Method and system for determining component illumination settings

A pick and place machine, comprising:

• a component feeder configured to store a plurality of components;
• a mounting head configured to
• pick up a component from the component feeder,
• move the component between the component feeder and a workpiece, and
• place the component on the workpiece;
• a camera having a field of view that is at least partially between the component feeder and the workpiece such that the mounting head is configured to hold the component within the field of view of the camera based on moving the component between the component feeder and the workpiece;
• and
• a processor configured to control the pick and place machine to
• control the mounting head to pick up a particular component that belongs to a specific package type from the component feeder and to move the particular component to the field of view of the camera,
• control the camera to capture a first image of the particular component while the mounting head holds the particular component within the field of view of the camera and the particular component is illuminated according to a first illumination condition,
• decide, based on an analysis of the first image, whether the particular component shall be discarded or placed on the workpiece, and
• control the mounting head to discard the particular component or place the particular component on the workpiece based on the decision.

A method for operating a pick and place machine to control placement or discarding of a component belonging to a specific package type in relation to a workpiece, the method comprising:

• controlling a mounting head of the pick and place machine to pick up the component from a component feeder;
• controlling the mounting head to move the component to a field of view of a camera of the pick and place machine;
• controlling the camera to capture a first image of the component while the mounting head holds the component within the field of view of the camera and the component is illuminated according to a first illumination condition;
• deciding, based on an analysis of the first image, whether the component shall be discarded or placed on the workpiece;
• and
• controlling the mounting head to discard the component or place the component on the workpiece based on the decision.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program of instructions that are computer-executable to cause a computer to:

• control a mounting head of a pick and place machine to pick up a component from a component feeder of the pick and place machine;
• control the mounting head to move the component to a field of view of a camera of the pick and place machine;
• control the camera to capture a first image of the component while the mounting head holds the component within the field of view of the camera and the component is illuminated according to a first illumination condition;
• decide, based on an analysis of the first image, whether the component shall be discarded or placed on a workpiece;
• and
• control the mounting head to discard the component or place the component on the workpiece based on the decision.