Three dimensional scanning system
AssigneesButch Beaty, Elaine Beaty
InventorsSteven G. Palm, Elwin M. Beaty
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A part scanning and part calibration method for the inspection of printed circuit boards and integrated circuits includes a camera and two rotating mirrors to scan an image of a pattern mask retical upon which a precise pattern has been deposited. Small parts are placed upon the retical to be inspected. The third overhead mirror is provided to view the part under inspection from another perspective. The scene of the part is triangulated and the dimensions of the system can thus be calibrated. A precise retical mask is provided with dot patterns which provide an additional set of information needed for calibration. By scanning more than one dot pattern the missing state values can be resolved using an iterative trigonomic solution.
Claims9
A scanning method for scanning an object located in space in up to three dimensions in a scanning system including an image registering means, a first reflecting means, a second reflecting means, and means for calibration including a retical means for registering a pattern having a plurality of positioning indicia thereon wherein each of the plurality of indicia is precisely located with respect to the other indicia on a common plane defined by the pattern of indicia on the calibration means, the scanning method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a focusing signal, a first servoing signal and a second servoing signal;
- b. automatically focusing onto the object in response to the focusing signal;
- c. operating the first means for reflecting to reflect the object image onto the image registering means wherein the first reflecting means has a first mirror axis and an angular displacement with respect to the first mirror axis and locates the object with respect to a first coordinate axis;
- d. operating the second means for reflecting to reflect the object image onto the registering means wherein the second reflecting means has a second mirror axis and an angular displacement with respect to the second mirror axis and locates the object with respect to a second coordinate axis;
- e. moving the first reflecting means in response to the first servoing signal;
- f. moving the second reflecting means in response to the second servoing signal;
- and
- g. calibrating the scanning system by focusing on the indicia of the calibration means in a predetermined sequence so as to define a relative position of the common plane with respect to first and second coordinate axes, and wherein a portion of the plurality of indicia form a central calibration pattern of a predetermined size thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.