Abstract: An apparatus and method for compound angle illumination of items such as electronic components and features on those components that are within a field of view of a camera. Illumination assemblies are provided on opposite sides of the components, where illumination criss-crosses the component and its features. The illumination assemblies are also tilted at a vertical angle relative to the component. Light emitting diodes are used as a light source and, in one embodiment, refracting prisms are provided to refract the light from the LED's to provide the criss-cross illumination.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for capturing component location information through the use of fiber optic conduits. In various embodiments, an image of a component attached to a translatable and rotatable spindle is captured and transmitted along a fiber optic conduit to a camera coupled to an image processing computer. The image processing computer determines component location on the spindle based on the transmitted image and, where necessary, generates component location correction information so that the spindle and attached component can be moved to a determined location. A plurality of fiber optic conduits may be bundled together to provide a single combined image of multiple components attached to multiple spindles which can be captured by a single camera, wherein the image processing computer segregates the images and determines multiple component location correction information.