Non-contact sensing and controlling of spacing between a depositing tip and each selected depositing location on a substrate
AssigneeUniversal Instruments Corporation
InventorsJohn I. Burgin, Jr., Michael J. Kane, Michael M. Levie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention involves non-contact sensing of a selected location on a substrate at which material is to be deposited, and positioning of a material depositing tip a preferred distance from this location on the substrate according to such sensing and in preparation for the depositing. Preferably, the tip is advanced to a preferred spacing between it and the substrate, without overshooting the spacing and without contacting the substrate, in preparation for depositing.
Claims29
In a method of spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- advancing said tip toward said surface;
- detecting, electrically separate from said surface and during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a location on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing;
- and
- halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance from said surface location.
In a method of spacing a tip of an adhesive dispensing nozzle a preferred distance from a selected location on a substrate surface so as to deposit a dose of said adhesive at said selected location, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- detecting a reference spacing between said tip and selected location, during relative advancing of said tip toward said location, without touching said surface with a means for detecting said spacing;
- monitoring and controlling said advancing past said reference spacing;
- and
- halting said advancing at a specified distance past said reference spacing such that said tip is positioned at said preferred distance from said location.
In a method of operating a pick and place head for picking components from and placing components at selected surface locations, the improvement comprising, for each said selected location, the steps of:
- advancing a component holding portion of said head toward said location and detecting a reference spacing between a reference surface on said advancing portion and said selected location during said advancing;
- monitoring and controlling said advancing past said reference spacing;
- and
- halting said reference surface a preferred distance from said location sufficient for said picking and placing.
In an apparatus for spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising:
- means for advancing said tip toward said surface;
- means for detecting, during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a location on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing said detecting means being electrically separate from said surface at said location;
- and
- means for halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance form said surface location.
In an apparatus for spacing a tip of an adhesive dispensing nozzle a preferred distance from a selected location on a substrate surface for depositing a dose of said adhesive at said selected location, the improvement comprising:
- means for detecting a reference spacing between said tip and selected location, during relative advancing of said tip toward said location, without touching said surface with a means for detecting said spacing;
- means for monitoring and controlling said advancing past said reference spacing;
- and
- means for halting said advancing at a specified distance past said reference spacing such that said tip is positioned at said preferred distance from said location.
In an apparatus having a pick and place head for picking components from and placing components at selected surface locations, the improvement comprising, for each said selected location:
- means for advancing a component holding portion of said head toward said location and detecting a reference spacing between a reference surface on said advancing portion and said selected location during said advancing;
- means for monitoring and controlling said advancing past said reference spacing;
- and
- means for halting said reference surface a preferred distance from said location sufficient for said picking and placing.
In a method of spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- advancing said tip toward said surface;
- detecting, during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a location on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing;
- monitoring the advancing of said tip past said reference spacing;
- and
- halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance from said surface location.
In a method of spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- advancing said tip toward said surface;
- detecting, during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a location on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing;
- halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance from said surface location;
- and
- preselecting said reference spacing and specified and preferred distances.
In a method of spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- providing an optic system;
- advancing said tip toward said surface;
- detecting, during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a location on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing by reflecting light of said system from said surface location;
- and
- halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance from said surface location.
In an apparatus for spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising:
- means for advancing said tip toward said surface;
- means for detecting, during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a location on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing;
- means for monitoring the advancing of said tip past said reference spacing;
- and
- means for halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance from said surface location.
In an apparatus for spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising:
- means for advancing said tip toward said surface;
- means for detecting, during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a location on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing;
- means for halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance from said surface location;
- and
- means for preselecting said reference spacing, and specified and preferred distances.
In an apparatus for spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising:
- means for advancing said tip toward said surface;
- means for detecting, during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a location on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing, said detecting means comprising an optic system and means for reflecting light of said system from said surface location;
- and
- means for halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance from said surface location.
In a method of spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- advancing said tip toward said surface;
- detecting, during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a point on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing;
- and
- halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance from said point.
In an apparatus for spacing a tool tip a preferred distance from a surface without touching said tip to said surface, the improvement comprising:
- means for advancing said tip toward said surface;
- means for detecting, during said advancing, a reference spacing between said tip and a point on said surface in line with an axis of said advancing;
- and
- means for halting advancing of said tip at a specified distance past said reference spacing, with said tip spaced said preferred distance from said point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.