EP0336563A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compensating system for inspecting potentially warped printed circuit boards
Assignee: AMERICAN CIMFLEX Corp (a Pennsylvania corporation)
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Filing: 1989-03-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A compensating system for inspecting potentially warped printed circuit boards provides the inspection head of a printed circuit board inspection apparatus with a compensating device which is capable of detecting deviations in the printed circuit board which depart from a reference standard, for use in accurately compensating for such deviations during the board inspection procedure. An appropriate source (including ultrasonic, laser and directed light sources) is used to direct emissions toward the surface of a printed circuit board to be inspected. Detected reflections are then used to provide information useful in determining deviations of the surface of the printed circuit board from the reference standard, to adjust the anticipated locations for any component features, connecting leads or pins which are to be inspected within the subject viewing field.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon I. Robertson
- 👤 Abe Abramovich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/24; G01B11/245; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2801; G01R31/281; H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In an apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board having components affixed thereto, to determine if said components are properly placed and if connecting leads or pins associated with said components are properly positioned, and including means for detecting whether said components and said connecting leads or pins are positioned in a prescribed location, and means for compensating for variations in the detecting of components and connecting leads or pins on a warped printed circuit board, the improvement comprising: means for locating the position of a surface of said printed circuit board bearing said components and said connecting leads or pins; means for comparing said located position with a reference standard, to detect a deviation between said located position and said reference standard; and means for adjusting said compensating means according to said detected deviation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In an apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board having components affixed thereto, to determine if said components are properly placed and if connecting leads or pins associated with said components are properly positioned, and including means for detecting whether said components and said connecting leads or pins are positioned in a prescribed location, and means for compensating for variations in the detecting of components and connecting leads or pins on a warped printed circuit board, the improvement comprising: means for locating the position of a surface of said printed circuit board bearing said components and said connecting leads or pins; means for comparing said located position with a reference standard, to detect a deviation between said located position and said reference standard; and means for adjusting said compensating means according to said detected deviation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locating means is an ultrasonic transceiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said ultrasonic transceiver operates at about 50 kHz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said distances are detectable to one-thousandth of an inch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said locating means measures a distance from said ultrasonic transceiver to the surface of said printed circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said reference standard is a distance measured from said ultrasonic transceiver to the surface of a correctly assembled, generally planar printed circuit board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locating means is a laser ranging device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said locating means locates a position of the surface of said printed circuit board with respect to said locating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said reference standard is a position of the surface of a correctly assembled, generally planar printed circuit board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inspecting apparatus includes an inspection head for inspecting said printed circuit board, and wherein said locating means is axially and centrally positioned within said inspection head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locating means is operated to separately adjust said inspection apparatus in each of a plurality of viewing fields associated with said printed circuit board, and which are to be inspected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adjusting means includes means for altering said prescribed location according to said detected deviation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said inspecting apparatus includes means for defining at least one window for locating a component feature, connecting lead or pin, means for illuminating said printed circuit board, means for monitoring reflections from said printed circuit board, and means for determining whether said reflections are positioned within said window; and wherein said adjusting means alters said window according to the deviation detected by said comparing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said adjusting means alters said window according to the curvature of said printed circuit board.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said locating means comprises means for projecting an identifiable pattern of light onto the surface of said printed circuit board, and means for monitoring reflections of said identifiable pattern of light from said printed circuit board.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said projecting means is a light source projected through a slide bearing said identifiable pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said identifiable pattern is a square positioned outside of a viewing field prescribed for said apparatus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said viewing field is a one-half inch square, and wherein said identifiable pattern is a square measuring 0.6 inches on each side.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said monitoring means is an inspection head associated with said inspecting apparatus.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for inspecting a printed circuit board having components affixed thereto to determine if said components are properly placed and if connecting leads or pins associated with said components are properly positioned, in an apparatus including means for detecting whether said components and said connecting leads or pins are positioned in a prescribed location, and means for compensating for variations in the detecting of components and connecting leads or pins on a warped printed circuit board, comprising the steps of: providing means for locating the position of a surface of said printed circuit board bearing said components and said connecting leads or pins; locating the position of the surface of a printed circuit board to be inspected; comparing said located position with a reference standard, to detect a deviation between said located position and said reference standard; and adjusting said compensating means according to said detected deviation.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for inspecting a printed circuit board having components affixed thereto to determine if said components are properly placed and if connecting leads or pins associated with said components are properly positioned, in an apparatus including means for detecting whether said components and said connecting leads or pins are positioned in a prescribed location, and means for compensating for variations in the detecting of components and connecting leads or pins on a warped printed circuit board, comprising the steps of: providing means for locating the position of a surface of said printed circuit board bearing said components and said connecting leads or pins; locating the position of the surface of a printed circuit board to be inspected; comparing said located position with a reference standard, to detect a deviation between said located position and said reference standard; and adjusting said compensating means according to said detected deviation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said locating means is an ultrasonic transceiver.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said ultrasonic transceiver operates at about 50 kHZ.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said distances are detectable to one-thousandth of an inch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said locating includes measuring a distance from said ultrasonic transceiver to the surface of said printed circuit board.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said reference standard is a distance measured from said ultrasonic transceiver to the surface of a correctly assembled, generally planar printed circuit board.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said locating means is a laser ranging device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said locating includes locating a position of the surface of said printed circuit board with respect to said locating means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said reference standard is a position of the surface of a correctly assembled, generally planar printed circuit board.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said inspecting apparatus includes an inspection head for inspecting said printed circuit board, and wherein said locating means is axially and centrally positioned within said inspection head.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said compensating includes separately adjusting said inspection apparatus in each of a plurality of viewing fields associated with said printed circuit board, and which are to be inspected.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said adjusting includes altering said prescribed location according to said detected deviation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said inspecting includes defining at least one window for locating a component feature, connecting lead or pin, illuminating said printed circuit board, monitoring reflections from said printed circuit board, and determining whether said reflections are positioned within said window; and wherein said adjusting includes altering said window according to the deviation detected during said comparing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said adjusting includes altering said window according to the curvature of said printed circuit board.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said locating includes projecting an identifiable pattern of light onto the sur face of said printed circuit board, and monitoring reflections of said identifiable pattern of light from said printed circuit board.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said projecting includes directing light through a slide bearing said identifiable pattern.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said identifiable pattern is a square positioned outside of a viewing field to be inspected.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said monitoring is performed by an inspection head associated with said inspecting apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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