US4672437A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic inspection system
Assignee: Atmel Corp
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Filing: 1985-07-08
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Granted: 1987-06-09
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Expires: 2005-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic inspection system for use in the inspection of sandwiched solder bonds in integrated circuit packages. The apparatus contains a miniature fiber optic probe which picks up an image of the solder bonds and transmits it to a video camera. The video output signal of the camera is image processed to enhance the picture quality and displayed on a video monitor.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence A. Casper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/302; G01R31/308; G01R31/309; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01R31/2801; G01R31/2806; G01N21/8851; G01N2021/8887; G01N21/95; G01N21/956; G01N2021/95638; G01N2021/95646; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/08; G01N2201/0833; G01N2201/10; G01N2201/102
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of inspecting regions within integrated circuit packages that are visibly occluded to the naked eye, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating at least one occluded region of a selected integrated circuit package desired to be inspected; inserting a miniature fiber optic bundle into this integrated circuit package to the occluded region so illuminated; transmitting the optical images so obtained to a video camera; tranducing the optical images to a video signal; and displaying images obtained from the video signal on a video monitor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of inspecting regions within integrated circuit packages that are visibly occluded to the naked eye, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating at least one occluded region of a selected integrated circuit package desired to be inspected; inserting a miniature fiber optic bundle into this integrated circuit package to the occluded region so illuminated; transmitting the optical images so obtained to a video camera; tranducing the optical images to a video signal; and displaying images obtained from the video signal on a video monitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the occluded area contains solder bonds.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of inspecting regions within integrated circuit packages that are visibly occluded to the naked eye, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating at least one occluded region of a selected integrated circuit package desired to be inspected; inserting a minature fiber optic bundle into this integrated circuit package to the occluded region so illuminated; transmitting the optical images so obtained to a video camera for conversion of the optical images to a video signal; processing the video signal to enhance quality of images to be obtained therefrom; and displaying images obtained from the video signal as so enhanced on a video monitor.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of inspecting regions within integrated circuit packages that are visibly occluded to the naked eye, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating at least one occluded region of a selected integrated circuit package desired to be inspected; inserting a minature fiber optic bundle into this integrated circuit package to the occluded region so illuminated; transmitting the optical images so obtained to a video camera for conversion of the optical images to a video signal; processing the video signal to enhance quality of images to be obtained therefrom; and displaying images obtained from the video signal as so enhanced on a video monitor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the occluded area contains solder bonds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the video image enhancement is done by contrast manipulation techniques.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the video image enhancement is done by noise cleaning techniques.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the video image enhancement is done by edge crispening techniques.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of inspecting regions within integrated circuit packages that are visibly occluded to the naked eye, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating at least one occluded region of a selected integrated circuit packaged designed to be inspected; inserting a miniature fiber optic bundle into this integrated circuit package to the occluded region so illuminated; converting the optical images so obtained to a video signal; processing the video signal to generate an enhanced video signal from which images can be obtained which better approximate the original optical image; and displaying images obtained from the enhanced video signal on a video monitor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of inspecting regions within integrated circuit packages that are visibly occluded to the naked eye, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating at least one occluded region of a selected integrated circuit packaged designed to be inspected; inserting a miniature fiber optic bundle into this integrated circuit package to the occluded region so illuminated; converting the optical images so obtained to a video signal; processing the video signal to generate an enhanced video signal from which images can be obtained which better approximate the original optical image; and displaying images obtained from the enhanced video signal on a video monitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the video signal is restored by a singular value decomposition algorithm routine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
An automated method of inspecting regions within integrated circuit packages that are visibly occluded to the naked eye, the method comprising: illuminating at least one occluded region of a selected integrated circuit package desired to be inspected; inserting under control of a computer a miniature fiber optic bundle into the integrated circuit package to the occluded region so illuminated; converting the optical images so obtained from the fiber optic bundle to a video signal; and displaying images obtained from the video signal on a video monitor
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
An automated method of inspecting regions within integrated circuit packages that are visibly occluded to the naked eye, the method comprising: illuminating at least one occluded region of a selected integrated circuit package desired to be inspected; inserting under control of a computer a miniature fiber optic bundle into the integrated circuit package to the occluded region so illuminated; converting the optical images so obtained from the fiber optic bundle to a video signal; and displaying images obtained from the video signal on a video monitor
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 10 wherein pattern recognition is used to determine package quality by comparing the solder bond images received to a predetermined inspection criteria.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
89 words
An image pickup apparatus which comprises: a light source means for providing illuminating light; image transmission means comprising a fiber optic bundle for sensing through a lens, fixed with respect to the fiber optic bundle, an optical image of an illuminated subject and for transmitting that image; image signal converting means coupled to the image transmission means for converting optical images into a video signal; and video signal processor means for taking the video signal and enhancing it to provide an improvement in quality of the images obtained therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
An image pickup apparatus which comprises: a light source means for providing illuminating light; image transmission means comprising a fiber optic bundle for sensing through a lens, fixed with respect to the fiber optic bundle, an optical image of an illuminated subject and for transmitting that image; image signal converting means coupled to the image transmission means for converting optical images into a video signal; and video signal processor means for taking the video signal and enhancing it to provide an improvement in quality of the images obtained therefrom.
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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) | 1990-06-08 | 1990-12-08 | 1991-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-08 | 1994-12-08 | 1995-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-08 | 1998-12-08 | 1999-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |