US3670153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Machine implemented method for positioning and inspecting an object
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-08
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1990-10-08
Abstract
Abstract The object it is desired to position has areas thereon whose peripheral edges are boundries between light and dark regions. For example, the areas may be metal electrodes which appear light and are located on a dark substrate. This object is placed beneath a light-sensing element such as an optical fiber. The object is then scanned in different directions under computer control, by producing relative movement between it and the lightsensing element to ascertain the shapes of a number of these areas, and the position within each such area of a characteristic point such as the center of gravity or the center of one particular edge, of each such area. The coordinates of these points are compared with reference coordinates previously stored in the computer memory for calculating the translational and/or the rotational movement required to center the object and for imparting this movement to the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence Arnold Rempert
- 👤 Edward Philip Helpert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:16
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/19; G05B19/40; H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/50; H10P72/53; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/49; G05B2219/49113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
331 words
A machine implemented method for placing in a desired position, relative to a fixed frame of reference, an object having a plurality of regions thereon, each such region defined by a plurality of peripheral edges, comprising the steps of: storing in said machine signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values relative to a fixed point of reference of the coordinates of a plurality of characteristic points, one such point per region, of an object in a desired position, where all characteristic points have the same mathematical relationship to the peripheral edges of their respective regions; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of said regions, each scan of a region including scans which cross each of a plurality of edges of a region at a pair of spaced points; producing, in response to the scans which cross the edges at said pairs of spaced points, signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of each said pair of crossings, with respect to said fixed point of reference; simulating, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of the values of the coordinates defining the pairs of edge crossings for each region, a straight edged figure representing each region, whose edges pas through the coordinates defining the pairs of edge crossings for that region; producing, under machine control, from each simulated straight edged figure, signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates, relative to said fixed point of reference, of the characteristic point of the region represented by that figure; producing, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates defining the characteristic points for a plurality of said regions and from said stored signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values of the coordinates of the corresponding characteristic points, signal manifestations indicative of the direction and amount of movement needed to bring said object into a position which relatively closely matches that of said desired object position; and in response to said signal manifestations, imparting said amount of movement in said direction to said object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
331 words
A machine implemented method for placing in a desired position, relative to a fixed frame of reference, an object having a plurality of regions thereon, each such region defined by a plurality of peripheral edges, comprising the steps of: storing in said machine signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values relative to a fixed point of reference of the coordinates of a plurality of characteristic points, one such point per region, of an object in a desired position, where all characteristic points have the same mathematical relationship to the peripheral edges of their respective regions; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of said regions, each scan of a region including scans which cross each of a plurality of edges of a region at a pair of spaced points; producing, in response to the scans which cross the edges at said pairs of spaced points, signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of each said pair of crossings, with respect to said fixed point of reference; simulating, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of the values of the coordinates defining the pairs of edge crossings for each region, a straight edged figure representing each region, whose edges pas through the coordinates defining the pairs of edge crossings for that region; producing, under machine control, from each simulated straight edged figure, signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates, relative to said fixed point of reference, of the characteristic point of the region represented by that figure; producing, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates defining the characteristic points for a plurality of said regions and from said stored signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values of the coordinates of the corresponding characteristic points, signal manifestations indicative of the direction and amount of movement needed to bring said object into a position which relatively closely matches that of said desired object position; and in response to said signal manifestations, imparting said amount of movement in said direction to said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
A machine implemented method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of storing signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of a plurality of characteristic points comprises the step of storing signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of the center of gravity of each region, and said step of producing, from each straight edged figure, signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of the characteristic point of the region represented by that figure, comprises the step of producing signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of the center of gravity of the region represented by that figure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
A machine implemented method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of storing signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of a plurality of characteristic points comprises the step of storing signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of the center of one particular edge of each region, and said step of producing from each straight edged figure signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of the characteristic point of the region represented by that figure comprises the step of producing signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of the center of the corresponding edge of the region represented by that figure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
A machine implemented method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the producing, under machine control, from each straight edged figure signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates XCG, YCG of the center of gravity of the region represented by that figure comprises the steps of: producing, under machine control, signal manifestations indicative of the X and Y coordinates of the n corners of said straight sided figure; producing, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of said X coordinates, signal manifestations indicative of XCG, as follows: XCG (X1 + X2 . . . . + Xn/n) where X1, X2 . . . Xn are said X coordinates of said n corners; and producing, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of said Y coordinates, signal manifestations indicative of YCG, as follows: YCG (Y1 + Y2 . . . . + Yn/n) where Y1, Y2 . . . Yn are the Y coordinates of the n corners.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a machine implemented method for placing in a desired position, relative to a fixed frame of reference, an object having a plurality of distinguishable regions thereon, the steps of: storing in said machine signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values, relative to a fixed point of reference, of the coordinates of a plurality of characteristic points, one such point per region, of an object in a desired position, where all characteristic points have the same mathematical relationship to the peripheral edges of their respective regions; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of said regions and producing, in response to the scanning of each region, signal manifestations indicative of the actual location, relative to said fixed point of reference, of the characteristic point of that region; producing, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates defining the characteristic points for a plurality of said regions and from said stored signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values of the coordinates of corresponding characteristic points, signal manifestations indicative of the direction and amount of rotational movement needed to reduce the average rotational displacement between the actual coordinates of the characteristic points and the theoretical coordinates of said characteristic points; and in response to said signal manifestations indicative of movement, imparting said amount of rotational movement, in said direction, to said object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
222 words
In a machine implemented method for placing in a desired position, relative to a fixed frame of reference, an object having a plurality of distinguishable regions thereon, the steps of: storing in said machine signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values, relative to a fixed point of reference, of the coordinates of a plurality of characteristic points, one such point per region, of an object in a desired position, where all characteristic points have the same mathematical relationship to the peripheral edges of their respective regions; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of said regions and producing, in response to the scanning of each region, signal manifestations indicative of the actual location, relative to said fixed point of reference, of the characteristic point of that region; producing, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates defining the characteristic points for a plurality of said regions and from said stored signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values of the coordinates of corresponding characteristic points, signal manifestations indicative of the direction and amount of rotational movement needed to reduce the average rotational displacement between the actual coordinates of the characteristic points and the theoretical coordinates of said characteristic points; and in response to said signal manifestations indicative of movement, imparting said amount of rotational movement, in said direction, to said object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a machine implemented method as set forth in claim 5, the further steps of: producing, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates defining the characteristic points for a plurality of said regions and from said stored signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values of corresponding characteristic points, signal manifestations indicative of the direction and amount of translational movement needed to reduce the average translational displacement between the characteristic points and the theoretical points; and in response to said signal manifestations indicative of translational movement, imparting said amount of translational movement, in said direction, to said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
219 words
A machine implemented method for inspecting an object having a plurality of distinguishable regions thereon for ascertaining whether the relative locations of said regions fall within given distance and direction limits from a point of reference comprising the steps of: storing in said machine signal manifestations indiCative of the theoretical values, relative to a fixed point of reference, of the desired coordinates of a plurality of characteristic points, one such point per region, where all characteristic points have the same mathematical relationship to the peripheral edges of their respective regions; storing in said machine limit signal manifestations indicative of the permitted displacement of said plurality of characteristic points from said desired positions for an object to be acceptable; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of regions and producing, in response to the scanning of each region, signal manifestations indicative of the actual location, relative to said fixed point of reference, of the characteristic point of that region; producing, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values of said coordinates of the characteristic points, the signal manifestations indicative of the actual values of said coordinates of the corresponding characteristic points, and said limit signal manifestations, an indication of whether or not said object is acceptable; and in response to said indication, accepting or rejecting said object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
219 words
A machine implemented method for inspecting an object having a plurality of distinguishable regions thereon for ascertaining whether the relative locations of said regions fall within given distance and direction limits from a point of reference comprising the steps of: storing in said machine signal manifestations indiCative of the theoretical values, relative to a fixed point of reference, of the desired coordinates of a plurality of characteristic points, one such point per region, where all characteristic points have the same mathematical relationship to the peripheral edges of their respective regions; storing in said machine limit signal manifestations indicative of the permitted displacement of said plurality of characteristic points from said desired positions for an object to be acceptable; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of regions and producing, in response to the scanning of each region, signal manifestations indicative of the actual location, relative to said fixed point of reference, of the characteristic point of that region; producing, under machine control, from the signal manifestations indicative of the theoretical values of said coordinates of the characteristic points, the signal manifestations indicative of the actual values of said coordinates of the corresponding characteristic points, and said limit signal manifestations, an indication of whether or not said object is acceptable; and in response to said indication, accepting or rejecting said object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a machine implemented method for inspecting an object having a plurality of distinguishable regions thereon, the steps of: storing in said machine signal manifestations indicative of the desired shapes and positions of said regions; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of said regions for producing signal manifestations indicative of the actual shape and position of each region; comparing, under machine control, the produced and corresponding stored signal manifestations; and if the produced and corresponding stored signal manifestations differ from one another by more than a given amount, producing, under machine control, a signal manifestation indicating that the object should be rejected.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a machine implemented method for inspecting an object having a plurality of distinguishable regions thereon, the steps of: storing in said machine signal manifestations indicative of the desired shapes and positions of said regions; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of said regions for producing signal manifestations indicative of the actual shape and position of each region; comparing, under machine control, the produced and corresponding stored signal manifestations; and if the produced and corresponding stored signal manifestations differ from one another by more than a given amount, producing, under machine control, a signal manifestation indicating that the object should be rejected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a machine implemented method as set forth in claim 8, performing the comparing step and the step of producing a signal manifestation indicating that the object should be rejected, after at least some but not all of the steps in the scanning process have been completed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A machine implemented method for inspecting an object having a plurality of regions thereon, each region having peripheral edges, comprising the steps of: storing in said machine digital signal manifestations indicative of the desired outline dimensions of a plurality of regions on an object; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of said regions for producing digital signal manifestations indicative of the outline dimensions of said scanned regions; comparing, under machine control, the produced and corresponding stored digital signal manifestations; and if the produced and corresponding stored signal manifestations differ from one another by more than a given amount, producing, under machine control, a signal manifestation indicating that the object should be rejected.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
112 words
A machine implemented method for inspecting an object having a plurality of regions thereon, each region having peripheral edges, comprising the steps of: storing in said machine digital signal manifestations indicative of the desired outline dimensions of a plurality of regions on an object; scanning, under machine control, a plurality of said regions for producing digital signal manifestations indicative of the outline dimensions of said scanned regions; comparing, under machine control, the produced and corresponding stored digital signal manifestations; and if the produced and corresponding stored signal manifestations differ from one another by more than a given amount, producing, under machine control, a signal manifestation indicating that the object should be rejected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
A machine implemented method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said scanning under machine control includes: producing, under machine control, digital signal manifestations indicative of the coordinates of two points along each of a plurality of edges of a plurality of regions; producing for each pair of points, a digital manifestation indicative of the length of a straight line passing through that pair of points, which straight line represents an edge of a region; and wherein the step of comparing the produced and stored digital signal manifestations comprises comparing the digital signal manifestation indicative of the length of each edge of a region with a store digital signal manifestation for ascertaining whether the length of that edge is within acceptable limits.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |