Parts manipulation, inspection, and replacement
First Claim
1. A machine-vision system for inspecting devices in trays, each tray populated with a plurality of devices, the system comprising:
- a first input station having a first input elevator configured to hold a plurality of trays, wherein the plurality of trays includes a first tray held at an inspection position of the first input elevator that is above all other ones of the plurality of trays held by the first input elevator, and wherein each one of the plurality of trays has a first plurality of that tray'"'"'s devices that are yet to be inspected;
a first output station having a first output elevator for holding a plurality of trays; and
a first machine-vision imager that performs a first machine-vision inspection of the first plurality of devices in the first tray held at the inspection position of the first input station and wherein, upon completion of the first machine-vision inspection, the system operates to then move the first tray, which has the first plurality of that tray'"'"'s devices that have been inspected by the first machine-vision imager, off the inspection position of the first input elevator and eventually to the first output elevator, and to successively raise the other ones of the plurality of trays to the inspection position of the first input elevator to be inspected by the first machine-vision imager.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
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 flipper mechanism. After being inspected at a first station, a tray-transfer device moves the tray from the first inspection station to a flipper mechanism. The flipper mechanism includes two jaws, a mover, and a rotator. The flipper mechanism turns the devices over and places the devices in a second tray so that another surface of the device can be inspected. A second tray-transfer device moves the second tray from the flipper to a second inspection station. The mover of the flipper mechanism removes the tray from the first inspection surface and places a tray at the second inspection surface.
74 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A machine-vision system for inspecting devices in trays, each tray populated with a plurality of devices, the system comprising:
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a first input station having a first input elevator configured to hold a plurality of trays, wherein the plurality of trays includes a first tray held at an inspection position of the first input elevator that is above all other ones of the plurality of trays held by the first input elevator, and wherein each one of the plurality of trays has a first plurality of that tray'"'"'s devices that are yet to be inspected; a first output station having a first output elevator for holding a plurality of trays; and a first machine-vision imager that performs a first machine-vision inspection of the first plurality of devices in the first tray held at the inspection position of the first input station and wherein, upon completion of the first machine-vision inspection, the system operates to then move the first tray, which has the first plurality of that tray'"'"'s devices that have been inspected by the first machine-vision imager, off the inspection position of the first input elevator and eventually to the first output elevator, and to successively raise the other ones of the plurality of trays to the inspection position of the first input elevator to be inspected by the first machine-vision imager. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A machine-vision method for inspecting devices in trays, each tray populated with a plurality of devices, the method comprising:
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holding a first plurality of trays in a first input stack of trays, wherein the first plurality of trays in the first input stack of trays includes a first tray in a first inspection position above all other ones of the first plurality of trays in the first input stack of trays, wherein each tray of the first plurality of trays in the first input stack of trays has a plurality of devices that are to be inspected; performing a first machine-vision inspection of the plurality of devices in the first tray held at the first input stack of trays; automatically moving the first tray off the first input stack of trays and eventually to a top position of a first output stack of trays; and successively raising the other ones of the first plurality of trays in the first stack of trays to the first inspection position and then repeating the performing of the first machine-vision inspection. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A machine-vision apparatus for inspecting devices in trays, each tray populated with a plurality of devices, the apparatus comprising:
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first means for holding a first plurality of trays in a first stack of trays, wherein the first plurality of trays includes a first tray in a first inspection position above all other ones of the first plurality of trays in the first stack of trays, wherein each tray of the first plurality of trays in the first stack of trays has a plurality of devices that are to be inspected; means for performing a first machine-vision inspection of the plurality of devices in the first tray held at the first inspection position; means for holding trays in a first output stack of trays; means for automatically moving the first tray off the first stack of trays and eventually to a top position of the means for holding trays in the first output stack of trays; and means for successively raising the other ones of the first plurality of trays in the first stack of trays to the first inspection position and for repeating performing the first machine-vision inspection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification