US4406545A — Methods of and apparatus for measuring surface ar…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of identifying a first surface area having a light absorbency different from that of adjacent, second surface areas which comprises: illuminating each incremental area of said first surface area and adjacent surface areas with diffuse light incident through a predetermined sectorial angle; and opto-electronically scanning said surface areas, whereby said first surface area becomes distinguished from adjacent surface areas by the difference of light absorbency, and shadow effects due to any waviness of said surface areas are minimized by substantially uniform light dispersion within said sectorial angle.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of identifying a first surface area having a light absorbency different from that of adjacent, second surface areas which comprises: illuminating each incremental area of said first surface area and adjacent surface areas with diffuse light incident through a predetermined sectorial angle; and opto-electronically scanning said surface areas, whereby said first surface area becomes distinguished from adjacent surface areas by the difference of light absorbency, and shadow effects due to any waviness of said surface areas are minimized by substantially uniform light dispersion within said sectorial angle.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method of identifying according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined sectorial angle is equal to at least four times the maximum slope of any waviness of the surface areas scanned.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 100 words

A method of identifying according to claim 1, wherein the first surface area is the area of a plurality of substantially flat electronic articles mounted to a support slice and said second surface areas are surface areas of the support slice, wherein at least some of the articles are anticipated to be mounted at an angle of up to two degrees with respect to the plane of the support slice, and wherein illuminating comprises impinging each incremental area of the surface of said plurality of electronic articles with diffuse light incident through a sectorial angle of at least 30 degrees.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method of identifying according to claim 1, wherein illuminating comprises: illuminating a diffuser screen occupying a sectorial surface of the predetermined sectorial angle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method of identifying according to claim 4, wherein illuminating a diffuser screen comprises: illuminating a diffusely reflective surface of said screen with light emitted from a plurality of directional light sources located peripherally about the first and adjacent surface areas.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of measuring a first surface area having a light absorbency different from that of adjacent, second surface areas which comprises: diffusely illuminating each incremental surface area of the first surface area and of adjacent surface areas with light incident through a predetermined sectorial angle; reflecting a quantity of such incident light in proportion to the reflectivity of each incremental surface area toward image forming optics; forming an image of the surface areas wherein said first surface area is differentiated from said second surface areas by the brightness of the reflected light; and measuring the image of the first surface area.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of measuring a first surface area having a light absorbency different from that of adjacent, second surface areas which comprises: diffusely illuminating each incremental surface area of the first surface area and of adjacent surface areas with light incident through a predetermined sectorial angle; reflecting a quantity of such incident light in proportion to the reflectivity of each incremental surface area toward image forming optics; forming an image of the surface areas wherein said first surface area is differentiated from said second surface areas by the brightness of the reflected light; and measuring the image of the first surface area.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 79 words

A method of measuring according to claim 6, wherein the first surface area is comprised of a plurality of substantially flat electronic articles mounted to a support slice and said second surface areas are surface areas of the support slice, and wherein at least some of the articles may be tilted with respect to the support slice at an angle no greater than one-fourth of the sectorial angle through which the diffuse light is impinging on said surface areas.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 101 words

Apparatus for measuring a first surface area having a light absorbency different from that of adjacent, second surface areas which comprises: a diffuser-illuminator screen; means for supporting an article including said surface areas to orient said first surface area at a predetermined distance from said screen such that said screen occupies a predetermined sectorial angle above each incremental surface area of said first and second surface areas; means for illuminating said screen, whereby said screen emits diffuse light to impinge on each of such incremental surface areas within such predetermined sectorial angle; and means for opto-electronically measuring the first surface area.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 101 words

Apparatus for measuring a first surface area having a light absorbency different from that of adjacent, second surface areas which comprises: a diffuser-illuminator screen; means for supporting an article including said surface areas to orient said first surface area at a predetermined distance from said screen such that said screen occupies a predetermined sectorial angle above each incremental surface area of said first and second surface areas; means for illuminating said screen, whereby said screen emits diffuse light to impinge on each of such incremental surface areas within such predetermined sectorial angle; and means for opto-electronically measuring the first surface area.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus for measuring according to claim 8, wherein the diffuser-illuminator screen is reflective; and means for illuminating said screen are reflector lamps mounted peripherally about said article supporting means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus for measuring according to claim 8, wherein said article supporting means is an inspection table having a top surface of a substantially absorptive surface finish.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 105 words

Apparatus for measuring according to claim 10, wherein said article is a support slice of a material which is relatively admissive of light near the infrared range and said first area to be measured are electronic chips having a relatively reflective exposed surface in comparison to that of said support slice, and wherein said electronic chips are typically mounted to said support slice in a mounting wax at orientations which tend to vary from a plane parallel to the surface of the support slice, and said sectorial angle is about four times the average angular variation of said chips with respect to said support slice.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-09-26	1987-03-28	1987-09-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-09-26	1991-03-28	1991-09-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-09-26	1995-03-28	1995-09-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods of and apparatus for measuring surface areas

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