Abstract Microscopic insertion of objects such as beam-lead integrated circuits is accomplished by positioning the objects mounted on platforms in a spaced relationship under a vacuum pickup needle located in the field of view of the microscope. Rapid and accurate positioning is aided by air bearing facilities. One of the platforms includes a transparent disc for supporting the bottom sides of the objects. The disc is parallel to and spaced from a mirror which reflects an image of the bottom sides to the microscope. The microscope is first raised to its upper position along its principal axis and focused on the top sides of the objects so that the mirror image of the bottom sides is out of focus and not visible. The top sides are then individually inspected. Next, the microscope is moved to its lower position along its axis and then focused on the mirror image of the bottom sides of the objects so that the top sides are out of focus. Preferably, the magnification of the microscope while in its lower position is increased to provide a larger image of the bottom sides to thereby facilitate their inspection. The increasing of the magnification also decreases the depth of field of the microscope so that an image of the top sides is far out of focus and therefore not visible. This improves the clarity of the image of the bottom sides to further facilitate their inspection. The bottom sides are then individually inspected. During the inspection the objects are separated in accordance with certain characteristics with the aid of a vacuum pickup needle. The movement of the needle is limited by a ball plunger to prevent damage to the objects.
Inventors
👤 William R Wanesky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-29 08:19
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/0004; G02B21/0016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
288 words
Apparatus for rapid microscopic inspection of a plurality of objects, which comprises: a base; a microscope mounted to the base; means movably mounted on and in contact with an adjacent planar surface of the base for supporting and positioning the objects in the field of view of the microscope; fluid supply means for supplying a pressurized fluid between the base and the supporting and positioning means to float such means out of contact with the base on a substantially frictionless fluid film, the supporting and positioning means being freely movable in any lateral direction and capable of floating out of contact with the adjacent planar surface of the base; the supporting and positioning means being formed with a fluid passageway having a first port which is normally covered by the adjacent planar surface of the base when the supporting and positioning means is contacting the adjacent planar surface, and a second port which is normally open to permit the pressurized fluid which is passing through the passageway to normally exit therefrom; and the second port being located on the supporting and positioning means to enable direct selective covering oF the second port by a finger of an operator''s hand so that the pressurized fluid is forced through the first port to float freely the supporting and positioning means out of contact with the adjacent planar surface of the base on a substantially frictionless fluid film which further permits simultaneous rapid, accurate, linear and rotatable movement of the means by the operator''s hand to move the freely floating supporting and positioning means both macroscopic and microscopic distances with respect to a predetermined point without undershooting or overshooting the point whereby the objects are positionable for rapid and microscopic inspection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
288 words
Apparatus for rapid microscopic inspection of a plurality of objects, which comprises: a base; a microscope mounted to the base; means movably mounted on and in contact with an adjacent planar surface of the base for supporting and positioning the objects in the field of view of the microscope; fluid supply means for supplying a pressurized fluid between the base and the supporting and positioning means to float such means out of contact with the base on a substantially frictionless fluid film, the supporting and positioning means being freely movable in any lateral direction and capable of floating out of contact with the adjacent planar surface of the base; the supporting and positioning means being formed with a fluid passageway having a first port which is normally covered by the adjacent planar surface of the base when the supporting and positioning means is contacting the adjacent planar surface, and a second port which is normally open to permit the pressurized fluid which is passing through the passageway to normally exit therefrom; and the second port being located on the supporting and positioning means to enable direct selective covering oF the second port by a finger of an operator''s hand so that the pressurized fluid is forced through the first port to float freely the supporting and positioning means out of contact with the adjacent planar surface of the base on a substantially frictionless fluid film which further permits simultaneous rapid, accurate, linear and rotatable movement of the means by the operator''s hand to move the freely floating supporting and positioning means both macroscopic and microscopic distances with respect to a predetermined point without undershooting or overshooting the point whereby the objects are positionable for rapid and microscopic inspection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means movably mounted to the base and between the microscope and such base for picking up and depositing the objects on the supporting and positioning means in accordance with the inspection of such objects with the microscope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for picking up and depositing the objects has nonglare characteristics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising: means for limiting the movement of the picking up and depositing means to prevent damage to the objects by said picking up and depositing means.