Camera Lighting Control for Component Mounting Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing camera systems for capturing component images cannot accurately adjust the turn-on time of lighting units based on the light amount required by the image capturing unit, as the request signal only indicates the rising timing of the flash pulse, not the light amount.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a lighting unit control section for each lighting unit that calculates the turn-on time by multiplying the pulse width time of the turn-on command pulse by a constant, allowing the lighting unit to be turned on for the required duration based on the light amount specified in the turn-on command signal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the request signal only indicates the rising timing of the flash pulse, then the control circuit is simple, but the turn-on time cannot be accurately adjusted based on light amount requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol circuit complexityVSAvoidturn-on time adjustment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A lighting unit control section is introduced as an intermediary between the higher-order unit and the light emitting element. This control section receives the turn-on command signal, calculates the appropriate turn-on time by multiplying the pulse width time by a constant, and then controls the light emitting element accordingly. This intermediary enables accurate turn-on time adjustment without requiring the higher-order unit to directly manage complex timing parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting unit control section autonomously calculates and determines the turn-on time based on the received turn-on command signal. By multiplying the pulse width time by a pre-set constant, the control section self-adjusts the lighting duration without requiring external intervention or complex manual configuration, enabling the system to serve itself in terms of automatic parameter adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If the turn-on time is calculated by multiplying pulse width time by a constant, then the light amount can be accurately controlled, but the control section complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight amount control accuracyVSAvoidcontrol section complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The constant value used in the turn-on time calculation is pre-set and stored in the lighting unit control section before operation. This preliminary configuration allows the control section to simply multiply the pulse width time by the pre-stored constant during actual operation, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations or external reference to predetermined values, thus maintaining control accuracy while minimizing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables easy setting of the turn-on time for each lighting unit, ensuring the correct light amount is provided, improving the accuracy and efficiency of component image capture.

Implementation Method 1

a lighting unit (47a, 47b, 47c) that includes a light emitting element (LED)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3863391B1Camera for capturing component images, and component mounting machine
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 FUJI CORP
  • EP3863391B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3863391B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3863391B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A camera for capturing the component images of the present disclosure includes multiple lighting units configured to irradiate components with light of a light emitting element, an image capturing unit configured to capture the components irradiated with the light, and a lighting unit control section configured to be provided for each lighting unit. In a case where a turn-on command signal including a turn-on command pulse is input from a higher-order unit separate from the lighting unit control section, the lighting unit control section turns on the light emitting element for a turn-on time calculated by multiplying a pulse width time of the turn-on command pulse by a constant set for each lighting unit from a rising edge of the turn-on command pulse included in the turn-on command signal.