JP2007205896A - Visual inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a visual inspection device that suppresses the power consumption and heating value of an illuminating means of the visual inspection device as much as possible, and reduces a burden to the eyes of an inspection person. <P>SOLUTION: The visual inspection device comprises: the illuminating means for illuminating a visually inspected object; an imaging inspecting means for imaging and inspecting the visually inspected object illuminated by the illuminating means; and a moving means for moving the imaging inspecting means and the illuminating means to the following inspected object. The illuminating means is continuously lighted in imaging by the imaging inspecting means, and is intermittently lighted by an extinction controlling means in movement by the moving means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The invention of this application relates to an appearance inspection apparatus provided with illumination means for imaging inspection of an inspection object such as a printed circuit board.

  A conventional appearance inspection apparatus such as a printed circuit board repeatedly inspects the entire object to be inspected by repeatedly moving the object to be inspected, such as a printed circuit board, and imaging. In this case, for example, as shown in (a) of the time chart of FIG. 10, the lighting unit is continuously turned on during imaging, while the strobe is turned on to completely turn off the lighting unit during movement. The amount of heat generated by the illumination means during illumination is suppressed as much as possible.

  In the case of such a configuration, for example, as shown in (b) of the time chart of FIG. 10, the power consumption can be considerably saved compared with the case where the illumination unit is continuously lit regardless of whether the image is captured or moved. Can do.

  However, in the case of the configuration described above, the illumination means appears to blink when the inspector looks at the periphery of the object to be inspected, so that there is a problem that the burden on the eyes is large and fatigue of the inspector is increased.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the power consumption of the lighting means is controlled by controlling the lighting means intermittently, at a small current, or partially even during movement. An object of the present invention is to provide an appearance inspection apparatus that suppresses heat generation as much as possible and reduces the burden on the eyes of the inspector.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured with the following problem solving means.

(1) First Problem Solving Means The first problem solving means of the present invention is an illuminating means for illuminating an appearance inspection object, and an imaging inspection means for imaging inspection of the appearance inspection object illuminated by the illuminating means. And an imaging inspection means and a moving means for moving the illuminating means to the next inspection object, wherein the illuminating means is controlled to be continuously lit during imaging by the imaging inspection means. The moving means is characterized by being intermittently lit by the intermittent lighting control means.

  Thus, even during movement, if the illumination means is turned on intermittently by the intermittent lighting control means, the change in illumination intensity (brightness) during imaging and movement of the inspection object is reduced, and the inspector's The burden on the eyes is reduced.

  And even if it does so, since the power consumption as a total is small and the emitted-heat amount is also low, it can fully obtain an energy-saving and temperature rise inhibitory effect.

  In this case, for example, if the lighting frequency is set to be equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency, the inspector's eyes appear to light continuously. Therefore, the burden on the examiner's eyes is further reduced.

  In that case, if the duty at lighting (ratio of the lighting time to the cycle) is further reduced, the power consumption and the heat generation amount of the lighting means can be further reduced, and the temperature of the lighting means can be increased more effectively. Can be suppressed.

(2) Second Problem Solving Means The second problem solving means of the present invention is an illuminating means for illuminating an appearance inspection object, and an imaging inspection means for imaging inspection of the appearance inspection object illuminated by the illuminating means. And a moving means for moving the imaging inspection means and the illuminating means to the next inspection object, wherein the illuminating means is continuously connected at a predetermined current value during imaging by the imaging inspection means. While the lighting is controlled, the small current lighting control means provided with the current adjusting means is turned on at a current value smaller than that at the time of imaging when moving by the moving means.

  In this way, even when moving, if the lighting means is lit with a smaller current value than that during imaging by the small current lighting control means provided with the current adjusting means, the illumination intensity ( The change in (brightness) is reduced, and a continuous lighting state that is gentle to the eye of the inspector can be realized with low power consumption and low heat generation. Therefore, the burden on the eye of the examiner is greatly reduced, and the temperature rise of the illumination unit can be effectively suppressed.

(3) Third Problem Solving Means The third problem solving means of the present invention is an illuminating means for illuminating an appearance inspection object, and an imaging inspection means for imaging inspection of the appearance inspection object illuminated by the illuminating means. And a moving means for moving the imaging inspection means and the illuminating means to the next inspection object, wherein the illuminating means is composed of a plurality of light emitting units, and at the time of imaging by the imaging inspection means While all of the plurality of light emitting units are controlled to be continuously lit, a part of the plurality of light emitting units is partially lit by the partial lighting control unit when moved by the moving unit. Yes.

  In this way, if the illumination means is formed by a plurality of light emitting portions and part of them are lit by the partial lighting control means during movement, the illumination intensity (brightness at the time of imaging and movement of the inspection object) can be obtained. Therefore, a continuous lighting state friendly to the eyes of the examiner can be realized with low power consumption and low heat generation. Therefore, the burden on the eye of the examiner is greatly reduced, and the temperature rise of the illumination unit can be effectively suppressed.

(4) Fourth Problem Solving Means According to a fourth problem solving means of the present invention, in the configuration of the first, second or third problem solving means, the light emitting portion of the illumination means is constituted by a light emitting diode. It is characterized by being.

  In this way, if the light emitting part of the illuminating means is composed of light emitting diodes, it is highly durable, can be driven with low power consumption, further reduces the amount of heat generation, and further reduces the temperature rise. Can do.

(Best Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, for example, the configuration of an appearance inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as an appearance inspection apparatus for a printed circuit board will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the appearance inspection apparatus includes a printed circuit board setting device 3 for setting a printed circuit board 2 including an electrical component 1 that is an appearance inspection object, and the printed circuit board setting device 3. In this state, the base 5 having the guide rails 4 and 4 moved in the left-right direction, and the imaging head moved by being guided by the guide rails 7 and 7 in the direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet above the substrate setting device 3. 6, a guide support 7, a head support 8 that is supported by the base 5, and a power supply 9 that houses various drive power sources and the like.

  The substrate setting apparatus 3 includes a moving table 11 guided by the guide rails 4 and 4 and a pair of setting tables 12A and 12B which are erected to set the substrate 2 on the moving table 11. A locking portion 13A for placing one end of the printed circuit board 2 is provided at the upper end of one set base 12A, and a locking portion 13B provided at the upper end of the other set base 12B. A lock member 14 that locks the other end of the printed circuit board 2 that is locked to is pivotally supported. Reference numeral 15 denotes a spring that urges the locking member 14 in the locking direction.

  Further, at one end of the base 5, unlocking is performed in which the lock member 14 is pressed against the urging force of the spring 15 to swing in the unlocking direction when the movable table 11 moves to the left side in the figure. A member 16 is erected.

  The imaging head 6 includes a slider 17 that is guided and moved by the guide rails 7, 7, a camera body 18 of an imaging camera that functions as an imaging unit that supports the slider 17 on the lower surface, It comprises a scope unit 20 of an imaging camera that is suspended from one end and an illumination unit 19 at the tip of the scope unit 20.

  The illumination unit 19 illuminates the scope unit 20 of the imaging camera and the printed circuit board (appearance inspection object) 2 that is an object to be imaged at the distal end of the scope unit 20 as shown in FIG. It comprises illumination means 21 that performs.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the illumination unit 21 includes a light emitting diode support member 22 having an umbrella-shaped hood function, and a ring group around the optical axis of the scope unit 20 on the lower surface of the light emitting diode support member 22. A plurality of / a plurality of groups of light emitting diodes (hereinafter simply referred to as LEDs) 23, 23,... Arranged in five rows (NO1 to NO5) in the shape from the inner periphery to the outer periphery. The color development of the LEDs 23, 23... In the first to fifth groups NO1 to NO5 is not particularly limited. For example, in the case of the present embodiment, a white LED is adopted.

  And the image imaged by the main-body part 18 of the said imaging camera is transmitted to the predetermined | prescribed image processing apparatus 24 which consists of a personal computer etc., for example. The image processing device 24 holds a plurality of image data obtained by imaging the printed circuit board 2 and the electrical component 1 by the camera body 18 of the imaging camera under a predetermined illumination condition by the illumination unit 21. A function as an image holding means, and a function as an image processing means for generating accurate image data in which the reflection of the illumination means 21 is removed by performing arithmetic processing on a plurality of images held by the image data holding means. It has.

(Lighting control circuit of illumination means 21)
Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the configuration of the lighting control circuit of the lighting means 21 and the mode of the lighting control operation by the lighting control circuit in the best embodiment 1. FIG.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 23 (23, 23...) Is a light-emitting diode that constitutes a plurality / groups of light-emitting portions of the illumination means 21 described above, and the light-emitting diode 23 is a driving circuit for lighting ( A driver) 33 is connected to the lighting control circuit 31.

  The lighting control circuit 31 is supplied with a dimming signal (ON / OFF control signal) from a dimming signal generation circuit 32 (ON / OFF control signal generation circuit), and a predetermined amount from the pulse generation circuit 30. A pulse signal with a predetermined duty ratio is supplied, and the dimming function is turned on by the dimming signal from the dimming signal generation circuit 32 as shown in the time chart of FIG. / OFF state (OFF at the time of imaging / ON at the time of movement), and the intermittent lighting pulse at the time of the dimming (during movement) by the duty signal from the duty signal generation circuit 28 and the periodic signal from the periodic signal generation circuit 29 The ratio of the lighting time to the lighting cycle is set to adjust the amount of light reduction.

  That is, in the present embodiment, during imaging, the dimming signal output from the dimming signal generation circuit 32 is turned off, and the lighting control circuit 31 supplies the lighting control signal for continuous lighting to the driving circuit 33. As a result, the drive circuit 33 of the illuminating means 21 continuously supplies current to the light emitting diode 23 and continuously lights it for a predetermined time.

  On the other hand, at the time of movement (standby), the dimming signal output is turned ON, and the lighting control circuit 31 functions as a dimming control circuit, and supplies a lighting control signal (pulse signal) for intermittent lighting to the drive circuit 33. As a result, the drive circuit 33 intermittently supplies current to the light emitting diode 23 to light it intermittently. At this time, the pulse generation circuit 30 generates a lighting pulse signal as shown in the time chart of FIG. 5 according to the duty signal from the duty signal generation circuit 28 and the periodic signal from the periodic signal generation circuit 29, By inputting this to the lighting control circuit 31, the intermittent lighting control as described above is executed.

  In this way, when the light emitting diodes 23, 23,... Serving as the light emitting parts of the illumination means 21 are intermittently turned on at least during movement (standby), when moving (standby) as in the prior art. In addition, as in the case of imaging, the power consumption can be sufficiently reduced and the amount of heat generated can be suppressed as compared with the case of continuous lighting. Further, for example, when the lighting frequency is set to a predetermined frequency or higher, the light appears to be continuously lit. As a result, the burden on the examiner's eyes is greatly reduced.

  Further, in the above case, by reducing the duty at the time of intermittent lighting (ratio of lighting time with respect to the period T in FIG. 5) as much as possible, the power consumption and the heat generation amount of the illumination means 21 can be more effectively reduced, The temperature rise of the illumination means 21 can be suppressed more effectively.

  Further, in the above configuration, since the plurality of light emitting portions of the illumination means 21 are configured by the light emitting diodes 23, 23,..., Durability is high, driving with less power consumption is possible, and consumption is further increased. The electric power and the heat generation amount can be reduced, and the temperature rise can be further reduced.

  Moreover, on the premise of such an energy saving configuration by intermittent lighting, the lighting means 21 is controlled to be lighted when the next new printed circuit board 2 is reset after the inspection of the predetermined printed circuit board 2 is completed.

  Therefore, it can function as local illumination at the time of resetting the next substrate to be inspected after completion of the inspection of the substrate to be inspected.

  In addition, even in that case, the amount of heat generated by the illumination means 21 during the resetting of the inspection object is small. Therefore, the lifetime of the illumination means 21 can be extended as much as possible.

(Best Mode 2)
Next, FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the lighting control circuit of the illumination means 21 in the appearance inspection apparatus according to the best embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 23 denotes light emitting diodes (plural) constituting a plurality of light emitting portions of the illumination means 21 described above, and the light emitting diodes 23 (23, 23...) Are driving circuits (drivers) for lighting. ) 33 is connected to the lighting control circuit 31.

  The lighting control circuit 31 is supplied with a dimming signal (ON / OFF control signal) from a dimming signal generation circuit (ON / OFF control signal generation circuit) 32, and from the light amount signal generation circuit 34. The adjustment current from the current adjustment circuit 35 adjusted by a predetermined light quantity signal is supplied, and the dimming function is turned on / off by the dimming signal from the dimming signal generation circuit 32 ( (Switching OFF during imaging / ON during movement) and the adjustment current from the current adjustment circuit 35 is used to set the amount of lighting light during movement to be small and to increase or decrease the amount of light reduction.

  That is, in the present embodiment, during imaging, the dimming signal from the dimming signal generation circuit 32 is turned off, and the lighting control circuit 31 supplies a continuous lighting control signal with a normal current value to the drive circuit 33. Then, the driving circuit 33 continuously supplies a current having a normal current value to the light emitting diodes 23 of the light emitting unit to continuously light them.

  On the other hand, at the time of movement (standby), the dimming signal from the dimming signal generation circuit 32 is turned ON, and at this time, the current adjustment circuit 35 is in the normal state according to the light quantity signal from the light quantity signal generation circuit 34. A lighting control current smaller than the current value is generated and input to the lighting control circuit 31. Then, the lighting control circuit 31 functions as a dimming control circuit, and supplies a lighting control signal with a small current value smaller than the normal current value to the drive circuit 33. As a result, the drive circuit 33 supplies the light emitting diode 23 with a lighting current value that is smaller than the lighting current value during normal lighting.

  In this way, if the light emitting diodes 23, 23... As the illumination means are turned on with a smaller current than that at the time of imaging, the light emitting diodes 23, 23.

  As a result, the burden on the eye of the subject can be reduced, and the power consumption and heat generation amount of the illumination means 21 can be reduced as much as possible, and the temperature rise can be suppressed more effectively.

  Further, since the light emitting part of the illumination means 21 is composed of the light emitting diodes 23, 23..., Durability is high, driving with low power consumption is possible, the amount of heat generation is further reduced, and the degree of temperature rise is further increased. Can be reduced.

  In addition, the lighting means 21 having the above-described configuration is controlled to be turned on when the next new inspection board 2 is reset after the inspection of the printed board 2 is completed on the premise of such an energy saving configuration.

  If it does in that way, it can function also as hand illumination at the time of a new reset of a to-be-inspected board | substrate.

  In addition, the amount of heat generated by the illumination means 21 during the resetting of the new substrate to be inspected can be reduced, and the lifetime can be extended.

(Best Mode 3)
Next, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 show the configuration of the lighting control circuit of the illuminating means 21 in the appearance inspection apparatus according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the lighting control operation by the lighting control circuit. ing.

  7, reference numerals 23, 23... Denote light emitting diodes (plurality / plural groups NO1 to NOn) constituting a plurality of light emitting portions of the illumination means 21 in the appearance inspection apparatus of FIGS. The light emitting diodes 23 are connected to the lighting control circuit 31 via a lighting driving circuit (driver) 33, respectively.

  The lighting control circuit 31 is supplied with a dimming signal (ON / OFF control signal) from the dimming signal generation circuit 32, and the plural / plural groups of light emitting diodes 23 from the individual lighting circuit 37. , 23... Are supplied with individual lighting signals for partially lighting only the plurality of light emitting diodes 23, 23. A dimming signal from the circuit 32 is used to switch the dimming function ON / OFF state (OFF during imaging / ON during movement), and the light emitting unit setting signal from the light emitting unit setting signal generation circuit 36 is used for the above partial lighting. The light emitting diode group is specified, and the total light reduction amount of the illumination means 21 is adjusted.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the dimming signal output from the dimming signal generation circuit 32 is turned OFF during imaging, and the lighting control circuit 31 supplies the continuous all lighting signal that is normally lit to the drive circuit 33. And the drive circuit 33 supplies a lighting signal to all the light emitting diodes 23, 23...

  On the other hand, at the time of movement (standby), the dimming signal output from the dimming signal generation circuit 32 is turned on, and the lighting control circuit 31 functions as a dimming control circuit. A partial lighting signal is supplied to the drive circuit 33 so that only the light emitting diodes 23, 23. Then, the drive circuit 33 partially lights only a predetermined group of the light emitting diodes 23, 23.

  In the partial lighting control of the plurality of light emitting units by the individual lighting circuit 37 and the driving circuit 33, for example, the light emitting diode groups NO1 to NOn of the lighting unit 21 are changed from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side in the radial direction as shown in FIG. If there are five groups of NO1 to NO5 (five ring groups), for example, as shown in FIG. 8 (example 1), all the groups are turned on during imaging (when the dimming signal output is OFF). On the other hand, when moving (when the dimming signal output is ON), a method of lighting only one of the groups NO1 to NO5, or the light emitting diode groups NO1 to NOn of the plurality of light emitting units of the illuminating means 21 are also radius In the case of 5 groups of NO1 to NO5 (5 ring groups) in the direction, for example, as shown in FIG. 9 (Example 2), all of NO1 to NO5 are captured during imaging (when the dimming signal output is OFF). Turn on the group On the other hand, when moving (when the dimming signal output ON), a method of lighting only one of two groups of NO1~NO5 is employed.

  In this way, if only a predetermined group of the light emitting diodes 23, 23... Of the plurality of light emitting diodes 23, 23. The burden on the eyes of the person can be reduced, and the power consumption and the heat generation amount of the entire illumination means 21 can be reduced as much as possible to suppress the temperature rise more effectively.

  Further, since the light emitting part of the illumination means 21 is composed of the light emitting diodes 23, 23..., The durability is high, the drive with low power consumption is possible, the heat generation amount is further reduced, and the temperature is further increased. The degree can also be reduced.

  Moreover, on the premise of such an energy saving configuration, the lighting means 21 is controlled to be turned on when the next new board to be inspected 2 is reset after the inspection of the printed board 2 is completed.

  Therefore, it can be made to function also as hand illumination at the time of resetting a new substrate to be inspected after the inspection of the substrate to be inspected.

  Moreover, the amount of heat generated by the illumination means 21 during the resetting of the new substrate to be inspected is small. Therefore, the lifetime of the illumination means 21 can be extended as much as possible.

It is a side view which shows the whole structure of the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on the best Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the illumination means part of the same apparatus. It is a bottom view which shows the structure of the light emission part of the illumination means. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the lighting control circuit of the illumination means part of the visual inspection apparatus which concerns on the best Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a time chart which shows the lighting operation mode of the light emission part by the lighting control circuit. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the lighting control circuit of the illumination means part of the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on best Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the lighting control circuit of the illumination means part of the external appearance inspection apparatus which concerns on best Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a combination table of the 1st example which shows the lighting operation mode of the light emission part by the lighting control circuit. It is the combination table of the 2nd example which shows the lighting operation mode of the light emission part by the lighting control circuit. It is a time chart which shows the lighting control aspect of the illumination means of the conventional external appearance inspection apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  Reference numeral 21 denotes illumination means, 23 a light emitting diode, 30 a pulse generation circuit, 31 a lighting control circuit, 32 a dimming signal generation circuit, 33 a drive circuit, 35 a current adjustment circuit, and 37 an individual lighting circuit.

Claims (4)

  Illumination means for illuminating the appearance inspection object, imaging inspection means for imaging inspection of the appearance inspection object illuminated by the illumination means, and movement means for moving the imaging inspection means and the illumination means to the next inspection object The illumination means is controlled to be continuously lit when imaged by the imaging inspection means, and is intermittently lit by the intermittent lighting control means when moved by the moving means. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized by   Illumination means for illuminating the appearance inspection object, imaging inspection means for imaging inspection of the appearance inspection object illuminated by the illumination means, and movement means for moving the imaging inspection means and the illumination means to the next inspection object The illumination means is controlled to be continuously lit at a predetermined current value when imaged by the imaging inspection means, while being moved by the moving means, and has a small current provided with a current adjusting means. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized in that the lighting control means is turned on at a smaller current value than at the time of imaging.   Illumination means for illuminating the appearance inspection object, imaging inspection means for imaging inspection of the appearance inspection object illuminated by the illumination means, and movement means for moving the imaging inspection means and the illumination means to the next inspection object The illumination means comprises a plurality of light emitting units, and all of the plurality of light emitting units are controlled to be continuously lit while being imaged by the imaging inspection unit, while being moved by the moving unit. An appearance inspection apparatus characterized in that a part of the plurality of light emitting units is sometimes partially lit by a partial lighting control means.   4. The appearance inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting portion of the illumination means is formed of a light emitting diode.

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