Integrated X-ray and visual inspection systems
First Claim
1. An apparatus for inspecting an object, the apparatus comprising:
- an inspection subsystem having therein, a holder holding an object to be inspected, an X-ray source, a first camera receiving an X-ray image of an object to be inspected and a second camera receiving a visible image of an object to be inspected, the X-ray source and first camera being positioned on opposite sides of the holder;
an X-ray image processor coupled to the first camera receiving the X-ray image of the object to be inspected and processing the X-ray image data;
a visual image processor coupled to the second camera receiving the visual image of the object to be inspected and processing the visual image data;
a processing unit coupled to the visual image processor and X-ray image processor combining the results of the processing of the first and second images to generate a decision; and
, a display for displaying the X-ray image and the visible image.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated X-ray and visual inspection system having an inspection subsystem with a holder holding an object to be inspected, an X-ray source, a camera receiving an X-ray image of an object to be inspected and a camera receiving a visible image of an object to be inspected, the X-ray source and camera receiving the X-ray image being positioned on opposite sides of the holder. A display may also be provided for displaying the images. The system is well suited to the inspection of printed circuit boards having electronic components mounted thereon, in which case the holder may be a conveyor for the printed circuit boards. Independent positioning of the X-ray source and camera receiving the X-ray image allows offset images of the printed circuit board topside and bottomside features of the board. Various other features of the system and methods are disclosed.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inspecting an object, the apparatus comprising:
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an inspection subsystem having therein, a holder holding an object to be inspected, an X-ray source, a first camera receiving an X-ray image of an object to be inspected and a second camera receiving a visible image of an object to be inspected, the X-ray source and first camera being positioned on opposite sides of the holder;
an X-ray image processor coupled to the first camera receiving the X-ray image of the object to be inspected and processing the X-ray image data;
a visual image processor coupled to the second camera receiving the visual image of the object to be inspected and processing the visual image data;
a processing unit coupled to the visual image processor and X-ray image processor combining the results of the processing of the first and second images to generate a decision; and
,a display for displaying the X-ray image and the visible image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board with components thereon, the apparatus comprising:
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within a single inspection subsystem, a holder for holding a printed circuit board having first and second sides, an X-ray source on a first side of a printed circuit board in the holder, a first camera on the second side of a printed circuit board in the holder providing X-ray image data for a printed circuit board resulting from X-rays from the X-ray source passing through a printed circuit board and components thereon, and a second camera providing visible image data for one of the first and second sides of a printed circuit board in the holder;
an X-ray image processor coupled to the first camera receiving the X-ray image data for the printed circuit board to be inspected and processing the X-ray image data;
a visual image processor coupled to the second camera receiving the visual image data for the printed circuit board to be inspected and processing the visual image data;
a processing unit coupled to the visual image processor and X-ray image processor combining the results of the processing of the visual image data and the X-ray image data to generate a decision. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for inspecting an object comprising:
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placing an object to be inspected into an inspection subsystem;
passing X-ray radiation through the object to be inspected within the inspection subsystem;
providing in electronic form X-ray image data of an object to be inspected within the inspection subsystem;
providing in electronic form visual image data of an object to be inspected within the inspection subsystem;
processing the visual image data to detect features in the visual image;
processing the X-ray image data to detect features in the X-ray image; and
,combining the results of the processing of the visual image data and the X-ray image data to generate a decision. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification