US5107206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printed circuit board inspection apparatus
Assignee: Tescon Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-05-20
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Granted: 1992-04-21
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Expires: 2011-05-20
Abstract
Abstract An improved printed circuit board inspection apparatus (1) in which its inspection probes are made to contact with a selected part or printed circuit section on a printed circuit board (P) for making an inspection on the selected part or printed circuit section in terms of their performances or functions. The printed circuit board inspection apparatus uses two guide sets (3,4) each having at least one pair of inspection probes (15) and driving means to drive said inspection probes in X- and Y-directions to selected coordinate positions in the printed circuit board. A central processing unit controls said driving means so that the inspection probes (15) of one guide set (3,4) are used to make an inspection at a selected coordinate position while the other inspection probes are traveling to another selected coordinate position for subsequent inspection according to a predetermined program. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Kunio Yanagi
- 👤 Keiichi Ikeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/06; G01R1/067; G01R1/073; G01R1/07392; G01R31/2801; G01R31/2806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
Printed circuit board inspection apparatus comprising: mounting means to fix a printed circuit board at a predetermined position; two or more guide sets each composed of a pair of upper and lower crossbar assemblies, each crossbar assembly having an arm suspending from the crossbar assembly and equipped with at least one inspection probe at its end, and driving means to drive the crossbar assembly in an X-direction above said printed circuit board, and to drive said arm in a Y-direction perpendicular to said X-direction and raise or lower associated probe; and a central processing unit to command said driving means to bring selected inspection probes to selected positions above said printed circuit board and to lower such inspection probes until they come to contact the terminals of selected discrete circuit elements or printed circuit for detecting short-circuits or disconnections if any, in said printed circuit board, or for determining the kind or function each of said selected discrete circuit elements, whereby the inspection probes of one guide set are making an inspection on a selected circuit element or printed circuit while the inspection probes of the other guide set are running to another selected position in which another inspection is to be performed under the control of said central processing unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
Printed circuit board inspection apparatus comprising: mounting means to fix a printed circuit board at a predetermined position; two or more guide sets each composed of a pair of upper and lower crossbar assemblies, each crossbar assembly having an arm suspending from the crossbar assembly and equipped with at least one inspection probe at its end, and driving means to drive the crossbar assembly in an X-direction above said printed circuit board, and to drive said arm in a Y-direction perpendicular to said X-direction and raise or lower associated probe; and a central processing unit to command said driving means to bring selected inspection probes to selected positions above said printed circuit board and to lower such inspection probes until they come to contact the terminals of selected discrete circuit elements or printed circuit for detecting short-circuits or disconnections if any, in said printed circuit board, or for determining the kind or function each of said selected discrete circuit elements, whereby the inspection probes of one guide set are making an inspection on a selected circuit element or printed circuit while the inspection probes of the other guide set are running to another selected position in which another inspection is to be performed under the control of said central processing unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
Printed circuit board inspection apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein each arm comprises a metal piece slidably mounted to an associated crossbar assembly, a mount plate fixed to said metal piece, a pair of probe heads vertically movably fixed to said mount plate, and drive means to raise or lower said prove heads, said inspection probes being fixed to said pair of probe heads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
Printed circuit board inspection apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein said drive means to raise or lower said probe heads comprises a stepping motor, a rotatable link plate connected to a shaft of said stepping motor at the center of the rotatable link plate, and having two pins projecting from the opposite ends of the rotatable link and slidably fitted in lateral slots made in the upper ends of said probe heads, whereby when said stepping motor rotates said rotatable link plate to move said pins along a circular path in opposite directions while remaining in said lateral slots, one probe head is raised while the other probe head is lowered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Printed circuit board inspection apparatus claimed in claim 3, wherein said pair of probe heads are fixed to said mount plate so as to converge and cross in their phantom extensions at a predetermined point in same plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Printed circuit board inspection apparatus claimed in claim 4, wherein said pair of probe heads have inspection probes of same kind.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Printed circuit board inspection apparatus claimed in claim 4, wherein said pair of probe heads have inspection probes of different kinds.
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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) | 1995-04-21 | 1995-10-21 | 1996-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-21 | 1999-10-21 | 2000-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-21 | 2003-10-21 | 2004-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |