Split field optics for locating multiple components
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining component location information, comprising;
- a head comprising a plurality of component spindles each capable of attaching a component;
a plurality of fiber optic conduits each having a first end disposed to receive a corresponding image from one of the attached components and a second end having a face for transmitting the corresponding image, wherein all of the second ends are bundled together to produce a single combined image of the corresponding individual images;
a camera positioned to capture the single combined image from the bundled fiber optic conduits;
image processing means, coupled to the camera, for storing the captured single combined image, segregating each component from the combined image, determining a location of each component therefrom, and establishing a location deviation of each component by comparing the determined location of each segregated component to a desired location for each component; and
means for generating a location correction signal for each component based on the location deviation of each component.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for capturing component location information through the use of fiber optic conduits. In various embodiments, an image of a component attached to a translatable and rotatable spindle is captured and transmitted along a fiber optic conduit to a camera coupled to an image processing computer. The image processing computer determines component location on the spindle based on the transmitted image and, where necessary, generates component location correction information so that the spindle and attached component can be moved to a determined location. A plurality of fiber optic conduits may be bundled together to provide a single combined image of multiple components attached to multiple spindles which can be captured by a single camera, wherein the image processing computer segregates the images and determines multiple component location correction information.
32 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for determining component location information, comprising;
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a head comprising a plurality of component spindles each capable of attaching a component; a plurality of fiber optic conduits each having a first end disposed to receive a corresponding image from one of the attached components and a second end having a face for transmitting the corresponding image, wherein all of the second ends are bundled together to produce a single combined image of the corresponding individual images; a camera positioned to capture the single combined image from the bundled fiber optic conduits; image processing means, coupled to the camera, for storing the captured single combined image, segregating each component from the combined image, determining a location of each component therefrom, and establishing a location deviation of each component by comparing the determined location of each segregated component to a desired location for each component; and means for generating a location correction signal for each component based on the location deviation of each component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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6. A method of controlling component location in a component assembly device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a plurality of components on a corresponding plurality of component spindles; (b) receiving a plurality of images each corresponding to one of the plurality of components; (c) combining the plurality of images into a single combined image; (d) capturing the single combined image in a camera; (e) recording the image captured in step (d) in a computer; and (f) determining, based on the recorded image in the computer, location correction amounts for the plurality of components by separating each component from the recorded image, determining a location of each component therefrom, and establishing a location deviation of each component by comparing the determined location of each segregated component to a desired location for each component. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for placing components, comprising:
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a plurality of component spindles each capable of attaching a component; a plurality of fiber optic conduits each having a first end disposed to receive a corresponding image from one of the attached components and a second end having a face for transmitting the corresponding image, wherein all of the second ends are bundled together to produce a single combined image of the corresponding individual images, and wherein each of the fiber optic conduits comprises a plurality of glass optical fibers arranged in a rectangular bundle; a plurality of movable reflectors arranged between the plurality of component spindles and the plurality of fiber optic conduits, the movable reflectors being movable between a first position away from the plurality of component spindles to a second position beneath the plurality of component spindles and towards the plurality of fiber conduits; a plurality of lenses each arranged between a corresponding one of the plurality of movable reflectors and a corresponding one of the plurality of fiber conduits to direct light from the corresponding reflector to the corresponding fiber conduit; a camera positioned to capture the single combined image from the bundled fiber optic conduits; and a computer, coupled to the camera, which receives the single combined image, segregates each component from the combined image, determines coordinates of each component in a component space, and generates location correction signals for each of the plurality of component spindles. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification