EP0341806A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for inspecting circuit boards with surface mounted components
Assignee: Control Automation Inc
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Filing: 1989-02-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-02-23
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for inspecting an SMT printed circuit board includes an inspection head mounted to an X-Y table, for directed movement above the SMT printed circuit board which is to be inspected. The inspection head is caused to proceed to successive viewing fields along the surface of the SMT printed circuit board, for inspection by a series of cameras disposed within the inspection head together with appropriate lighting which is selected according to the inspection which is to be performed. Prior to soldering, it is determined whether each of the series of components to be placed on the printed circuit board were deposited as scheduled, and whether the deposited components were correctly positioned. Following the soldering procedure, it is again determined whether each component remains present on the board, and in its correct position, and steps are taken to inspect the solder fillets, and to inspect for any solder bridges.
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
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2801; G01R31/281; H05K13/00; H05K13/08; H05K13/081; H05K13/0815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board having a surface mounted component affixed thereto, said component having side edges projecting from the surface of said printed circuit board and connecting leads or pins projecting from the side edges of said component to connecting pads on the surface of said printed circuit board, comprising: a plurality of means for illuminating said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface, positioned to provide contrasting reflections from said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface; camera means for receiving light reflected from said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface; and means for switchably controlling different ones of said plurality of illuminating means to selectively activate different combinations of said illuminating means and said camera means to perform different inspections of said component, said connecting leads or pins, and said connecting pads on said printed circuit board.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board having a surface mounted component affixed thereto, said component having side edges projecting from the surface of said printed circuit board and connecting leads or pins projecting from the side edges of said component to connecting pads on the surface of said printed circuit board, comprising: a plurality of means for illuminating said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface, positioned to provide contrasting reflections from said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface; camera means for receiving light reflected from said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface; and means for switchably controlling different ones of said plurality of illuminating means to selectively activate different combinations of said illuminating means and said camera means to perform different inspections of said component, said connecting leads or pins, and said connecting pads on said printed circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said illuminating means and said camera means are located in an inspection head positioned over said printed circuit board, and means for moving said inspection head to different positions over said printed circuit board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 2 having means for performing said inspecting in a first viewing field before said inspection head is moved to a second viewing field to be inspected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controlling means switchably controls four orthogonally disposed cameras and eight lighting - groups, wherein two lighting groups are positioned adjacent to each of said cameras.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said two lighting groups include a first lighting group positioned adjacent to said camera means, and a second lighting group positioned adjacent to said printed circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said controlling means operates either said first lighting group, said second lighting group, or a combination of said first and second lighting groups according to the configuration of said component and other components adjacent thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said controlling means adjusts the intensity of said lighting groups according to the configuration of said component and other components adjacent thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 4 having means for inspecting if said component has been placed on said printed circuit board, wherein said controlling means sequentially activates each of said cameras together with one of the two lighting groups positioned adjacent to said activated camera to produce detectable contrasts between light levels associated with said side edges and light levels associated with said surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 8 having means for inspecting if said component has been correctly located on said printed circuit board, wherein said controlling means sequentially activates each of said cameras together with one of the two lighting groups positioned adjacent to said activated camera to direct light toward said connecting leads or pins for reflection to said activated camera.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inspecting is performed before a soldering procedure has been completed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inspecting is performed after a soldering procedure has been completed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 4 having means for inspecting if a properly shaped solder fillet has been produced in a soldering procedure, wherein said controlling means sequentially activates each of said cameras together with two lighting groups, positioned laterally to each side of said camera, to direct light toward opposing curved portions of said solder fillet for reflection to said activated camera.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 4 having means for inspecting if a solder bridge exists between adjacent solder connections, wherein said controlling means sequentially activates each of said cameras together with the lighting group positioned nearest to said activated camera to direct light toward a solder bridge for reflection to said activated camera.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 having means for comparing reflected light received by said camera . means with a predetermined window for receiving said reflected light, to determine if said reflected light is located within said window.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 14 having microprocessor means for performing said comparing and for advising of detected defects.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15 having a monitor for visual inspection of said detected defects.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 15 having a recording device for recording the location of said detected defects.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for inspecting a printed circuit board having a surface mounted component affixed thereto, said component having side edges projecting from the surface of said printed circuit board and connecting leads or pins projecting from the side edges of said component to connecting pads on the surface of said printed circuit board, comprising: illuminating said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface, providing contrasting reflections from said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface; receiving light reflected from said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface, in camera means adapted to receive said contrasting reflections; and switchably controlling said illuminating by selectively activating different combinations of illuminating means and said camera means to perform different inspections of said component, said connecting leads or pins, and said connecting pads on said printed circuit board.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for inspecting a printed circuit board having a surface mounted component affixed thereto, said component having side edges projecting from the surface of said printed circuit board and connecting leads or pins projecting from the side edges of said component to connecting pads on the surface of said printed circuit board, comprising: illuminating said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface, providing contrasting reflections from said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface; receiving light reflected from said side edges, said connecting leads or pins, and said surface, in camera means adapted to receive said contrasting reflections; and switchably controlling said illuminating by selectively activating different combinations of illuminating means and said camera means to perform different inspections of said component, said connecting leads or pins, and said connecting pads on said printed circuit board.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said inspecting includes inspecting a first viewing field and thereafter moving to a second viewing field to be inspected, while simultaneously processing data resulting from said first inspecting during said moving.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 18 wherein a plurality of lighting groups are positioned adjacent to said camera means, and further comprising selecting between said lighting groups according to the configuration of said component and other components adjacent thereto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20 which further comprises adjusting the intensity of said lighting groups according to the configuration of said component and other components adjacent thereto.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said inspecting includes activating said camera means and illuminating means positioned adjacent thereto.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said inspecting includes directing light toward said side edges, and detecting contrasts between light levels associated with said side edges and light levels associated with said surface to determine if said component has been placed on said printed circuit board.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said inspecting includes directing light toward said connecting leads or pins for reflection to said camera means, to determine if said component has been correctly located on said printed circuit board.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said inspecting includes directing light toward connecting pads adjacent to said component, for reflection to said camera means, to determine if a solder bridge exists between adjacent solder connections.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said inspecting includes activating said camera means together with illuminating means positioned laterally to each side of said camera means, directing light toward opposing curved portions of a solder connection, for reflection to said camera means, to determine if said solder connection incorporates a properly shaped solder fillet.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 18 which further comprises comparing reflected light received by said camera means with a predetermined window for receiving said reflected light, to determine if said reflected light is located within said window.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 which further comprises inspecting detected defects on a monitor coupled to said camera means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 27 which further comprises recording the location of detected defects on a recording device coupled to said camera means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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