US6598994B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-angle inspection of manufactured products
Assignee: Intelligent Reasoning Systems Inc
•
Filing: 2000-07-19
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Granted: 2003-07-29
•
Expires: 2020-07-19
Abstract
Abstract An illumination system for inspection of devices is disclosed. The system includes a frame for positioning over an image area. A plurality of light source groups are coupled with the frame and are each configured to produce one or more wavelengths of light. Each light source group is configured to produce a wavelength of light which is not produced by another light source group.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Tait
- 👤 Alvaro D. Lewin
- 👤 Mark R. DeYong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/8806; G01N21/95; G01N21/956; G01N21/95684; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
An illumination system for inspection of devices, comprising: a partially cylindrical dome frame for positioning over an image area; and a plurality of light source groups coupled with the frame, each light source group configured to produce a wavelength of light which is not produced by another light source group, wherein each light source group has a distinct range of incident angles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
An illumination system for inspection of devices, comprising: a partially cylindrical dome frame for positioning over an image area; and a plurality of light source groups coupled with the frame, each light source group configured to produce a wavelength of light which is not produced by another light source group, wherein each light source group has a distinct range of incident angles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the light source groups include light sources arranged in a cluster.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein each light source group includes a plurality of light sources and each light source group includes all the light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area within one or more distinct ranges of incident angles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident upon the image area at less than 45 degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area between 25 and 75 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area at greater than 55 degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the light source groups include light emitting diodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein each light source group includes light sources which are each able to produce a single wavelength of light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein each light source group includes light sources which are each able to produce more than one wavelength of light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 9 , further comprising electronics for controlling the wavelength of light produced by a light source group.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 9 , further comprising electronics for selecting the light sources which are to be included in a light source group.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising an imaging device configured to generate a plurality of images, each image being generated from a different wavelength of light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the imaging device is a line scan camera.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of gray scale cameras and one or more filters positioned between each camera and the image area.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for inspecting a device, comprising: positioning a partially cylindrical dome frame over an image area, the frame including a plurality of light source groups, each light source group is configured to produce a wavelength of light which is not produced by another light source group, wherein each light source group has a distinct range of incident angles; and generating a plurality of images, each image generated from the light produced by a different light source group.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for inspecting a device, comprising: positioning a partially cylindrical dome frame over an image area, the frame including a plurality of light source groups, each light source group is configured to produce a wavelength of light which is not produced by another light source group, wherein each light source group has a distinct range of incident angles; and generating a plurality of images, each image generated from the light produced by a different light source group.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the light source groups include light sources arranged in a cluster.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein each light source group includes a plurality of light sources and each light source group includes all the light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area within one or more distinct ranges of incident angles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident upon the image area at less than 45 degrees.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area between 25 and 75 degrees.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area at greater than 55 degrees.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the light source groups include light emitting diodes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein each light source group includes light sources which are each able to produce a single wavelength of light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein each light source group includes light sources which are each able to produce more than one wavelength of light.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein each light source group is connected to electronics for controlling the wavelength of light produced by a light source group.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein each light source group includes electronics for selecting the light sources which are to be included in a light source group.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein generating an image includes providing an imaging device configured to generate the plurality of images.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the imaging device is a line scan camera.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein generating an image includes providing a plurality of gray scale cameras and one or more filters positioned between each camera and the image area.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of illuminating a device to be inspected, comprising: positioning a partially cylindrical dome frame over an image area; and illuminating the image area from a plurality of light source groups attached to the frame, each light source group being configured to produce a wavelength of light which is not produced by another light source group, and wherein each light source group has a distinct range of incident angles.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of illuminating a device to be inspected, comprising: positioning a partially cylindrical dome frame over an image area; and illuminating the image area from a plurality of light source groups attached to the frame, each light source group being configured to produce a wavelength of light which is not produced by another light source group, and wherein each light source group has a distinct range of incident angles.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the light source groups include light sources arranged in a cluster.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein each light source group includes a plurality of light sources and each light source group includes all the light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area within one or more distinct ranges of incident angles.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident upon the image area at less than 45 degrees.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area between 25 and 75 degrees.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area at greater than 55 degrees.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the light source groups include light emitting diodes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein each light source group includes light sources which are each able to produce a single wavelength of light.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein each light source group includes light sources which are each able to produce more than one wavelength of light.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein each light source group is connected to electronics for controlling the wavelength of light produced by a light source group.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein each light source group includes electronics for selecting the light sources which are to be included in a light source group.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
66 words
An illumination system for the inspection of devices comprising: a partially cylindrical dome frame for positioning over an image area; a first light source group comprising light sources operable to produce a first wavelength of light; and a second light source group comprising light sources operable to produce a second wavelength of light; and wherein each light source group has a distinct range of illumination angles.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
66 words
An illumination system for the inspection of devices comprising: a partially cylindrical dome frame for positioning over an image area; a first light source group comprising light sources operable to produce a first wavelength of light; and a second light source group comprising light sources operable to produce a second wavelength of light; and wherein each light source group has a distinct range of illumination angles.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 40 , further comprising a third light source group comprising light sources operable to produce a third wavelength of light, wherein each light source group has a distinct range of illumination angles.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 41 , wherein: the first light source group includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident upon the image area at less than 35 degrees; the second light source includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area from about 35 degrees to about 65 degrees; and the third light source group includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident upon the image area at greater than 65 degrees.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
87 words
An illumination system for inspection of devices, comprising: a partially cylindrical dome frame, having a geometry defined by a radius beginning at an image axis on an image plane so as to form a partial cylinder about the image axis, for positioning over an image area; and a plurality of light source groups coupled with the frame and configured to produce one or more wavelengths of light, each light source group configured to produce a wavelength of light which is not produced by another light source group.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
87 words
An illumination system for inspection of devices, comprising: a partially cylindrical dome frame, having a geometry defined by a radius beginning at an image axis on an image plane so as to form a partial cylinder about the image axis, for positioning over an image area; and a plurality of light source groups coupled with the frame and configured to produce one or more wavelengths of light, each light source group configured to produce a wavelength of light which is not produced by another light source group.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 43 , wherein the light source groups include light sources arranged in a cluster.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 43 , wherein each light source group includes a plurality of light sources and each light source group includes all the light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area within one or more ranges of incident angles.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 43 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident upon the image area at less than 45 degrees.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 43 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area between 25 and 75 degrees.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 43 , wherein one of the light source groups includes light sources producing a central ray which is incident on the image area at greater than 55 degrees.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 43 , wherein the light source groups include light emitting diodes.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 43 , wherein each light source group includes light sources which are each able to produce a single wavelength of light.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 43 , wherein each light source group includes light sources which are each able to produce more than one wavelength of light.
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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) | 2006-07-28 | 2007-01-27 | 2007-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-28 | 2011-01-27 | 2011-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-28 | 2015-01-27 | 2015-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |