed within the field of view of said viewing system;
a second stage, coupled to said first stage, for holding the circuit component, said second stage moveable in at least first and second different directions;
a component pick-up system disposed about said first stage, said component pick-up system for picking up components from said second stage and placing the component in a predetermined position on said first stage wherein said viewing system is coaxially coupled to said component pick-up system;
a monitor having a display screen, coupled to said viewing system, wherein said viewing system provides an image within a predetermined field of view on said monitor display screen; and
a graphical user interface coupled to said monitor, said user interface for providing a position indicator on said monitor display screen, wherein said position indicator identifies the location of a particular feature of said circuit board.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A placement apparatus for placing and mounting circuit components or devices in aligned combination with circuit boards. The apparatus includes an imaging system, a first stage moveable in first and second opposite directions between first and second predetermined positions, for positioning the circuit board onto which the component is to be placed within a field of view of the imaging system. A second stage, for holding the circuit component, is movably coupled to the first stage. The apparatus further includes a component pick-up system disposed about the first stage for picking up the circuit component from the second stage and placing the circuit component in a predetermined position on the first stage. The imaging system is coupled to a graphical user interface system for providing a position indicator on a monitor screen, wherein the position indicator identifies the location of a particular feature of the circuit board or the circuit component.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A placement system for placing a circuit component on a circuit board, said placement system comprising:
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a viewing system providing a single optical perspective via a split imaging system; a first stage, for positioning the circuit board onto which the component is to be placed within the field of view of said viewing system; a second stage, coupled to said first stage, for holding the circuit component, said second stage moveable in at least first and second different directions; a component pick-up system disposed about said first stage, said component pick-up system for picking up components from said second stage and placing the component in a predetermined position on said first stage wherein said viewing system is coaxially coupled to said component pick-up system; a monitor having a display screen, coupled to said viewing system, wherein said viewing system provides an image within a predetermined field of view on said monitor display screen; and a graphical user interface coupled to said monitor, said user interface for providing a position indicator on said monitor display screen, wherein said position indicator identifies the location of a particular feature of said circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for placing a circuit component on a particular site of a circuit board, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) positioning a circuit board at a first predetermined location generally within the field of view of a split imaging system providing a single optical perspective; b) restricting the movement of the circuit board such that the circuit board is only able to move in one linear direction relative to the imaging system; c) identifying the position of a particular feature of the circuit board with a position indicator; d) displaying the position indicator on a graphical display; e) positioning the circuit component at a second predetermined location within the field of view of the imaging system by manipulation of a component pick-up system, the split imaging system coaxially coupled to the component pick-up system; and f) aligning a feature of the circuit component with the position indicator displayed on the graphical display. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for placing a circuit component on a particular site of a circuit board, said method comprising the steps of:
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moving a first stage in at least one of first and second directions to position the circuit board at a first predetermined location generally within a field of view of a split imaging system coaxially coupled to said first stage and providing a single optical perspective; b) restricting the movement of the first stage such that the circuit board is only able to move in a first one of said first and second directions; c) marking, with a graphical position indicator, the locations of a particular feature of said circuit board; d) displaying the graphical position indicator on a graphical display; e) moving the first stage to a second predetermined position such that a circuit component is located at a second predetermined location within the field of view of the imaging system; and f) moving a second stage, said second stage coupled to said first stage, in at least one direction to align a feature of the circuit component with the graphical position indicator displayed on the graphical display. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification