EV
Eldig Vision meets two fundamental needs: testing for components assembled on electronic boards and combining this with functional testing.
Description
Eldig develops artificial vision systems for optical inspections and the functional control of electronic equipment.
Artificial vision systems are increasingly used in all sectors where visual inspection is needed to check the accuracy of equipment with known negative consequences - from the tiring effect of repetitive work to an increasing number of errors after a certain amount of time spent on the job.
Eldig Vision is used in two fields of artificial vision:
- optical inspections
- functional control of finished equipment
(for details of both versions, see the “Technical data sheet”).
Eldig Vision is a machine for end users, designed for use with the same concept and approach as Eldig’s AFT Operating System.
The EV system uses one or more cameras connected to a PC and optional AFT equipment which is also manufactured by Eldig. The EV system meets two fundamental needs: testing for components assembled on electronic boards and combining this with functional testing.
EV programming offers a wide range of possibilities:
- configuration of exposure and other camera parameters
- the guided acquisition of sample images, colours, etc.
- high-level, simple and guided definition of tests to perform, with both direct reading (bar code, OCR, LCD display), and sample comparison
- high-level, simple and guided programming, using Eldig AFT equipment, of hardware stimulation necessary to enable required test conditions on the board to test (LED on, displayed numbers and icons, etc.)
- production of reports
If, based on test results, handling lines need to be operated, the AFT system, which ELDIG Vision is fully integrated with, can carry out this operation.
Unlike the EV system, other vision software programmes available on the market are actual languages that integrate with LabView, Visual Basic, etc., and are not intended for the end user but instead for technicians specialised in developing test equipment.
Datasheet
Optical inspections
The use of artificial vision systems for the assembly of components on electronic boards is important in order to identify any missing, wrongly positioned components, etc.
Our equipment is installed on the welding line after assembly of the components and before the electronic boards are flow soldered.
The inspection is carried out using one or more cameras that frame the assembled boards in order to check:
- that all components are present
- the correct position of the connectors and that all pins are present
The camera identifies the position and correct layout of each component on the sample board.
During the test, the relative sample is acquired by the camera and compared with the sample component.
The comparison generates an error if the component is not present, is not positioned properly, the required number of pins is wrong, etc.
The boards that arrive at the inspection site may be rotated and moved compared to the original, so unique “fiducial” areas on the original sample board may be established. Our software searches for these areas on the board being tested and, depending on the relative position on the sample board, will rotate and move the image of the board being tested, so it coincides with the original board.
If errors are detected, an image of the board being tested will be displayed with the error area flashing, to help the operator take appropriate corrective action.
Our development system is based on AFT with implementations for instructions concerning artificial vision; it therefore maintains the same simple approach of learning about and running optical inspection programmes, with considerable time and cost savings.
The software also enables camera parameters to be configured with very simple instructions, so an inspection programme may include the acquisition of images with a greater or lesser luminosity and contrast based on the components to examine.
EV is also available as a programming station version, which can be installed on a PC without any camera, and can be used for the OFF-line setting of inspection programmes.
In this case, required images can be acquired on the complete system, saved in a file and transferred to the programming station, where they are called up instead of direct acquisition.
The vision system may also be connected to an AFT00 system to implement the interfaces for line handling, typically operated by PLC with contact exchange.
FUNCTIONAL TESTING
Visual controls such as the control of LEDs on/off, LCD displays, etc. are nearly always carried out during the functional testing of finished electronic equipment.
Artificial vision replaces human inspections in these controls, with a considerable increase in reliability. Our system provides the following:
- The acquisition of sample forms from reference data sheets.
- The acquisition of component samples, to test for the presence and accuracy of components, or display icons.
- Control of objects acquired by the board being tested against reference samples.
- The comparison produces a rating that is evaluated to establish whether it falls within the foreseen limits.
- The acquisition of sample colours from reference data sheets.
- The acquisition of sample colours of components or displays.
- Control of the board being tested for a colour at established points, within the tolerance values.
- Control of the colour of LEDs, components, etc.
- The acquisition of segments of LED or LCD displays.
- The acquisition of areas with displays to control.
- Control of segments of LED or LCD displays.
- On/off control of single displays in areas acquired previously.
- Acquisition of the ON/OFF value of single segments or the value represented, numerically and in an OCR format.
- Reading of linear bar codes or 2D bar codes.
- Configuration of camera settings.
- The camera can be configured while the test programme is running, with the calling up of a screenshot where the brightness, exposure time, gain of individual base colours, image rotation, etc. can be edited.
- The effect of the change is visible straightaway on a part of the screen, for immediate evaluation.
Our development system is based on AFT with implementations for instructions concerning artificial vision; it therefore maintains the same simple approach of learning about and running optical inspection programmes, with considerable time and cost savings.