JP3340691B2 - Image inspection equipment for printed circuit boards - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a camera to check whether cream solder is correctly applied or electronic components are correctly mounted during a mounting process on a printed circuit board for electronic circuits. The present invention relates to an image inspection apparatus that performs image processing on image data of an inspection object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image inspection apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

[0003] In FIG. 8, a conventional image inspection apparatus is C
An area sensor camera 41 using a CD sensor, a lighting fixture 42 for illuminating the inspection target board 44, a support 43 for supporting the area sensor camera 41 and the lighting fixture 42, and an X direction Y holding the inspection target board 44 XY table 45 which can be relatively moved in the directions, a motor X / rotary encoder X46 which moves the XY table 45 in the X direction, a motor Y / rotary encoder Y47 which moves the XY table 45 in the Y direction, and various inspection items. The control unit 48 includes a control unit 48 that performs an inspection, a monitor television 49 that displays control contents and inspection results, and a keyboard 50 that instructs control contents.

Next, the operation of the conventional image inspection apparatus will be described.

In the conventional image inspection apparatus, the inspection target substrate 4
4 is imaged by the area sensor camera 41, the image data is subjected to image processing, and inspection is performed based on the image processing data.
It is not possible to capture the entire image at once and capture image data. Therefore, the inspection target substrate 44 is divided into areas of a size that can be imaged by the area sensor camera 41 and imaged, and the image data is sequentially stored in the memory of the control unit 48,
At the time when the image data of the entire inspection target substrate 44 has been accumulated, image processing is performed, and based on the image processing data,
Inspections for various inspection items are performed.

[0006]

However, the conventional image inspection apparatus has the following problems.

[0007] The area sensor camera 41 is mounted on the substrate 4 to be inspected.
In order to divide the image-capturable areas into image-capable areas and to perform image-capturing, the area-capable area sensor
The XY table 45 holding the inspection target substrate 44 repeatedly starts and stops. At this time, activation of the XY table 45,
Since the substrate 44 to be inspected vibrates at the time of stopping, the imaging and image data acquisition of the area sensor camera 41 must be waited until the vibration is attenuated. In this case, it takes about 0.5 seconds per area to capture image data. When waiting for the time for vibration damping, for example, 100 mm × 2
It takes three to four minutes to capture the image data of the 00 mm inspection target substrate 44, and the inspection time is added to this, so that the inspection takes a long time.

Further, the area sensor camera 41 divides the inspection target substrate 44 into areas and takes in image data. However, there is a possibility that image data may be overlapped between adjacent areas. , It is necessary to improve the movement accuracy of the XY table 45. Alternatively, there has been a problem that adjustment must be made to eliminate the influence of duplication of image data during image processing and inspection.

Further, in the area sensor camera 41, there is a case where one part to be inspected does not fall within the same area but is divided into adjacent areas. In this case, when inspecting by performing image processing. In addition, there is a problem that complicated processing is required to eliminate the influence of area division.

Further, in the area sensor camera 41, image processing is performed after image data of all areas is fetched. Therefore, the size of the memory for storing image data is limited to the shape and size of the inspection target substrate 44. And a large capacity memory is required in some cases.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image inspecting apparatus for inspecting whether or not cream solder is applied to a printed circuit board for an electronic circuit. An image capturing means for capturing the image data of the printed circuit board, a capturing storage means for capturing the image data from the image capturing means, and a switchable memory, wherein the range is a range designated in advance from the captured image data. Cut-out storage means for sequentially cutting out and storing the image data of the individual inspection area on the printed circuit board, and inspecting a plurality of inspection items relating to the taken-in individual inspection area while sequentially taking in the image data of the individual inspection area. And an inspection processing unit that performs the processing in parallel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image inspection apparatus for inspecting the mounting of electronic components on a printed circuit board for an electronic circuit. An image capturing means for capturing data, a capturing storage means for capturing image data from the image capturing means, and a switchable memory on the printed circuit board which is a predetermined range from the captured image data. A cut-out storage unit that sequentially cuts out and stores the image data of the individual inspection area, and an inspection that performs inspection of a plurality of inspection items related to the taken-in individual inspection area in parallel while sequentially taking in the image data of the individual inspection area. And processing means.

The printed board image inspection apparatus of the present invention
With the above configuration, the inspection processing unit can inspect a plurality of inspection items related to the individual inspection area in parallel, so that the inspection time for the quality of the application of the cream solder or the quality of the mounting of the electronic component is greatly reduced. And the storage capacity of the storage means can be small.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a printed board image inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, an image inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a color line sensor camera 1 using a CCD sensor capable of distinguishing the shapes and colors of substrates and components, and a lighting fixture for illuminating an inspection target substrate 4. 2, a column 3 for supporting the color line sensor camera 1 and the lighting fixture 2, and a substrate 4 to be inspected
, And a table 5 which can be relatively moved at a right angle (X direction) with respect to the taking axis 29 of the lens 27 and the line sensor 28 constituting the color line sensor camera 1, and the relative movement amount of the table 5 is measured. A linear scale 6, a motor 7 for moving the table 5 in the X direction, a rotary encoder 8 for measuring the amount of movement of the table 5 by the number of rotations of the motor 7, and a control unit 9 for controlling the image inspection apparatus
And a monitor TV 10 for displaying control contents and inspection results
And a keyboard 11 for interactively inputting control instruction contents
And a driver device 12 for inputting and outputting inspection data of each inspection item regarding the quality of the application of the cream solder on the printed circuit board.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the image inspection apparatus of this embodiment sequentially stores the image data captured by the color line sensor camera 1 in a link-type memory. A capture memory 13 configured to rewrite and store rarely stored image data, and a capture memory 14 that captures and stores image data of an area to be inspected (individual inspection area) from the image data stored in the capture memory 13. (As shown in FIG. 3, the cut-out memory 14 includes a cut-out memory A25 and a cut-out memory B26. While one of the cut-out memories 14 stores image data from the take-in memory 13, the other stores an image stored immediately before itself. Data to the following image processing circuit 15), an image processing circuit 15 for performing image processing on the image data cut out in the cutout memory 14, A plurality of inspection processing circuits 16 for inspecting each inspection item based on the image processing data processed by the image processing circuit 15 and image data captured by the color line sensor camera 1 are stored in the capture memory 13. According to a pre-programmed instruction or an instruction from the control unit 9, an acquisition memory address generation circuit 17 for transmitting an acquisition memory address to the acquisition memory 13, and an image data stored in the acquisition memory 13 are cut out for each area to be inspected. In order to store this in the cut-out memory 14, a cut-out memory address generating circuit 18 for transmitting a cut-out memory address to the cut-out memory 14 according to a preprogrammed instruction or an instruction from the control unit 9, and an image processing circuit 15 And a plurality of test processing circuits 16 are provided with pre-programmed instructions. Or an image processing timing generating circuit 19 which outputs a signal for outputting and inputting image data and setting a timing for inspection in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 9, and a movement of the table 5 based on a signal taken from the linear scale 6. A linear scale count circuit 20 that counts the amount and starts / ends image data capture of the color line sensor camera 1, operates the motor 7, and controls the amount of movement of the table 5 by a signal captured from the rotary encoder 8. And a man-machine interface 22 for interfacing with the lighting fixture 2, the monitor television 10, the keyboard 11, the driver device 12, and the like; a CPU 23 for controlling the control unit 9; Memory for storing test information for programs and various test items 24.

Next, the operation of the image inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In step # 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the lens 27 of the color line sensor camera 1 is moved from the mechanical origin 30 to the inspection target substrate 4 held on the table 5.
The distance to move to the image data capture start position 31 of
The CPU 23 of the control unit 9 determines the distance to be moved to the image data capture end position 32 of the inspection target substrate 4 and the pitch for one scan at which the color line sensor camera 1 reads image data.
Alternatively, it is set in the linear scale count circuit 20.

In step # 2, the color line sensor camera 1 is returned to the mechanical origin 30.

In step # 3, the inspection of the image inspection apparatus of this embodiment starts. That is, on the other hand, the color line sensor camera 1 starts capturing image data. The motor 7 operates, the substrate 4 to be inspected held on the table 5 moves relative to the color line sensor camera 1, and the color line sensor camera 1 moves from the mechanical origin 30 to the image data capture start position 31. . The distance from the mechanical origin 30 to the image data capturing start position 31 is determined by the color line sensor camera 1 by the inspection target substrate 4.
This is a preparation distance for moving at the same speed on the upper side. At the image data capturing start position 31, the color line sensor camera 1 is moving at a constant speed relative to the inspection target substrate 4.
The operation of the color line sensor camera 1 proceeds to step # 4.

On the other hand, inspection functions such as the acquisition memory 13, the extraction memory 14, the image processing circuit 15, and the inspection processing circuit 16 are started. This inspection function proceeds to step # 7.

In step # 4, the linear scale 6
And the linear scale count circuit 20, the color line sensor camera 1 moves the image data capture start position 31
Determine whether or not has been reached. When the color line sensor camera 1 reaches the image data capture start position 31, the process proceeds to step # 5.

In step # 5, the linear scale count circuit 20 outputs a pulse signal to the color line sensor camera 1 to start taking image data. The color line sensor camera 1 captures image data while the table 5 holding the inspection target substrate 4 is moving at a constant speed, so that there is no vibration. Therefore, in the related art, since the inspection target substrate 4 is divided into areas and image data is taken in, vibration is generated every time the table holding the inspection target substrate is started and stopped, and this vibration is attenuated. Although there was a loss waiting for the time until, this embodiment can eliminate this loss. For example,
It takes only about 15 seconds to capture the image data of the inspection target substrate 4 of 100 mm × 200 mm.

In step # 6, the linear scale counting circuit 20 calculates the total moving distance each time the color line sensor camera 1 completes one scanning pitch for reading the image data set in step # 1. The calculated result is compared with the distance to be moved to the image data capture end position 32, and the color line sensor camera 1
Is determined to have reached the image data capture end position 32. If it has arrived, the color line sensor camera 1 ends the image data capture, returns to step # 2, and repeats the inspection of the next same type of inspection target substrate 4. However, when inspecting a different type of inspection target substrate 4, the process returns to step # 1.

If the color line sensor camera 1 has not reached the image data fetching end position 32, step #
Returning to step 5, a pulse signal is issued to the color line sensor camera 1 so as to start capturing image data.

In step # 7, the cut-out memory address generation circuit 18 determines whether image data to be inspected is stored in the fetch memory 13 according to a pre-programmed instruction or an instruction from the control unit 9. If stored, the process proceeds to step # 8.

In step # 8, the cut-out memory address generating circuit 18 specifies an area to be inspected on the test target substrate 4 in the cut-out memory 14 according to a preprogrammed instruction or an instruction from the control unit 9.

In step # 9, the image data of the area to be inspected is extracted from the capture memory 13 by the instruction of the extraction memory address generation circuit 18 from the extraction memory 14.
It is cut out. The extraction memory 14 is an extraction memory A2
5 and a cut-out memory B26. First, the image data of the area to be inspected in the acquisition memory 13 is extracted to the extraction memory A25. The image data captured by the capture memory 13 is thus immediately stored in the capture memory 1.
4, the capture memory 13 does not need to store all the image data of the inspection target substrate 4, and the capacity of the capture memory 13 is small regardless of the shape and size of the inspection target substrate 4. It can be composed of capacitors.

In step # 10, the cut-out memory address generating circuit 18 determines whether or not the cut-out has been completed. If it has been completed, the process proceeds to step # 11.

In step # 11, the cut-out memory address generation circuit 18 switches the memory of the cut-out memory 14, and cuts out the image data of the next area to be inspected into the cut-out memory B26. The image processing timing generation circuit 19 generates the timing of image processing and inspection processing in accordance with a pre-programmed instruction or an instruction of the control unit 9, and stores the image processing data stored in the cut-out memory A25 by the image processing circuit. 15 and causes the image processing circuit 15 to process the image data. The image-processed image data is stored in a plurality of inspection processing circuits 1.
6 is designated and input. The specified inspection processing circuit 16 performs an inspection process according to the responsible inspection item.
In this case, the image data stored in the acquisition memory 13 can be cut out by arbitrarily setting an area to be inspected. Accordingly, since the area to be inspected is not divided, image processing and inspection processing can be easily performed.

In step # 12, the image processing timing generation circuit 19 confirms the end of each inspection process.

In step # 13, the image processing timing generation circuit 19 confirms that all inspection items have been completed.

The image inspection apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can take various forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the inspection regarding the quality of the application of the cream solder on the printed circuit board is performed. .

Although the substrate to be inspected is moved by fixing the color line sensor camera to the support, the substrate to be inspected may be fixed by moving the color line sensor camera.

The color line sensor camera does not need to use a color, and any camera can be used as long as it is a line sensor.

Although the movement of the table is measured by using the linear scale and the start / end of the image data acquisition of the color line sensor camera based on the measurement is performed, it is also possible to perform this by using the rotary encoder. good.

[0038]

According to the present invention, it is possible to greatly reduce the inspection time regarding the quality of the application of the cream solder on the printed circuit board or the quality of the mounting of the electronic component, and
The storage capacity of the storage means can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a cutout memory of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a line sensor of the color line sensor camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a moving distance of the color line sensor camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional example.

[Description of Signs] 1 Color line sensor camera 4 Inspection target board 5 Table 6 Linear scale 7 Motor 8 Rotary encoder 9 Control unit 27 Lens of color line sensor camera 28 Line sensor of color line sensor camera 29 Capture axis of color line sensor camera 30 Mechanical origin 31 Capture start position 32 Capture end position

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-76284 (JP, A) JP-A-1-147676 (JP, A) JP-A-2-145458 (JP, U) 14112 (JP, B1) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01B 11/24 G01N 21/88 G06T 1/60 G06T 7/00 H05K 13/08

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cream half of a printed circuit board for an electronic circuit.
In the image inspection apparatus for inspecting the quality of the application of the rice field,
An image capturing means for capturing the image data of the printed circuit board , a capturing storage means for capturing the image data from the image capturing means, and a switchable memory, wherein the range is a predetermined range from the captured image data. A cutting storage unit for sequentially cutting and storing image data of the individual inspection area on the printed circuit board; and a plurality of image data of the individual inspection area taken in while sequentially capturing the image data of the individual inspection area .
Image inspection apparatus of a printed circuit board, characterized in that in parallel the test of the test item and an inspection processing unit intends row. 2. An electronic component of a printed circuit board for an electronic circuit.
In the image inspection apparatus for inspecting the quality of the mounting,
Imaging means for capturing image data of a printed circuit board;
Switchable with capture storage means for capturing image data
From the captured image data
Individual inspection on the printed circuit board within the specified range
Extraction memory for sequentially extracting and storing rear image data
Step and the image data of the individual inspection area are sequentially acquired
Multiple inspections on individual inspection areas
Inspection processing means for performing item inspection in parallel
An image inspection apparatus for printed circuit boards, characterized in that: