Merged Optical Inspection and Component Placement System

Solution Overview

Problem

The high costs and large space requirements associated with separate machines for Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) in substrate component placement processes, especially for small placement contents, necessitate a more cost-effective and space-efficient solution for inspecting the quality of substrates.

Innovation Solution

Integration of an optical inspection system, including a movable camera, with the X-Y positioning system and component holding device in an automatic placement machine, eliminating the need for separate AOI machines and allowing for parallelization of component placement and inspection processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate AOI machines are used for inspecting substrates, then inspection quality is ensured, but manufacturing space and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing space

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the AOI inspection system with the component placement machine by integrating a camera and inspection software into the existing X-Y positioning system. The camera is mounted on the placement head carrier, allowing inspection functions to be performed using the same positioning infrastructure, thereby eliminating the need for separate AOI machines and reducing manufacturing space requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The X-Y positioning system and carrier structure are designed to serve dual purposes: component placement and optical inspection. The camera is integrated onto the same carrier that holds the component holding device, enabling the system to perform both placement and inspection functions without requiring separate positioning infrastructure, thus reducing space and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If separate AOI machines are used for inspecting substrates, then inspection quality is ensured, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the AOI inspection system with the component placement machine by integrating a camera and inspection software into the existing X-Y positioning system. The camera is mounted on the placement head carrier, allowing inspection functions to be performed using the same positioning infrastructure, thereby eliminating the need for separate AOI machines and reducing manufacturing space requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The X-Y positioning system and carrier structure are designed to serve dual purposes: component placement and optical inspection. The camera is integrated onto the same carrier that holds the component holding device, enabling the system to perform both placement and inspection functions without requiring separate positioning infrastructure, thus reducing space and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If sequential processing is used for component placement and inspection, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidassembly throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic parallel processing by enabling the camera and component holding device to operate simultaneously on different substrates. The system can inspect one substrate while placing components on another, utilizing the same X-Y positioning system for both operations. This dynamic approach increases throughput without significantly increasing equipment complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous productive action by eliminating idle time between placement and inspection operations. While the component holding device is placing components on one substrate, the camera simultaneously inspects another substrate, ensuring that both systems are continuously productive without waiting for sequential completion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP2009979B1Device and method for populating substrates with components

Publication Date: 2012.11.28 ASM ASSEMBLY SYST GMBH & CO

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AI summary

The device (100) has a component with a x-y-positioning system (104). The x-y-z-positioning system has a x-carrier (108), and the component holding device (102) is movably arranged in the x-carrier. An optical inspection system is provided for inspecting a substrate (124) with a camera (120) that is movably arranged in the x-carrier. The component holding device and the camera are arranged at various longitudinal side surfaces of an elongated x-carrier. An independent claim is also included for a method for assembling of substrates.