Abstract: An apparatus for automatically assessing the quality of a printed circuit board assembly (6) using digitized video image analysis. The apparatus integrates with existing relatively low precision automated surface mount technology (“SMT”) manufacturing systems as an inspection station (56a) insertable at various steps in the assembly process or as a separate manually loaded station. The inspection station includes a high resolution video imaging system and a video image analyzer comprising an onboard master computer (26a) that generates control signals to reposition the camera mounted within a screen (45) on a movable carriage (22a) and/or reposition the circuit board, and adjust the lighting; and generates individual board status data to be archived, graphically displayed on monitors (40a, 41a) or otherwise utilized by a rework station.

Abstract: A crystal resonator assembly is described wherein a piezo-electric resonator is mounted over a heat conducting substrate and one or more heat generating elements are located on the substrate. The heating elements provide heat both by conduction and radiation and by virtue of the use of a heat conducting substrate enable a uniform and efficient heating of the crystal resonator to a desired oven temperature.

Abstract: A television receiver signal blocking system is provided which includes a television receiver, a television signal source and a television signal blocking mechanism therebetween. The television signal blocking mechanism includes a box from which electrical conductors are connected to the television receiver in a signal source, such as a television cable. Within the television signal blocking mechanism or box is a rotatable matching member which includes a latching arm and a switch carrying arm. The latching member is rotatable between three positions which permit the television signal blocking box to be opened to gain access to its interior while cutting off or blocking the signal; a second position in which the box is latched closed and the signal is not blocked; and a third position in which the box is closed and the signal is blocked.

Abstract: Three-dimensional measurement of a surface of an object under inspection is performed by projecting a light pattern upon the surface, having a periodic, smoothly varying light intensity in the X direction and having a non-changeable intensity in the Y direction in the manner of a grid, and thereafter electronically producing a pair of stereo images of the surface so illuminated by a pair of CCD arrays; measuring the parallax phase offsets between correlated corresponding homologous points in the stereo images, and converting the resulting parallax data to an array of Z-depth data, indicative of the shape of the surface of the object.