Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080199068 | Inspection System - An inspection system for inspecting web printed electronic circuitry includes a strobed illuminator, a detector, a motion encoder, and a processor. The strobed illuminator is adapted to project light through a reticle to project a pattern of light onto an area of the web. The projected light occurs in a pulse sufficiently short to essentially freeze the web motion. The system projects the pattern of light onto the area of the web in at least two different positions of the web each position corresponding to a different phase of the projected light. A detector is adapted to acquire at least two images of the area, each image corresponding to one of the at least two different phases. The motion encoder provides a position output relative to a position of the web. The processor is coupled to the encoder, the illuminator and the detector. The processor is adapted to synchronize the illuminator with the web motion to expose the area of the web. The processor co-sites the at least two images and can construct a height map image with the co-sited images. | 08-21-2008 |
20080231864 | Method for Measuring Center of Rotation of a Nozzle of a Pick and Place Machine Using a Collimated Laser Beam - A method of measuring and storing a center of rotation of a nozzle in a pick and place machine is provided. The method includes coupling an artifact to the nozzle. A substantially collimated laser beam is directed at the artifact, which is rotated while the collimated laser beam is energized. Edges of a shadow cast by the rotating artifact are detected and used to calculate error of a coordinate of the center of rotation of the nozzle. A coordinate of the center of rotation of the nozzle is calculated based upon a previous coordinate of the center of rotation and the error. The calculated coordinate of the center of rotation is stored for subsequent measurements. | 09-25-2008 |
20090046921 | PICK AND PLACE MACHINE WITH IMPROVED COMPONENT PICK UP INSPECTION - Embodiments of the present invention improve upon component level inspection performed by pick and place machines. Such improvements include inspecting the pick operation in pick and place machines by collecting images of the pick event inside the machine and identifying errors as they happen. By detecting and displaying this information as it generated on the machine, the operator or machine can take prompt and effective corrective actions. | 02-19-2009 |
20090133249 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING A COMPONENT PICK ACTION IN AN ELECTRONICS ASSEMBLY MACHINE - An electronics assembly apparatus with improved pick evaluation is provided. The apparatus includes a placement head having at least one nozzle for releasably picking up and holding a component. A robotic system is provided for generating relative movement between the placement head and a workpiece, such as a circuit board. An image acquisition system is disposed to obtain at least one before-pick image of a component pick up location and at least one after-pick image of the component pick up location. The before-pick image contains a plurality of image portions, having each image portion view the pick-up location from a different point of view, while the after-pick image contains a plurality of image portions, having each image portion view the pick-up location from a different point of view. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135251 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING A COMPONENT PICK ACTION IN AN ELECTRONICS ASSEMBLY MACHINE - An electronics assembly apparatus with improved pick evaluation is provided. The apparatus includes a placement head having at least one nozzle for releasably picking up and holding a component. A robotic system is provided for generating relative movement between the placement head and a workpiece, such as a circuit board. An image acquisition system is disposed to obtain at least one before-pick image of a component pick up location and at least one after-pick image of the component pick up location. The before-pick image contains a plurality of image portions, having each image portion view the pick-up location from a different point of view, while the after-pick image contains a plurality of image portions, having each image portion view the pick-up location from a different point of view. | 05-28-2009 |
20100295935 | ON-HEAD COMPONENT ALIGNMENT USING MULTIPLE AREA ARRAY IMAGE DETECTORS - A sensor for sensing component offset and orientation when held on a nozzle of a pick and place machine is provided. The sensor includes a plurality of two-dimensional cameras, a backlight illuminator and a controller. Each camera has a field of view that includes a nozzle of the pick and place machine. The backlight illuminator is configured to direct illumination toward the plurality of two-dimensional cameras. The backlight illuminator is positioned on an opposite side of a nozzle from the plurality of two-dimensional cameras. The controller is coupled to the plurality of two-dimensional cameras and the backlight illuminator. The controller is configured to determine offset and orientation information of the component(s) based upon a plurality of backlit shadow images detected by the plurality of two-dimensional cameras. The controller provides the offset and orientation information to a controller of the pick and place machine. | 11-25-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080213334 | POLYELECTROLYTE MEDIA FOR BIOACTIVE AGENT DELIVERY - The invention provides polyelectrolyte hydrogels, blends, and multilayers for the controlled release of bioactive agents from implantable medical devices coated with or containing such media. | 09-04-2008 |
20100240789 | REAGENT AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING COATINGS ON SURFACES - A grafting reagent and related method of using the reagent to form a polymeric layer on a support surface, and particularly a porous support surface, in a manner that provides and/or preserves desired properties (such as porosity) of the surface. The reagent and method can be used to provide a thin, conformable, uniform, uncrosslinked coating having desired properties onto the surface of a preformed, and particularly a porous, polymeric substrate. The method includes the steps of a) providing a porous support surface, b) providing a nonpolymeric grafting reagent comprising a photoinitator group, c) providing one or more polymerizable monomers adapted to be contacted with the surface, in the presence of the grafting reagent, and to be polymerized upon activation of the photoinitiator; and d) applying the grafting reagent and monomer(s) to the surface in a manner, and under conditions, suitable to coat the surface with the grafting reagent and to cause the polymerization of monomers to the surface upon activation of the grafting reagent. | 09-23-2010 |
20110144373 | WATER-SOLUBLE DEGRADABLE PHOTO-CROSSLINKER - Described herein is a degradable linking agent that includes a core molecule with one or more charged groups; and one or more photoreactive groups covalently attached to the core molecule by one or more degradable linkers. | 06-16-2011 |
20120004339 | REAGENT AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING COATINGS ON SURFACES - A grafting reagent and related method of using the reagent to form a polymeric layer on a support surface, and particularly a porous support surface, in a manner that provides and/or preserves desired properties (such as porosity) of the surface. The reagent and method can be used to provide a thin, conformable, uniform, uncrosslinked coating having desired properties onto the surface of a preformed, and particularly a porous, polymeric substrate. The method includes the steps of a) providing a porous support surface, b) providing a nonpolymeric grafting reagent comprising a photoinitator group, c) providing one or more polymerizable monomers adapted to be contacted with the surface, in the presence of the grafting reagent, and to be polymerized upon activation of the photoinitiator; and d) applying the grafting reagent and monomer(s) to the surface in a manner, and under conditions, suitable to coat the surface with the grafting reagent and to cause the polymerization of monomers to the surface upon activation of the grafting reagent. | 01-05-2012 |