Patent ID: 6081338
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
A method for optically checking an electrical component that is held on a suction pipette of an automatic equipping unit for equipping component carriers, comprising the method steps of:casting a shadow of at least a portion of the component on an optical sensor, the cast shadow being a result of occlusion of a light source arranged diametrically opposite the sensor;evaluating an output of the sensor in an evaluation unit;moving a free end of the suction pipette with the component held thereon into a coverage region of the optical sensor, the optical sensor being a line sensor;aligning an axial direction of a suction pipette of at least approximately parallel to a longitudinal direction of the line sensor during sensing;positioning the suction pipette having a defined position relative to the sensor;determining a length of occlusion by the suction pipette and the component on the sensor;storing occlusion values in a storage of the evaluation unit for an empty suction pipette;comparing stored values for the empty suction pipette to measured sensor values of the suction pipette including the component; andmaking a determination based upon differences between the stored values and the measured values.