Patent ID: 7181058

Claim:
A method for inspecting electronic components mounted on a printed circuit board with a mounting substance, each of the components including electrical interconnects to the circuit board as typified by leads or endcaps, the method comprising: imaging the components and the mounting substance on the printed circuit board to obtain 3-D and 2-D data associated with the components and material surrounding the components; and processing the 3-D and 2-D data in combination to form blob and edge images wherein the step of processing includes evaluating the blob and edge images to find the locations of the components as a function of the 3-D and 2-D data and based on identified leads, endcaps, or other component features as differentiated from the mounting substance and circuit board on which the components are placed and wherein the step of processing further includes the step of applying thresholding techniques and a connected component algorithm to the 3-D and 2-D data in combination to form the blob and edge images.