Self calibration formal inspection system and method of using it to inspect article

Abstract

A self-calibrating inspection system includes an inspection device adapted to visually inspect or measure an article placed on a carrier, and a motion actuator moving the inspection device along a predetermined motion trajectory relative to the carrier and the article placed thereon. A correction member of the system is fixedly positioned with respect to the carrier. A distance sensor is fixedly positioned relative to the inspection device and adapted to sense a first spacing between the distance sensor and the correction member during the movement of the inspection device by the motion actuator. A controller communicates with the motion actuator and the distance sensor for determining a deviation between an actual motion trajectory of the inspection device moved by the motion actuator and the predetermined motion trajectory based on the first spacing, and to control the motion actuator based on the deviation to move the inspection device along a path substantially consistent with the predetermined motion trajectory.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.