US5060065A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for illuminating a printed circuit board for inspection
Assignee: Cimflex Teknowledge Corp
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Filing: 1990-02-23
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Granted: 1991-10-22
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Expires: 2010-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A printed circuit board inspection device includes a lighting system for use with the series of cameras associated with the printed circuit board inspection device which is essentially domed in configuration, and which incorporates a plurality of selectively controllable light emitting diodes for developing desired lighting patterns. The light emitting diodes are arranged within the domed fixture to form an array of defined latitudes and longitudes, and are capable of selective activation to develop the particular lighting patterns which are desired. This permits an acquisition of images useful in developing a "topographical display" of the acquired image, which is useful in enhancing the subsequent inspections which are to be performed.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold Wasserman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
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; G01R31/302; G01R31/308; G01R31/309; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/8806; G01N21/95; G01N21/956; G01N21/95684
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said apparatus comprising: means for illuminating said printed circuit board and said components; and camera means for receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components, and for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means; wherein said illuminating means in comprised of a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining a plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture, and means for selectively controlling the light producing elements to activate subsets of the light producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said apparatus comprising: means for illuminating said printed circuit board and said components; and camera means for receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components, and for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means; wherein said illuminating means in comprised of a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining a plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture, and means for selectively controlling the light producing elements to activate subsets of the light producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said camera means is comprised of four orthogonally disposed cameras associated with said illuminating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light producing elements are light emitting diodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein light emitting diodes grouped along a selected latitude are simultaneously operable to develop a ring of light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 which further comprises means for sequentially operating light emitting diodes grouped along selected latitudes to develop a series of rings of light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein light emitting diodes grouped in a selected quadrant are simultaneously operable to develop a directed source of light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises means for acquiring images from said camera means, for storage in a buffer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said light producing elements are controllable to develop a plurality of rings of light, and wherein said acquiring means acquires a plurality of images corresponding to said plurality of rings of light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said rings of light illuminate different topographical zones associated with said components and said leads or pins.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said rings of light are sequentially and serially operated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said rings of light are operated to produce substantially constant levels of light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9 which further comprises means for assigning colors to said different topographical zones, for display on a color monitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 9 which further comprises means for assigning light levels to said different topographical zones, and for performing weighted and volumetric calculations responsive to said assigned light levels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said camera means is comprised of four orthogonally disposed cameras, and wherein said calculation performing means includes means for correlating data stored in said buffer for different ones of said cameras.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
139 words
In an apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said apparatus comprising means for illuminating said printed circuit board and said components, and camera means for receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components, and for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means, an improved illuminating means comprising a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining a plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture, and means for selectively controlling the light producing elements to activate subsets of the light-producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
139 words
In an apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said apparatus comprising means for illuminating said printed circuit board and said components, and camera means for receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components, and for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means, an improved illuminating means comprising a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining a plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture, and means for selectively controlling the light producing elements to activate subsets of the light-producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said camera means is comprised of four orthogonally disposed cameras associated with said illuminating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said light producing elements are light emitting diodes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein light emitting diodes grouped along a selected latitude are simultaneously operable to develop a ring of light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 18 which further comprises means for sequentially operating light emitting diodes grouped along selected latitudes to develop a series of rings of light.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said rings of light illuminate different topographical zones associated with said components and said leads or pins.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said rings of light are sequentially and serially operated
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said rings of light are operated to develop substantially constant levels of
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein light emitting diodes grouped in a selected quadrant are simultaneously operable to develop a directed source of light.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating said printed circuit board and said components making use of illuminating means including a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture; selectively controlling the light-producing elements to activate subsets of the light-producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture; and receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components making use of camera means for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for inspecting a printed circuit board, and components affixed to said printed circuit board, said components having leads or pins for engaging features of said printed circuit board for soldered connection thereto, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating said printed circuit board and said components making use of illuminating means including a substantially dome-shaped fixture incorporating an array of individually addressable light producing elements defining plurality of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture; selectively controlling the light-producing elements to activate subsets of the light-producing elements within the array at intersections of latitudes and longitudes of the dome-shaped fixture; and receiving light reflected from said printed circuit board and said components making use of camera means for producing an electrical signal which varies responsive to the reflected light received by said camera means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 which further includes developing a ring of light by simultaneously operating light producing elements grouped along a selected latitude
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 25 which further includes sequentially operating light producing elements grouped along selected latitudes to develop a series of rings of light.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24 which further includes developing a directed source of light by simultaneously operating light producing elements grouped in a selected quadrant.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 24, which further includes developing a topographical mapping of said printed circuit board and said components responsive to said electrical signal provided by said camera means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 28 which further includes acquiring images from said camera means, and storing said images as data in a buffer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 29 which further includes controlling said light producing elements to develop a plurality of rings of light, and acquiring a plurality of images corresponding to said plurality of rings of light.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said rings of light illuminate different topographical zones associated with said components and said leads or pins.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said rings of light are sequentially and serially operated.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said rings of light are operated to develop substantially constant levels of light.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 31 which further includes assigning colors to said different topographical zones, for display on a color monitor.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 31 which further includes assigning light levels to said different topographical zones, and performing weighted and volumetric calculations responsive to said assigned light levels.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 35 wherein said camera means is comprised of four orthogonally disposed cameras, and which further includes correlating data stored in said buffer for different ones of said cameras.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |