Method and apparatus for viewing an object and for viewing a device that acts upon the object
First Claim
1. A video probe for viewing an object and for viewing a device that acts on the object, the video probe comprising:
- a first viewing channel having a viewing direction towards the object along a first optical axis to provide an image of the object;
a second viewing channel having a viewing direction towards the device along a second optical axis to provide an image of the device, wherein the second optical axis is parallel to the first optical axis, and wherein the viewing direction of the second channel is the same as the viewing direction of the first viewing channel;
an imaging system connected to the first and second viewing channels to receive the image of the object and the image of the device from the first and second viewing channels; and
an illumination system, coupled to the first and second viewing channels, that provides illumination of the object along the first optical axis and provides illumination of the device along the second optical axis;
wherein the first viewing channel has a beamsplitter disposed on the first optical axis to direct the object image along a third optical axis, and wherein the second viewing channel has a beamsplitter disposed on the second optical axis to direct the device image along the third optical axis;
wherein the viewing system includes;
a fourth optical axis perpendicular to the third optical axis; and
an image reflector disposed on the fourth optical axis to direct the object image and the device image along the fourth optical axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a video probe for viewing an object and for viewing a device that acts on the object. In one embodiment, the video probe includes a first viewing channel having a viewing direction along a first optical axis to provide an image of the object, a second viewing channel having a viewing direction along a second optical axis that is substantially parallel to the first optical axis, and wherein the viewing direction of the second channel is substantially the same as the viewing direction of the first viewing channel, and an imaging system to receive the image of the object and the image of the device from the first and second viewing channels. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to a method and apparatus for printing a pattern on a substrate using a printing screen having the pattern defined thereon. A video probe is used to view the printing screen and the substrate prior to printing to provide image signals which are used to properly align the printing screen with the substrate prior to printing.
119 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A video probe for viewing an object and for viewing a device that acts on the object, the video probe comprising:
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a first viewing channel having a viewing direction towards the object along a first optical axis to provide an image of the object; a second viewing channel having a viewing direction towards the device along a second optical axis to provide an image of the device, wherein the second optical axis is parallel to the first optical axis, and wherein the viewing direction of the second channel is the same as the viewing direction of the first viewing channel; an imaging system connected to the first and second viewing channels to receive the image of the object and the image of the device from the first and second viewing channels; and an illumination system, coupled to the first and second viewing channels, that provides illumination of the object along the first optical axis and provides illumination of the device along the second optical axis; wherein the first viewing channel has a beamsplitter disposed on the first optical axis to direct the object image along a third optical axis, and wherein the second viewing channel has a beamsplitter disposed on the second optical axis to direct the device image along the third optical axis; wherein the viewing system includes; a fourth optical axis perpendicular to the third optical axis; and an image reflector disposed on the fourth optical axis to direct the object image and the device image along the fourth optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A video probe for viewing an object and for viewing a device that acts on the object, the video probe comprising:
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a first viewing channel having a viewing direction towards the object along a first optical axis to provide an image of the object; a second viewing channel having a viewing direction towards the device along a second optical axis to provide an image of the device, wherein the second optical axis is parallel to the first optical axis, and wherein the viewing direction of the second channel is the same as the viewing direction of the first viewing channel; an imaging system connected to the first and second viewing channels to receive the image of the object and the image of the device from the first and second viewing channels; a third viewing channel having a viewing direction along a third viewing axis to provide a second image of the object; and a fourth viewing channel having a viewing direction along a fourth optical axis to provide a second image of the device; wherein the third optical axis and the fourth optical axis are substantially parallel to the first optical axis.
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9. A printer for printing a pattern on a substrate, the printer comprising:
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a screen having the pattern disposed thereon; a support structure that supports the screen and the substrate; a video probe, supported by the support structure, that views the screen and the substrate, the video probe including; a first viewing channel having a viewing direction along a first optical axis to provide an image of the substrate; a second viewing channel having a viewing direction along a second optical axis to provide an image of the screen, wherein the viewing direction of the second viewing channel is the same as the viewing direction of the first viewing channel; an imaging system connected to the first and second viewing channels to receive the image of the substrate and the image of the screen from the first and second viewing channels; and a control system, coupled to the video probe, that detects an error in alignment of the screen and the substrate, and provides movement of at least one of the screen and the substrate based on the error detected to align the screen with the substrate; wherein the video probe further includes an illumination system, coupled to the first and second viewing channels, that provides illumination of the substrate along the first optical axis and the provides illumination of the screen along the second optical axis; wherein the first viewing channel has a beansplitter disposed on the first optical axis to direct the substrate image along a third optical axis and wherein the second viewing channel has a beamsmlitter disposed on the second optical axis to direct the screen image along the third optical axis; and wherein the viewing system further includes; a fourth optical axis perpendicular to the third optical axis; and an image reflector disposed on the fourth optical axis to direct the substrate image and the screen image along the fourth optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A printer for printing a pattern on a substrate, the printer comprising:
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a screen having the pattern disposed thereon; a support structure that supports the screen and the substrate; a video probe, supported by the support structure, that views the screen and the substrate, the video probe including; a first viewing channel having a viewing direction along a first optical axis to provide an image of the substrate; a second viewing channel having a viewing direction along a second optical axis to provide an image of the screen, wherein the viewing direction of the second viewing channel is the same as the viewing direction of the first viewing channel; an imaging system connected to the first and second viewing channels to receive the image of the substrate and the image of the screen from the first and second viewing channels; and a control system, coupled to the video probe, that detects an error in alignment of the screen and the substrate, and provides movement of at least one of the screen and the substrate based on the error detected to align the screen with the substrate; wherein the video probe further includes; a third viewing channel having a viewing direction along a third optical axis to provide a second image of the substrate; and a fourth viewing channel having a viewing direction along a fourth optical axis to provide a second image of the screen; wherein the third optical axis and the fourth optical axis are parallel to the first optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A printer for printing a pattern on a substrate having a top side and a bottom side, the printer comprising:
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a printing screen having the printing pattern defined thereon, the printing screen having a top side and a bottom side; a support structure to support the substrate beneath the printing screen, such that a portion of the bottom side of the screen faces a portion of the top side of the substrate; means for capturing a first image of the bottom side of the printing screen and a first image of the bottom side of the substrate; means for capturing a second image of the bottom side of the printing screen and a second image of the bottom side of the substrate; and a control system, coupled to the means for capturing, that detects an error in alignment of the screen and the substrate, and provides relative movement of the screen and substrate based on the error detected to align the printing screen with the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A printer for printing a pattern on a substrate having a first side and a second side, the printer comprising:
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a screen having the pattern disposed thereon, the screen having a first side and a second side; a support structure that supports the screen and the substrate such that at least a portion of the second side of the screen faces at least a portion of the first side of the substrate; a video probe, supported by the support structure, that views the second side of the screen and the second side of the substrate, the video probe including; a first viewing channel having a viewing direction along a first optical axis to provide an image of the second side of the substrate; a second viewing channel having a viewing direction along a second optical axis to provide an image of the second side of the screen, wherein the viewing direction of the second channel is the same as the viewing direction of the first viewing channel; an imaging system connected to the first and second viewing channels to receive the image of the substrate and the image of the screen from the first and second viewing channels; and a control system, coupled to the video probe, that detects an error in alignment of the screen and the substrate, and provides movement of at least one of the screen and the substrate based on the error detected to align the screen with the substrate.
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Specification