Patents Assigned to View Engineering, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5652658
    Abstract: A high speed, high accuracy, three-dimensional inspection system for ball and pin grid assemblies. The system uses a three-dimensional scanner to gather data which is analyzed to yield height position measurements along with overall packaged dimensions. The grid array to be scanned is placed upon a fixture above a motion control table. The motion control system is controlled by a personal computer and has a high resolution. The parts can be presented in single trays, tray stackers, tubes or other carriers. Array packages are handled either manually or automatically. In the manual mode, arrays are loaded onto the fixture by hand before activated the image processing hardware. Alternatively, an automatic pick and place module may be used to load the grid array packages on the fixture. The fixture consists of a plate with a cavity the size of the grid array package being inspected. The size of the cavity can be adjusted to fit different size parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lea Jackson, Robert Cottle Boman
  • Patent number: 5617209
    Abstract: A method and system for three-dimensional imaging of objects, including integrated circuit interconnections to improve the efficiency of triangulation-based laser line scanning systems. A scanning beam is incident at a normal angle to the X,Y inspection plane with the scan line oriented at 45.degree., diagonal to an axis defining a first direction of motion. Motion of the imaging head along the axis is used to acquire line scan images in the non-orthogonal coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Svetkoff, Donald K. Rohrer, David A. Noblett, Robert L. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5546189
    Abstract: A triangulation-based method and system for high speed 3D and gray scale imaging and associated pre-processing of digitized information allows for estimation or filtering of height and gray scale values based upon the confidence level of the information obtained from a pair of sensors and also based upon knowledge of the object structure and its reflectance characteristics. A modulated laser beam is scanned across the object to create a plurality of spots which are viewed by a pair of well-matched receivers. Each receiver includes a light collection and delivery system, a position sensitive detector, and an associated ratio-metric signal processor, or similar means for extraction of height and intensity information or data by triangulation. An optional automatic light control sub-system provides greatly extended dynamic range with control inputs derived from an amplifying detector included in each receiver to maximize occurrences of valid data points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Svetkoff, Donald K. Rohrer, Robert W. Kelley
  • Patent number: 4920273
    Abstract: This invention concerns an optical system for use with a television camera for detecting the surface location of an object. A preferred optical image having a distinct, unique, recognizable pattern is projected on a surface along a defined path that ultimately falls on an imaging sensor associated with a television camera. The optical configuration causes a maximum light pattern energy to fall on the image sensor when the focal point coincides exactly with the surface of the object being detected. The system is not an automatic focussing system, since best focus is normally considered to be that condition which produces an image of maximum detail and sharpness, and the present invention does not rely on detail or sharpness of image for its operation. The invention can be used as an automatic focussing device if desired, since best focus can be derived as a useful by-product of accurate surface detection. In operation the camera moves in the Z direction through the point of maximum light pattern energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Sacks, Ralph Weisner
  • Patent number: 4891529
    Abstract: A can top measuring system is disclosed, including a rotatable turntable (40) containing can top receiving apertures (44). The turntable (40) may also be translated in either the X or Y direction. A differential height sensor (50) surrounds the can top (70) in order that two laser ranger finders (51,52) may emit beams toward opposite sides of the can top (70), the reflected beams being sensed by two dimensional detector arrays (58, 60). Height measurements can also be accomplished by an autofocusing optical system (28) movable along the Z axis. A score line (76) depth in the can top (70) may be measured by observing the characteristic sinusoidal variation (94) of a beam (93) scanned transversely across the score line (76). A node (96) resides on the score line (76) centerline (95), which can thus be scanned as reprsentative of the deepest portion (91) of the score line (76).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Braun, Michael W. Ormsby, Gary L. De Zotell
  • Patent number: 4872052
    Abstract: A semiconductor device inspection system capable of objectively accomplishing visual image inspection of a semiconductor device and minimizing error in the inspection, to thereby effectively carry out the inspection with high accuracy and at high speed. The system includes a low magnification image pickup mechanism which consists of a plurality of low magnification image pickup units each carrying out low magnification image pickup of a semiconductor device to generate an image signal. The system also includes a signal processing system for processing the image signal to judge the correctness of the semiconductor device. In the image pickup units, their light receptors are each arranged in parallel to an inspected surface of the semiconductor device and their central axes intersect together on the inspected surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignees: View Engineering, Inc., Kaijo Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Valerie A. Liudzius, Ralph M. Weisner, Takashi Kamiharako, Iwami Uramoto
  • Patent number: 4743771
    Abstract: This invention concerns an optical system for use with a television camera for detecting the surface location of an object. A preferred optical image having a distinct, unique, recognizable pattern is projected on a surface along a defined path that ultimately falls on an imaging sensor associated with a television camera. The optical configuration causes a maximum light pattern energy to fall on the image sensor when the focal point coincides exactly with the surface of the object being detected. The system is not an automatic focussing system, since best focus is normally considered to be that condition which produces an image of maximum detail and sharpness, and the present invention does not rely on detail or sharpness of image for its operation. The invention can be used as an automatic focussing device if desired, since best focus can be derived as a useful by-product of accurate surface detection. In operation the camera moves in the Z direction through the point of maximum light pattern energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Sacks, Ralph Weisner
  • Patent number: 4736437
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing a reference scene and a scene under search in separate addressable memories. The reference scene is addressed along a scan line at a selected angle giving the impression that the reference memory has been rotated. The search area information is convolved with a stored reference information to obtain a count representing the number of matches for each search position at a plurality of selected angles. The convolved count is accumulated and the search stopped when the accumulated count exceeds a given threshold value. The X Y coordinates of the best search is determined by evaluating the highest accumulation count. The angle orientation of the search area is determined by addressing each scan line readout of the stored reference area at small angles, convolving the readout against the memory readout, accumulating the count for a selected number of scan angles and determining the angle position having the highest count as a measure of the alignment angle of the search area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Sacks, Valerie A. Liudzius, Gary DeZotell, Richard E. DeKlotz
  • Patent number: 4706168
    Abstract: An illumination system, particularly suitable for use with automatic vision systems employing an image sensing device or system, illuminates an object under analysis with the cone of light that may cover 360.degree. or only an arc segment about a part of the object under analysis. Light from a ring source is directed toward a curved parabolic surface on a light collector ring that substantially collimates the light and fans it out radially out toward a toroidal reflector surface on an encompassing ring, the relative position of which determines the angle of incidence of a cone of light formed to fall in the region of the object, so as to illuminate particular features with optimal efficiency. To change the angle of incidence while maintaining focus, a differential drive mechanism moves the parabolic collector ring and the toroidal angle generator ring in differential fashion concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph M. Weisner
  • Patent number: 4658633
    Abstract: A system for rapidly measuring, during production, various properties of cylindrical products, such as aluminum cans, uses both optical and non-contact air gauge measurements. The system is configured with three dimensional control to receive cans for optical and air gauge analysis on a movable platform having spaced apart receiving positions. A video camera inspects and identifies cans in one position, using X, Y and Z axis control. Wall thickness is measured using a reference mandrel and a movable air gauge having an end nozzle directed toward a linear reference surface on the mandrel. The air gauge uses hydrodynamic balance to maintain a specified gap relative to the opposing surface, with a high degree of accuracy. Before a measurement is taken, the air nozzle is traversed along the length of the mandrel, and its position sensed and converted to digital form, with the recorded points being entered into storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Edgar P. Freer
  • Patent number: 4385322
    Abstract: Video information obtained in real time is clocked and digitized according to light intensity. Changing light intensities are adaptively determined to vary the threshold level for determining black and white signals. The scene to be used as a reference is first recorded in a fine format and then in a coarse format. In the search mode the coarse stored information is compared in real time with coarse information from the field of view and convolved to generate a correlation number indicating the percentage of match. The location coordinates in the X and Y dimension for the best match is determined at the location of the highest correlation number. A fine search is then made around the coarse location previously determined by convolving in two dimensions previously stored information against information in real time from the scene under investigation to again determine the highest correlation as a measure of the location where the best possible match can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Hubach, Gary L. DeZotell, Jack Sacks
  • Patent number: 4300164
    Abstract: In a pattern recognition system the video output signal is a signal representative of either black or white. The shading effect of the video camera is minimized by using a high pass filter to accentuate the high frequency components of the signal by partially differentiating the substantially square wave input video signal and feeding forward a sample of the undifferentiated signal thereby retaining some low frequency components of the video signal and thereby minimizing the shading effect of the video camera without increasing detected noise components. Positive and negative-going zero crossings with respect to ground are detected through a capacitive coupled comparator circuit. In the absence of zero crossings the discharge circuit and charge circuit of the capacitor is interrupted thereby maintaining the value of the voltage on the capacitor with respect to ground. Changing the charge and discharge rate of the capacitor reduces the probability that noise on the signal will cause a false zero crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Sacks
  • Patent number: 4200861
    Abstract: Video informatin obtained in real time is clocked and digitized according to light intensity. Changing light intensities are adaptively determined to vary the threshold level for determining black and white signals. The scene to be used as a reference is first recorded in a fine format and then in a coarse format. In the search mode the coarse stored information is compared in real time with coarse information from the field of view and convolved to generate a correlation number indicating the percentage of match. The location coordinates in the X and Y dimension for the best match is determined at the location of the highest correlation number. A fine search is then made around the coarse location previously determined by convolving in two dimensions previously stored information against information in real time from the scene under investigation to again determine the highest correlation as a measure of the location where the best possible match can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1980
    Assignee: View Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Hubach, Gary L. DeZotell, Jack Sacks