Parts manipulation and inspection system and method
First Claim
1. A machine vision system for inspecting at least one device, the machine vision system comprising:
- a machine-vision imaging device;
a first inspection station, the first inspection station comprising;
an inspection surface facing the imaging device to enable inspection of at least one device, the inspection surface having an imaged area from which the imaging device acquires an image and which has an opening therein; and
an elevator that positions at least one device within the opening in the imaged area from which the imaging device acquires the image, and wherein the elevator moves the at least one device to the imaged area from a side of the imaged area that is opposite the imaging-device side of the inspection surface, such that the imaging device acquires an image of the device while the device is on the elevator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Manufacturing lines include inspection systems for monitoring the quality of parts produced. Manufacturing lines for making semiconductor devices generally inspect each fabricated part. The information obtained is used to fix manufacturing problems in the semiconductor fab plant. A machine-vision system for inspecting devices includes a light source for propagating light to the device and an image detector that receives light from the device. Also included is a light sensor assembly for receiving a portion of the light from the light source. The light sensor assembly produces an output signal responsive to the intensity of the light received at the light sensor assembly. A controller controls the amount of light received by the image detector to a desired intensity range in response to the output from the light sensor. The image detector may include an array of imaging pixels. The imaging system may also include a memory device which stores correction values for at least one of the pixels in the array of imaging pixels. To minimize or control thermal drift of signals output from an array of imaging pixels, the machine-vision system may also include a cooling element attached to the imaging device. The light source for propagating light to the device may be strobed. The image detector that receives light from the device remains in a fixed position with respect to the strobed light source. A translation element moves the strobed light source and image detector with respect to the device. The strobed light may be alternated between a first and second level.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A machine vision system for inspecting at least one device, the machine vision system comprising:
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a machine-vision imaging device; a first inspection station, the first inspection station comprising;
an inspection surface facing the imaging device to enable inspection of at least one device, the inspection surface having an imaged area from which the imaging device acquires an image and which has an opening therein; andan elevator that positions at least one device within the opening in the imaged area from which the imaging device acquires the image, and wherein the elevator moves the at least one device to the imaged area from a side of the imaged area that is opposite the imaging-device side of the inspection surface, such that the imaging device acquires an image of the device while the device is on the elevator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A machine vision method for inspecting a tray populated with a plurality of devices, the method comprising:
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acquiring a machine-vision image of a first device in a first tray while the first device is in an imaged area of a first inspection surface that is facing an imaging device used for the acquiring of the machine-vision image and wherein the acquiring of the machine-vision image of the first device is performed while a second tray is located directly below the first tray; after acquiring the machine-vision image of the first device, moving the first tray away from the imaged area of the first inspection surface; elevating the second tray from directly below the imaged area of the first inspection surface to the imaged area of the first inspection surface; and acquiring a machine-vision image of a second device in the second tray while the second device is in the imaged area at the first inspection station. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A machine vision system for inspecting at least one device, the machine vision system comprising:
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a machine-vision imaging device; a first inspection station, the first inspection station comprising;
an inspection plane facing the imaging device to enable inspection of at least a first device in a first tray, the inspection plane having an imaged area from which the imaging device acquires an image; andan elevator configured to hold a stack of trays with the first tray at a top position in the stack of trays such that the at least first device in the first tray is positioned in the top position on the elevator and in the imaged area when the imaging device acquires the image, and wherein the elevator is configured to later position at least a second device in a second tray moved to the imaged area from a side of the imaged area opposite the imaging-device'"'"'s side of the inspection plane. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification