Ring illumination apparatus for illuminating reflective elements on a generally planar surface
First Claim
1. A ring illumination apparatus, for illuminating a plurality of reflective elements disposed on a generally planar surface of an article to be inspected and disposed within in a field of view of an illumination detection device, said ring illumination apparatus comprising:
- a substantially ring-shaped light source having a predefined diameter, said substantially ring-shaped light source generating a plurality of light beams;
means for directing said plurality of light beams generated by said substantially ring-shaped light source toward said article in said field of view in a range of angles of illumination with respect to said generally planar surface of said article, wherein said light beams directed in said range of angles of illumination provide a substantially even illumination of said plurality of reflective elements on said article to be inspected across said field of view such that any of said plurality of light beams striking said generally planar surface of said article to be inspected are not reflected to said illumination detection device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inspection system and method uses a ring illumination apparatus to illuminate one or more reflective elements, such as solder balls on an electronic component or other protruding surfaces or objects. The ring illumination apparatus includes a substantially ring-shaped light source that provides a substantially even illumination across the one or more reflective elements. An illumination detection device detects light beams reflecting off of the illuminated reflective elements for forming a reflected image. A method of processing the reflected image includes locating one or more edges of each reflected image element representing an illuminated reflective element. The edges of the reflected image elements are located by determining the maximum intensity gradient in the pixels forming the reflected image element. The inspection system and method thereby determines various characteristics such as the absence/presence, location, pitch, size and shape of each reflective element.
107 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A ring illumination apparatus, for illuminating a plurality of reflective elements disposed on a generally planar surface of an article to be inspected and disposed within in a field of view of an illumination detection device, said ring illumination apparatus comprising:
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a substantially ring-shaped light source having a predefined diameter, said substantially ring-shaped light source generating a plurality of light beams; means for directing said plurality of light beams generated by said substantially ring-shaped light source toward said article in said field of view in a range of angles of illumination with respect to said generally planar surface of said article, wherein said light beams directed in said range of angles of illumination provide a substantially even illumination of said plurality of reflective elements on said article to be inspected across said field of view such that any of said plurality of light beams striking said generally planar surface of said article to be inspected are not reflected to said illumination detection device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A ring illumination apparatus, for illuminating at least one reflective element disposed on a generally planar surface of an article to be inspected and disposed within in a field of view of an illumination detection device, said ring illumination apparatus comprising:
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a substantially ring-shaped light source having a predefined diameter, said substantially ring-shaped light source including a plurality of light emitting elements, for generating a plurality of light beams; and a high transmissivity, high diffusion diffuser, disposed generally in front of said plurality of light emitting elements, for angularly scattering said plurality of light beams generated by said plurality of light emitting elements, and for directing said plurality of light beams toward said article in said field of view in a range of angles of illumination with respect to said generally planar surface of said article such that any of said plurality of light beams striking said generally planar surface of said article to be inspected are not reflected to said illumination detection device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An inspection system for inspecting a plurality of reflective elements disposed on a generally planar surface of an article to be inspected, said inspection system comprising:
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a ring illumination apparatus defining an aperture, said ring illumination apparatus including a substantially ring-shaped light source, for generating a plurality of light beams directed toward said article to be inspected, wherein said plurality of light beams provide a substantially even illumination of said plurality of reflective elements on said article to be inspected; an article support surface, disposed beneath said ring illumination apparatus, for supporting said article at a predetermined spacing from said ring illumination apparatus such that said plurality of reflective elements on said article is in said field of view; and an illumination detection device disposed proximate to said aperture of said ring illumination apparatus and having a field of view, said illumination detection device detecting light beams reflected from said plurality of reflective elements in said field of view, and forming a reflected image of said plurality of reflective elements, such that light beams reflecting off said plurality of reflective elements toward said illumination detection device are detected by said illumination detection device and light beams striking said generally planar surface of said article to be inspected are not detected by said illumination detection device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification