Precision solder resist registration inspection method
First Claim
1. A method for operating a machine vision inspection system to determine a fluorescent imaging height for acquiring a fluorescent image for repeatably determining the location of a workpiece feature edge that is located within a layer of fluorescent material on a workpiece, the method comprising:
- (a) positioning an exposed portion of a surface of the workpiece such that its height is able to be determined by the machine vision inspection system, wherein the exposed portion is not covered by the layer of fluorescent material and has a characteristic surface height along a focus axis relative to a height within the layer of fluorescent material;
(b) configuring the machine vision inspection system to determine the height of the exposed portion;
(c) determining the height of the exposed portion;
(d) using the determined height of the exposed portion, determining a fluorescent imaging height to be used for fluorescent imaging of the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material, wherein the fluorescent imaging height is determined in relation to the determined height of the exposed portion; and
performing at least one of (e) and (f), wherein (e) comprises;
(e) storing the determined fluorescent imaging height in association with a part program for later use when acquiring a fluorescent image that is used for inspecting the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material,and (f) comprises;
(f) using the fluorescent imaging height determined in relation to the determined height of the exposed portion during execution of a part program when acquiring a fluorescent image that is used for inspecting the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for operating a machine vision inspection system to determine a fluorescent imaging height for acquiring a fluorescent image for repeatably determining the location of a feature within the fluorescent material. The height of an exposed workpiece portion exposed outside of the fluorescent material is determined (e.g., using a height sensor or autofocus operations). The determined height is repeatable. The exposed portion has a characteristic height relative to the fluorescent material and/or features located therein. The fluorescent imaging height, which may be inside the fluorescent material, is determined relative to the determined height of the exposed portion. The fluorescent imaging height is determined such that it enhances the detection of the desired feature located within the fluorescent material in the resulting fluorescent image. For a variety of workpieces, the method provides automatic acquisition of appropriately focused fluorescent image more reliably than previously known methods.
13 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for operating a machine vision inspection system to determine a fluorescent imaging height for acquiring a fluorescent image for repeatably determining the location of a workpiece feature edge that is located within a layer of fluorescent material on a workpiece, the method comprising:
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(a) positioning an exposed portion of a surface of the workpiece such that its height is able to be determined by the machine vision inspection system, wherein the exposed portion is not covered by the layer of fluorescent material and has a characteristic surface height along a focus axis relative to a height within the layer of fluorescent material; (b) configuring the machine vision inspection system to determine the height of the exposed portion; (c) determining the height of the exposed portion; (d) using the determined height of the exposed portion, determining a fluorescent imaging height to be used for fluorescent imaging of the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material, wherein the fluorescent imaging height is determined in relation to the determined height of the exposed portion; and performing at least one of (e) and (f), wherein (e) comprises; (e) storing the determined fluorescent imaging height in association with a part program for later use when acquiring a fluorescent image that is used for inspecting the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material, and (f) comprises; (f) using the fluorescent imaging height determined in relation to the determined height of the exposed portion during execution of a part program when acquiring a fluorescent image that is used for inspecting the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor in a machine vision inspection system to perform operations of:
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(a) positioning an exposed portion of a surface of a workpiece such that its height is able to be determined by the machine vision inspection system, wherein the exposed portion is not covered by a layer of fluorescent material and has a characteristic surface height along a focus axis relative to a height within the layer of fluorescent material; (b) configuring the machine vision inspection system to determine the height of the exposed portion; (c) determining the height of the exposed portion; (d) using the determined height of the exposed portion, determining a fluorescent imaging height to be used for fluorescent imaging of a workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material, wherein the fluorescent imaging height is determined in relation to the determined height of the exposed portion; and performing at least one of (e) and (f), wherein (e) comprises; (e) storing the determined fluorescent imaging height in association with a part program for later use when acquiring a fluorescent image that is used for inspecting the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material, and (f) comprises; (f) using the fluorescent imaging height determined in relation to the determined height of the exposed portion during execution of a part program when acquiring a fluorescent image that is used for inspecting the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material.
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21. A machine vision inspection system for performing measurement operations on a workpiece, the machine vision inspection system comprising:
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a memory for storing programmed instructions; and a processor configured to execute the programmed instructions to perform operations including; (a) positioning an exposed portion of a surface of the workpiece such that its height is able to be determined by the machine vision inspection system, wherein the exposed portion is not covered by a layer of fluorescent material and has a characteristic surface height along a focus axis relative to a height within the layer of fluorescent material; (b) configuring the machine vision inspection system to determine the height of the exposed portion; (c) determining the height of the exposed portion; (d) using the determined height of the exposed portion, determining a fluorescent imaging height to be used for fluorescent imaging of a workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material, wherein the fluorescent imaging height is determined in relation to the determined height of the exposed portion; and performing at least one of (e) and (f), wherein (e) comprises; (e) storing the determined fluorescent imaging height in association with a part program for later use when acquiring a fluorescent image that is used for inspecting the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material, and (f) comprises; (f) using the fluorescent imaging height determined in relation to the determined height of the exposed portion during execution of a part program when acquiring a fluorescent image that is used for inspecting the workpiece feature edge that is located within the layer of fluorescent material and is covered by the fluorescent material.
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Specification