Patent ID: 6359694
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: G01N,G01R

Abstract:
A device for identifying a position of an object selected from the group consisting of electrical components and terminals of electrical components, said object having a planar surface, said device comprising:first illumination arrangement for illuminating said planar surface of said object with light incident in a direction normal to said planar surface and producing reflected light; second illumination arrangement for illuminating said object with multi-directional light which is obliquely incident on said planar surface and producing reflected light; third illumination arrangement for illuminating said object with non-diffusive light in a direction substantially parallel to said surface and producing reflected light, said third illumination means comprising a light source and a light deflecting body, through which light from said light source passes, said light deflecting body presenting rotation symmetry and having a body wall which deflects said light from said light source passing through said body on to said object in said direction substantially parallel to said planar surface; and a single light detector comprising a camera for obtaining and evaluating an image of said object while simultaneously illuminated by said first illumination arrangement, said second illumination arrangement and said third illumination arrangement, said image consisting exclusively of the reflected light produced by said first illumination arrangement, said second illumination arrangement and said third illumination arrangement.