Cyberoptics Corporation

Thomas L Volkman

Steven K Case

John P Konicek

David Fishbaine

Jeffrey A Jalkio

Brian D Cohn

David W Duquette

Frederick M Cash, Ii

A sensor for sensing placement information of a component to be placed by a pick and place machine is disclosed. The sensor includes a plurality of light sources each of which is disposed to direct illumination at different angles of incidence upon the component. Each source is further adapted to generate light based upon an energization signal. Source control electronics are provided and coupled to the plurality of light sources to successively and/or provide energization signals to each source. A detector is disposed within the sensor relative to the plurality of sources to receive at least one shadow of the component, and provide data at a detector output indicative of the shadow imaged while the component is rotated.

Laser align sensor with sequencing light sources

The system of the present invention reports a signal related to a physical condition of an object, such as an electronic component, with the most basic realization of the system including a vacuum quill for releasably holding the object and a motion control system for rotating the quill. The invention includes control electronics coupled to the detector for providing a trigger signal where the detector is oriented to view a stripe in a viewing plane perpendicular to the central axis of the quill, and to provide an image of the stripe. The control electronics sends a plurality of trigger signals to the detector while the motion control system rotates the quill, with each trigger signal triggering the acquisition of another image of a stripe. A processing circuit processes the plurality of images of the stripes to provide the signal related to the physical condition of the object, which can include the orientation or location of the component, the presence or absence of balls on a ball grid array, the height of a specific lead on a leaded component, the distance between the leads on a leaded component or the coplanarity of features on the component. A method for picking and placing components is also disclosed for use with the apparatus of the present invention.

Rotary sensor system with a single detector

The present invention includes a system for providing a signal related to a physical condition of an object, such as an electronic component. Various types of electronic components may be used with the present invention, including leaded components, column, pin or grid array packages, and the like. The system includes a quill for releasably holding the object. The object has a major surface defining a plane, and a motion control system for rotating the quill about a central axis. Control electronics in the invention provide a plurality of trigger signals to each of two detectors, each detector adapted to view the same stripe in the plane upon receipt of a trigger signal and to output an image of the stripe. The detectors view a plurality of stripes while the motion control system rotates the quill, and the output from the detectors is received by processing circuitry for processing the plurality of images of the stripes to provide the signal related to the physical condition of the object. The signal may be computed to provide the orientation of the object, the location of a feature on the object, the distance between leads on a leaded component or the coplanarity of raised features on the object. A method of picking and placing components is also disclosed for use with the apparatus of the present invention.

Rotary sensor system with at least two detectors

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Thomas L Volkman