Abstract: A bump formation method and a bump forming apparatus for a semiconductor wafer are provided in which productivity when bumps are formed onto the semiconductor wafer is improved as compared with the conventional art. There are provided a bump forming head, a recognition device, and a control device. ICs formed on the semiconductor wafer are divided into basic blocks. Bump formation is performed continuously for the ICs included in one basic block. Positional recognition for the other basic blocks is performed only when the bump formation operation is shifted from one basic block to another basic block. Thus, in comparison with the conventional art whereby a positional recognition operation is performed every time bumps are formed on each IC, the number of times of performing positional recognition is greatly reduced, so that productivity can be improved.

Abstract: A conductive ball mounting apparatus includes a stage including a placement surface, stage moving means that moves the stage between a supply position and a mounting position, mounting means that comprises an array mask and mounts the conductive ball to the object to be mounted via the array mask, elevating means that changes a distance between the array mask of the mounting means and the placement surface of the stage, and thickness measuring means provided at the supply position so as to measure a thickness of the object to be mounted placed on the placement surface. The thickness of the object to be mounted is measured at the supply position, and the conductive ball is mounted by controlling the elevating means to set a distance between an upper surface of the array mask and an upper surface of the object to be mounted at the mounting position to a predetermined value in accordance with the measured thickness.

Abstract: The present application discloses a fixture-free, hands-free soldering apparatus having a base support assembly and a solder assembly. The base support assembly has a base member supporting a power supply and an electronic temperature, time and speed control system, and an actuator for remotely actuating the solder assembly without the use of the operator's hands or fixtures. The solder assembly is supported on the base member by vertically movable support arms. A main body supports a spool of solder, a solder feed mechanism operated by the actuator and a solder mechanism having adjustable operating temperature, speed and position. The main body and adjustable solder mechanism of the solder assembly adjust the angle and position of the solder being fed by the solder feed mechanism and an adjustable solder head supporting a concave solder tip. In addition to vertical movement, the main body is rotatable by about 60 degrees with respect to a central horizontal plane along the main body.

Abstract: A solder repairing apparatus includes a stage designed to place the surface of at least a specific part of an object along a reference plane within a specific spot defined on the stage. A heating unit applies a thermal energy to the specific spot. A dividing plate is designed to move into the specific spot in a vertical attitude perpendicular to the reference plane. The dividing plate exhibits a low solder wettability. The solder melts in response to the application of the thermal energy. When the dividing plate in the vertical attitude enters the specific spot, the dividing plate gets into the solder. Since the dividing plate exhibits a low solder wettability, the dividing plate repels the solder. The solder is divided into two parts. The division of the solder reliably eliminates a short circuit in the electronic circuit.

Abstract: An auxiliary control apparatus mechanically couples forces exerted on a manually operable auxiliary hand control knob to an input member of a micro-manipulator of the type used to move a point of an object such as an ultrasonic bonding tool tip relative to a workpiece in scaled ratios of motions at an end of the micro-manipulator input member. The apparatus includes a 4-bar parallelogram linkage which is mounted to a structural support member of a micro-manipulator, and which includes a rear laterally disposed lateral linkage bar pivotably connected to inner and outer parallel longitudinally disposed linkage bars which are pivotably coupled at front ends thereof to a front laterally disposed linkage bar.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a product involving solder joining wherein components placed on a board on which the components are to be mounted are solder-joined to the board by subjecting the board to reflow heating under prescribed heating conditions, the method comprising: calculating, at each designated site on the board, a component volume that is occupied by the components mounted within a given area; determining the heating conditions in accordance with the calculated component volume; and performing the reflow heating based on the determined heating conditions.

Abstract: Structures, methods, and systems for assessing bonding of electrodes in FCB packaging are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises mounting a semiconductor chip with a plurality of first electrodes of a first shape to a mounted portion with a second electrode of a second shape, wherein the second shape is different from the first shape, bonding a respective on of the plurality of first electrodes and the second electrode using a first solder bump, generating an X-ray image of the first solder bump, and determining an acceptability of the bonding of the respective one of the plurality of first electrodes and the second electrode based on the X-ray image of the first solder bump.

Abstract: A select solder machine configured to solder a circuit board using a solder material. The select solder machine includes a solder head movable with respect to the circuit board. The solder head is configured to position the solder material with respect to the circuit board to solder the circuit board. The select solder machine further includes a support member configured to support the circuit board in a position adjacent the solder head, and a heating member configured to heat the circuit board. The heating member is located above the circuit board.

Abstract: Wire bonder having a bonding head which has a bonding tool and a bonding wire guide and, especially, a bonding wire cutting device which comprises a cutter for separation of that section of a bonding wire which projects beyond a bonding contact, the wire bonder having a camera with a downstream image processing device for recording and processing an image of its working region at a workpiece.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is wire bonded in a manner such that there is consistent RF performance from integrated circuit package to integrated circuit package. Bond distances within the integrated circuit are measured, each corresponding to a wire bond to be formed. An area under a hypothetical wire bond profile is calculated as a function of the bond distances, a baseline wire length, and a baseline loop height. A wire is bonded across a given one of the bond distances to form a given one of the wire bonds. A wire bond profile for the given wire bond is provided having an area thereunder that is substantially equal to the calculated area.

Abstract: A flip chip mounting method which is applicable to the flip chip mounting of a next-generation LSI and high in productivity and reliability as well as a bump forming method are provided. After a resin 14 containing a solder powder 16 and a gas bubble generating agent is supplied to a space between a circuit board 21 having a plurality of connecting terminals 11 and a semiconductor chip 20 having a plurality of electrode terminals 12, the resin 14 is heated to generate gas bubbles 30 from the gas bubble generating agent contained in the resin 14. The resin 14 is pushed toward the outside of the generated gas bubbles 30 by the growth thereof and self-assembled between the connecting terminals 11 and the electrode terminals 12. By further heating the resin 14 and melting the solder powder 16 contained in the resin 14 self-assembled between the terminals, connectors 22 are formed between the terminals to complete a flip chip mounting body.

Abstract: To hard-solder parts to be joined along a common joint, the parts are heated by a heat source e.g. a laser beam (3). Melted solder (7) that is stored in a container (6) is then introduced into the joint. Joints can be filled with solder in this manner at higher speed and the solidified solder surface is practically devoid of pores, thus permitting the priming or painting of said parts without the need for subsequent treatment.

Abstract: To provide an electronic component mounting system, an electronic component placing device, and an electronic component mounting method, which can prevent waste due to the place of an electronic component onto a unit substrate having a print failure. In the electronic component mounting method for mounting an electronic component on a multi-substrate in which a plurality of unit substrates are formed on the same substrate, the quality of a print state of a solder printed on electrodes formed on the plurality of unit substrates is determined by the test of the print state of the solder and a determination result is output to an electronic component placing device as solder test data in every unit substrate. In a component placing steps, a component placing mechanism is controlled based on the solder test data such that a component placing operation is performed only on the unit substrate in which the print state of the solder is determined to be good.

Abstract: A bump forming apparatus which carries out a temperature control of a type different from the conventional art in forming bumps to a semiconductor wafer, and a bump formation method executed by the bump forming apparatus are provided. A bonding stage, a load and transfer device and a control device are provided. A wafer, after having bumps formed thereon, is held by the load and transfer device and arranged above the bonding stage through control by the control device, so that a temperature drop of the wafer is controlled. Accordingly, generation of troubles such as a crack because of thermal stress and the like can be prevented to even compound semiconductor wafers sensitive to a temperature change.

Abstract: A de-soldering tool includes an upper heating device having an upper heating element for applying heat to an upper mating structure, the upper mating structure arranged in a pattern matching contacts in an electrical connecter soldered to a printed wiring board; a lower heating device having a lower heating element for applying heat to a lower mating structure, the lower mating structure arranged in a pattern matching the solder connections on the underside of the PWB; a controller applying power to the upper heating element and the lower heating element to liquefy solder on the contacts in the electrical connecter.

Abstract: A welding condition monitoring device for monitoring the welding state of a welding work portion by taking an image thereof by an image sensor having a wide dynamic range and capable of taking an image covering a very bright welding portion and relatively dark portion. The monitoring device selectively emphasizes the outputs of the image sensor for any of luminance areas of the image taken by the image sensor using a sensor output characteristic table and can provide an image clearly showing both the very bright welding portion and the dark bead portion with a sufficient contrast allowing an observer to reliably recognize the objects in the image.

Abstract: A preheat device (160) is provided to execute, before forming bumps (16) to electrode parts (15), a pre-formation temperature control for bonding promotion to promote bonding between the electrode parts and the bumps during bump formation. Metal particles of the electrode parts can be changed to an appropriate state before the bump formation. Phenomenally, a bonding state between the electrode parts and the bumps can be improved as compared with the conventional art. In a further arrangement of the present invention, semiconductor components with bumps can be heated under a bonding strength improvement condition by a bonding stage (316) through controlling the heating by a controller (317).

Abstract: A wire bonder including two link driving mechanisms and a head supporting stage provided with a bonding head via fluid pressure so that the bonding head is movable in the horizontal plane. Each link driving mechanism is formed by a motor, a driving arm, and a movable arm. The movable arm that extends from the driving arm of the first link driving mechanism is fastened to the bonding head, and the movable arm that extends from the driving arm of the second link driving mechanism is rotatably connected at its one end to the bonding head. A thrust aiming at the center of gravity of the bonding head is applied to the bonding head by the movable arms, thus moving the bonding head around.

Abstract: A welding apparatus includes a workpiece housing having a window therethrough and having a welding access therethrough for a welder to an interior of the workpiece housing. The workpiece housing is metallic with a heat insulation on an internal surface thereof. A lamp heat source is directed through the window and at the workpiece in the interior of the workpiece housing. A gas source delivers a controllable flow of a shielding gas to the interior of the workpiece housing. A temperature sensor senses a temperature of the workpiece within the interior of the workpiece housing. A feedback controller controls the power to the lamp heat source responsive to the temperature of the workpiece. To perform welding, the workpiece is placed into the interior of the workpiece housing so as to have its temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and the gas source is operated to envelope the workpiece in the shielding gas.

Abstract: The machine is adapted to supply, manipulate and position steel strip, fed from a coil, so as to bring it into gapped relationship beneath the side wall of a partly constructed, elevated tank. This is done so that the strip can be welded to the side wall to add a course. It is the objective to ensure that the tank wall is plumb (vertical) and in radius (both as to curvature and relative to the center of the tank) and that the width of the gap is optimized, at the weld point. The machine comprises a ‘floating’ main frame or platform suspended on a mobile undercarriage by four pivotally mounted cylinders. The cylinders are independently responsive to instruments monitoring the elevation, levelness and plumbness of the tank wall and the width of the gap. The main frame carries the coil and carries the strip and the tank wall in the vicinity of the weld point.

Abstract: In an electronic component mounting method in which electronic components are sucked/held by plural respective nozzles provided on a mounting head so as to be mounted on electronic component mounting portions of a board, such a mounting operation is sequentially carried out as to all of the electronic components, in which the electronic components are sucked/held by the plural nozzles; an electronic component sucked/held by one of the plural nozzles is provisionally positioned above one electronic component mounting portion; both this electronic component and the electronic component mounting portion are observed by an observation head which is located between the board and the mounting head; a relative position detecting operation for detecting a relative positional relationship between this electronic component and the electronic component mounting portion is carried out as to all of the electronic components held by the mounting head; and the electronic component is positioned with respect to the electroni

Abstract: The present invention provides a bump forming apparatus which can prevent charge appearance semiconductor substrates from pyroelectric breakdown and physical failures, a method carried out by the bump forming apparatus for removing charge of charge appearance semiconductor substrates, a charge removing unit for charge appearance semiconductor substrates, and a charge appearance semiconductor substrate. At least when the wafer is cooled after the bump bonding is connected on the wafer, electric charge accumulated on the wafer because of the cooling is removed through direct contact with a post-forming bumps heating device, or the charge is removed by a decrease in temperature control so that charge can be removed in a noncontact state. Therefore, an amount of charge of the wafer can be reduced in comparison with the conventional art, so that the wafer is prevented from pyroelectric breakdown and damage such as a break or the like to the wafer itself.

Abstract: A method of mounting a component on an electrode on a board. Mounting coordinates for mounting the component are calculated. A determination is made of printing positions where solder for the component is situation on the electrode. The printing positions of the solder are stored. Mounting position data for where the component is to be mounted on the solder is prepared based on the previous steps. The component is mounted using the information gathered in the previous steps.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for aligning a substrate. The apparatus comprises a ball pick head for picking up a plurality of solder balls in a ball pick-up process and depositing them onto the substrate, and a vision system adapted to view and obtain positional information of the substrate. Furthermore, a carrier is provided to which the vision system is mountable, such that operation of the vision system is decoupled from movement of the ball pick head. Drivers responsive to said positional information viewed by the vision system are operative to align at least the substrate and the ball pick head for depositing solder balls onto the substrate.

Abstract: The device for positioning a tool (1) in relation to a workpiece (6) controls drives (2, 3, 4) in relation to three spatial axes (x, y, z) through two cameras (10, 11), the first (1) of which takes an image essentially along a spatial axis (y), the other (11) being oriented essentially vertically with respect to a surface (8) of the workpiece.

Abstract: A high-precision method for evaluating creep damage of high tension heat resistant steel used in high temperature exposed apparatuses involves comparing particle size behavior varying with creep damage progress of crystal grains having a crystal orientation difference of about 2 degrees or more, preferably 3 degrees or more at an evaluated part on the basis of a working curve or a working map prepared in advance by looking for the relation of grain sizes to creep damage extent. A high-precision apparatus evaluates the creep damage of high tension heat resistant steel used in high temperature exposed apparatuses.

Abstract: A preheat device (160) is provided to execute, before forming bumps (16) to electrode parts (15), a pre-formation temperature control for bonding promotion to promote bonding between the electrode parts and the bumps during bump formation. Metal particles of the electrode parts can be changed to an appropriate state before the bump formation. Phenomenally, a bonding state between the electrode parts and the bumps can be improved as compared with the conventional art. In a further arrangement of the present invention, semiconductor components with bumps can be heated under a bonding strength improvement condition by a bonding stage (316) through controlling the heating by a controller (317).

Abstract: A temperature-controlled rework system comprises a manifold assembly adapted to direct a cooling gas flow toward an area of a printed circuit board adjacent a rework zone to reduce a temperature of the adjacent area to below a temperature of the rework zone. The system also comprises a temperature control system adapted to monitor the temperature of the adjacent area.

Abstract: A method and system for directly measuring and controlling the amplitude of an ultrasonic horn comprising an ultrasonic horn, a non-contact measurement device for directly measuring an amplitude of the ultrasonic horn, and a controller for modulating the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn in communication with the non-contact measurement device. In accordance with the noncontact optical detection embodiments, the non-contact measurement device is an optical system in which one of a coherent or noncoherent light beam is transmitted from a light source onto a surface of the ultrasonic horn, generating reflected light at a photodetector. The photodetector produces an output signal proportional to at least one of the intensity or the location of the light spot. Detector output is then correlated to the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn and input to a controller for controlling the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn in real time.

Abstract: A filling system includes a pressurized source of fill material and a pressure fill head wherein the fill head also includes a beating element positioned so as to transfer heat to fill material passing through the fill head. A method of filling holes using a fill material passing through a pressure fill head includes the steps of causing fill material to enter the fill head\, modifying the viscosity of the fill material while it is within the fill head, and causing the modified viscosity fill material to exit the fill head and enter at least one hole.

Abstract: Die bonding equipment for fine pitch ball grid array package includes: a semiconductor chip pickup stage for inspecting a status of a loaded semiconductor chip and a corresponding position thereof; an alignment stage on which the semiconductor chip fixed on a mount head is aligned; a chip transfer unit for transferring the semiconductor chip from the semiconductor chip pickup stage to the alignment stage; a guide rail for guiding a mount tape frame; a status inspecting unit disposed at a selected position over the guide rail, for inspecting a status and a position of the land pattern on the mount tape frame; and a bonding unit for bonding the land pattern to the semiconductor chip which is mounted on the mount head. The equipment only bonds semiconductor chips (good or defective) to lands patterns having the same status (good or defective).

Abstract: A system and method for reworking, repairing and upgrading flatwire is disclosed. A repair tool for reworking and/or repairing the flatwire is disclosed for creating subsequent electrical and mechanical joints of equal or greater quality as compared to the original system. The repair tool includes a heating blade, a power controller, a tool assembly, an inerting system, a cooling system, a flatwire cassette, a tool material, a flatwire material, an upgrade/repair procedure and various other aspects for rapidly heating flatwire two join two separate portions of the flatwire. The system and method of the present invention addresses the challenges of working with substrate materials which typically degrade at temperatures commonly used to form solder joints. Further, the soldering tool of the present invention may be a portable, lightweight unit that can be used in the field, for automotive and aerospace applications.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining optimal process settings for a conveyor oven, such as a reflow oven used to reflow solder paste on a PCB assembly. According to a disclosed embodiment, an ideal temperature profile is obtained from the solder paste specifications of the solder paste to be reflowed in the oven. The ideal temperature profile of the paste includes a preheat phase, a soak phase, a reflow phase and a cooling phase. One or more profiles that fit the oven are obtained by aligning the beginning of each phase of the ideal profile with a forward end of an oven zone. The profile that best fits the oven is selected as a target profile for the reflow soldering process. The set points of the oven zones for effecting the target profile when the solder paste is conveyed through the oven are determined.

Abstract: A laser diode bar, solder preform and heat sink are assembled prior to reflowing the solder in a manner to prevent molten solder from being drawn by capillary action over the light emitting end of the diode bar. A recessed pin 30 locates the ends of the laser bar and solder preform with respect to an edge of the heat sink so that the laser bar and solder preform overhang the heat sink edge by respective amounts. When molten, the solder will not be drawn by capillary action to obscure the light emitting end of the laser diode bar.

Abstract: The device for positioning a tool (1) in relation to a workpiece (6) controls drives (2, 3, 4) in relation to three spatial axes (x, y, z) through two cameras (10, 11), the first (1) of which takes an image essentially along a spatial axis (y), the other (11) being oriented essentially vertically with respect to a surface (8) of the workpiece.

Abstract: A component mounting system which includes a printer for printing solder on electrodes formed on a board; a first inspection unit for detecting positions of printed solder and outputting solder position detection results; a component mounting unit for picking up components from a component feeder carriage and placing the components on the board using mounting heads; a second inspection unit for inspecting positions of the components placed and outputting component position detection results; a soldering unit for soldering the components onto the board by heating and melting solder; and a main controller for updating at least a control parameter for controlling the printer operation or a control parameter for the component mounting unit operation based on at least the solder position detection results or component position detection results. The above configuration enables the accurate and efficient quality control throughout the mounting process.

Abstract: A titanium alloy strip which has a reduced cross section in the central region of the strip. By concentrating heat in this central region the process of bonding laser devices to a substrate is greatly improved. Furthermore, the titanium alloy strip allows for the possibility of removing the laser device from the substrate without destroying the laser device.

Abstract: A welding apparatus includes a workpiece housing having a window therethrough and having a welding access therethrough for a welder to an interior of the workpiece housing. The workpiece housing is metallic with a heat insulation on an internal surface thereof. A lamp heat source is directed through the window and at the workpiece in the interior of the workpiece housing. A gas source delivers a controllable flow of a shielding gas to the interior of the workpiece housing. A temperature sensor senses a temperature of the workpiece within the interior of the workpiece housing. A feedback controller controls the power to the lamp heat source responsive to the temperature of the workpiece. To perform welding, the workpiece is placed into the interior of the workpiece housing so as to have its temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and the gas source is operated to envelope the workpiece in the shielding gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for determining parameters of a welding system. According to the invention, a welding area (18, 21, 22) is subjected to the action of ultrasonic waves, preferably to the action of shear waves, by using an ultrasound source (14). During a first welding process (n1), a signal processing (30)) determines a first ultrasonic permeability (Dn1) from a received ultrasonic signal (UE). During at least one subsequent welding process (n2), a second ultrasonic permeability (Dn2) is determined from an ultrasonic signal (UE) that is received during a renewed exposure of the welding area (18, 21, 22) to ultrasonic waves. A display (32) and/or a diagnostic function and/or a correction of control quantities of the welding system is/are carried out as a function of the at least two ultrasonic permeabilities (Dn1, Dn2).

Abstract: Soldering apparatus designed to apply soldering, by means of jetting out streams of molten solder, which is gathered in a solder bath, to a piece to be soldered carried in a predetermined direction. While jetting out molten solder from the solder bath, a drive means in the apparatus supplies drive for setting the relative position between the end of the jet-stream nozzle and the piece and a control means also available outputs control signals matching a predetermined condition to the drive means to carry out micro-adjustment of the jet-stream nozzle in short time with high accuracy. At the same time, remote operation can also be performed.

Abstract: A continuous controlled atmosphere brazing system includes a dry-off oven for driving off moisture from materials to be brazed, a pre-heat section for pre-heating the material and a brazing furnace for brazing the materials. Heated gas produced in the pre-heat section and the brazing furnace is conveyed along a flowpath to the chamber of the dry-off oven to provide substantially the sole source of heat for the oven. The flowpath for the heated gas is defined by a series of tubes in communication with each component of the brazing system and intermediate manifolds disposed between components. The discharge mouths of the tubes open into the oven chamber at the suction side of recirculation fans operating within the oven. The overall temperature of the oven can be regulated by controllably mixing ambient air with the heated gas in relation to the oven temperature.

Abstract: A reflow soldering apparatus and method are provided for reflow soldering electrical and electronic components to circuit boards. The reflow soldering apparatus and method use selective infrared (IR) heating alone or in combination with convection heating to achieve reflow soldering. Selective IR heating provided by the apparatus and method according to the invention helps to eliminate or helps to at least substantially reduce a risk overheating and thermal damage to non-targeted electrical and electronic components and areas of circuit boards during reflow.

Abstract: In heat bonding method and device, first and second marks (MA, MB) formed on the film carrier (52) are measured before performing heat bonding of outer leads (54) formed on a film carrier (52) to electrodes (58) formed on a transparent plate (56), where an expansion amount of the film carrier (52) is changed according to a condition of the heat bonding. A distance between the measured marks (MA, MB) is then obtained. The condition for the heat bonding is determined based on this distance. The heat bonding is performed under this condition determined.

Abstract: Articles to be brazed are preheated to an increased temperature in a preheating process and the temperature of the articles to be brazed is measured. Conversion data obtained and stored for different combinations of articles to be brazed is referred to on the basis of the measured temperature and a time for which brazing filler metal supply nozzles are kept in a wait state is set on the basis of the conversion data to define the timing for supplying the brazing filler metal wires (S40). A heating burner moves forward and then a timer starts counting the time for which the nozzles are kept in the wait state (S42). When the nozzle wait timer has counted the set time and expired, the brazing filler metal supply nozzles move forward and supply the wires to braze the articles (S43 to 45). In this way, the articles to be brazed, heated by the heating burner, are at an increased temperature suitable for brazing at the time when the brazing filler metal wires are supplied.

Abstract: A process and a device for producing a hollow profile with a cross section varying along its length is provided, in which a first metal strip, varying in width, is deformed by a plurality of driven or free-running roller shaping tools to an open profile, after which the profile passes through a welding station. In the welding station, a second metal strip is brought together with the open profile and is laid flush on the edges bounding the open side. The two components, one laid on the other, are then welded longitudinally to form the desired hollow profile.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus including a bonding tool that performs bonding on a bonding part, a position detection camera which has a lens barrel and images the bonding part, a light source which emits illuminating light downward through the lens barrel, and a light path conversion device that directs an image of an area near the lower end of the tool to the position detection camera. The light path conversion device includes a wavelength-selective filter that is provided so as to be within a light path of the image of the area near the lower end of the tool. The wavelength-selective filter allows illuminating light of the light path conversion device to pass therethrough but prevents the illuminating light from the lens barrel side from passing therethrough.

Abstract: A position-, speed- and force-controllable chip accessing apparatus comprises a fixing seat, a rotational direction moving device, a linear direction moving device, and a position sensing device, characterized in that a flexible positioning means is provided at a proper central site of said fixing seat and is screw fixed with said rotational direction moving device; one side of said rotational direction moving device is coupled with said linear direction moving device, while the other side of said rotational direction moving device is coupled with said position sensing device screw; and that by measuring with a speed sensor and a position sensing device on said linear direction moving device, the control of the force, speed and moving distance can be achieved.

Abstract: A system and method for aligning optical fibers that takes into account variations due to temperature changes and other nonrandom systemic effects. The system includes an alignment tool having a plurality of internal reflection surfaces and located below a vision plane of the first one of the pair of optical fibers, and an optical detector to receive an indirect image of a bottom surface of the first optical fiber through the alignment tool, such an offset between the first optical fiber and the optical detector is determined based on the indirect image received by the optical detector. The method comprises the steps of providing a cornercube offset tool having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces below a vision plane of the first optical fiber, and receiving an indirect image of the first optical fiber through the cornercube offset tool.

Abstract: A vision system and method for use with a bonding tool that takes into account variations due to temperature changes and other nonrandom systemic effects. The vision system includes a cornercube offset tool having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces, the cornercube offset tool located below the vision plane of the optical system; and an optical detector to receive an indirect image of the bonding tool through the cornercube offset tool. The method comprises the steps of providing a cornercube offset tool having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces below a vision plane of the bonding tool; and receiving an indirect image of the bonding tool through the cornercube offset tool.

Abstract: A machine for determining the location of junction tubes along a header and automatically brazing them to the header. A chassis is employed to hold the junction tubes and header in the proper orientation. A carriage then travels along a line which is parallel to the central axis of the header. The carriage includes a sensor which is able to determine the exact position of the junction tubes. This positional information is stored in a controller. The carriage also includes a reciprocating pair of burners for heating the joint to be brazed. A pair of brazing wire feeders are included for feeding the brazing alloy alloy to the joint. A pyrometer is also included for measuring the temperature of the joint during the brazing process. In operation, the carriage slides along with the sensor measuring the position of each joint to be brazed. The burners and brazing alloy feeders are located in such a position on the carriage that the sensor precedes them in coming to each joint location.