A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
This invention relates to an apparatus for three dimensional inspection, a method of manufacturing electronic components using the apparatus, and and the electronic components produced according to the method. More particularly, this invention relates to three dimensional inspection of solder balls on ball grid arrays and solder bumps on wafer and die, and to calibration.
Prior art three dimensional inspection systems have involved laser range finding technology, moire interferometry, structured light patterns or two cameras. The laser range finding method directs a focused laser beam onto the Ball Grid Array, BGA, and detects the reflected beam with a sensor. Elements of the BGA are determined in the X, Y and Z dimensions utilizing a triangulation method. This method requires a large number of measurement samples to determine the dimensions of the BGA resulting in longer inspection times. This method also suffers from specular reflections from the smooth surfaces of the solder balls resulting in erroneous data.
Moire interferometry utilizes the interference of light waves generated by a diffraction grating to produce a pattern of dark contours on the surface of the BGA. These contours are of known distance in the Z dimension from the diffraction grating. By counting the number of contours from one point on the BGA to another point on the BGA, the distance in the Z dimension between the two points can be determined. This method suffers from the problem of low contrast contour lines resulting in missed counting of the number of contours and resulting in erroneous data. This method also suffers from the contour lines merging at surfaces with steep slopes, such as the sides of the balls on the BGA, resulting in an incorrect count of the number of contours and resulting in erroneous data.
Structured light systems project precise bands of light onto the part to be inspected. The deviation of the light band from a straight line is proportional to the distance from a reference surface. The light bands are moved across the part, or alternately the part is moved with respect to the light bands, and successive images are acquired. The maximum deviation of the light band indicates the maximum height of a ball. This method suffers from specular reflections due to the highly focused nature of the light bands resulting in erroneous data. This method further suffers from increased inspection times due to the number of images required.
Two camera systems utilize one camera to view the BGA device in the normal direction to determine X and Y dimensions and the second camera to view the far edges of the balls from an angle. The two images are combined to determine the apparent height of each ball in the Z dimension utilizing a triangulation method. This method suffers from the need for a higher angle of view of the ball from the second camera resulting in looking at a point significantly below the top of the ball for BGA's having fine pitch. This method also suffers from limited depth of focus for the second camera limiting the size of BGA's that can be inspected. This system can only inspect BGA's and not other device types such as gullwing and J lead devices.
The prior art does not provide two separate and opposite side views permitting larger BGA's to be inspected or nonlinear optics to enhance the separation between adjacent ball images in the side perspective view.
It is therefore a motivation of the invention to improve the accuracy of the measurements, the speed of the measurements, the ability to measure all sizes and pitches of BGA's and to measure other devices including gullwing and J lead parts in a single system.
The invention provides a calibration and part inspection method and apparatus for the inspection of BGA devices. The invention includes two cameras to image a precision pattern mask with dot patterns deposited on a transparent reticle to be inspected and provides information needed for calibration. A light source and overhead light reflective diffuser provide illumination that enhances the outline of the ball grid array. A first camera images the reticle precision pattern mask from directly below. An additional mirror or prism located below the bottom plane of the reticle reflects the reticle pattern mask from a side view, through prisms or reflective surfaces, into a second camera. A second additional mirror or prism located below the bottom plane of the reticle reflects the opposite side view of the reticle pattern mask through prisms or mirrors into a second camera. By imaging more than one dot pattern, the missing state values of the system can be resolved using a trigonometric solution. The reticle with the pattern mask is removed after calibration and a BGA to be inspected is placed with the balls facing downward, in such a manner as to be imaged by the two cameras. The scene of the part can thus be triangulated and the dimensions of the BGA are determined.
The system optics are designed to focus images for all perspectives without the need for an additional focusing element. The optics of the side views may incorporate a nonlinear element to stretch the image in one direction to increase the apparent spacing between adjacent ball images allowing a lower angle of view and inspection of BGA's with closely spaced balls.
The invention provides an apparatus for inspecting a ball grid array, wherein the apparatus is calibrated using a precision pattern mask with dot patterns deposited on a calibration transparent reticle. The apparatus for inspecting a ball grid array comprises a means for mounting the ball grid array and a means for illuminating the ball grid array to provide an outline of the ball grid array. A first camera is positioned to image the ball grid array to provide a first image of the ball grid array. A first means for light reflection is positioned to reflect the ball grid array through a second means for light reflection into a second camera, wherein the second camera provides a second image of the ball grid array. A third means for light reflection is positioned to reflect an opposite side view of the ball grid array into a fourth means for light reflection and into the second camera as part of the second image of the ball grid array. A means for image processing, such as a computer, microprocessor or digital signal processor, processes the first image and second image of the ball grid array to inspect the ball grid array.
The invention also provides a method for three dimensional inspection of a lead on a part mounted on a reticle. The method comprises the steps of: locating a first camera to receive an image of the lead; transmitting an image of the lead to a first frame grabber; providing fixed optical elements to obtain two side perspective views of the lead; locating a second camera to receive an image of the two side perspective views of the lead; transmitting the two side perspective views of the lead to a second frame grabber; operating a processor to send a command to the first frame grabber and second frame grabber to acquire images of pixel values from the first camera and the second camera; and processing the pixel values with the processor to obtain three dimensional data about the lead.
The invention also provides a method to inspect a ball grid array device comprising the steps of: locating a point on a world plane determined by a bottom view ray passing through a center of a ball on the ball grid array device; locating a side perspective view point on the world plane determined by a side perspective view ray intersecting a ball reference point on the ball and intersecting the bottom view ray at a virtual point where the side perspective view ray intersects the world plane at an angle determined by a reflection of the side perspective view ray off of a back surface of a prism where a value of the angle was determined during a calibration procedure; calculating a distance L, as a difference between a first world point, defined by an intersection of the bottom view ray with a Z=0 world plane, and a second world point, defined by the intersection of the side perspective view ray and the Z=0 a world plane, where a value Z is defined as a distance between a third world point and is related to L, as follows:
tan θ1=Z/L1
Z=L1tanθ1
wherein Z is computed based on the angle; computing an offset E as the difference between the virtual point defined by the intersection of the bottom view ray and the side perspective view ray and a crown of a ball at a crown point that is defined by the intersect ion of the bottom view ray with the crown of the ball, and can be calculated from a knowledge of the angle and ideal dimensions of the ball where a final value of Z for the ball
ZFinal=Z−E.
The invention also provides a method for finding a location and dimensions of a ball in a ball grid array from a bottom image comprising the steps of: defining a region of interest in the bottom image of an expected position of a ball where a width and a height of the region of interest are large enough to allow for positioning tolerances of the ball grid array for inspection; imaging the ball, wherein the ball is illuminated to allow a spherical shape of the ball to present a donut shaped image, wherein the region of interest includes a perimeter of the ball wherein the bottom image comprises camera pixels of higher grayscale values and where a center of the bottom image comprises camera pixels of lower grayscale value and wherein a remainder of the region of interest comprises camera pixels of lower grayscale values; finding an approximate center of the ball by finding an average position of pixels having pixel values that are greater than a predetermined threshold value; converting the region of lower grayscale pixel values to higher grayscale values using coordinates of the approximate center of the ball; and finding the center of the ball.
The invention also provides a method for finding a reference point on a ball in an image of a side perspective view of a ball grid array comprising the steps of: defining a region of interest in the image from an expected position of a ball wherein a width and a height of the region of interest are large enough to allow for positioning tolerances of the ball grid array; imaging the ball, wherein the ball is illuminated to allow a spherical shape of the ball to present a crescent shaped image having camera pixels of higher grayscale values, and wherein a remainder of the region of interest comprises camera pixels of lower grayscale values; computing an approximate center of the crescent shaped image by finding an average position of pixels that are greater than a predetermined threshold value; using coordinates of the approximate center of the crescent; determining a camera pixel as a seed pixel representing a highest edge on a top of the crescent shaped image; and determining a subpixel location of the reference point based on the camera pixel coordinates of the seed pixel that define coordinates of a region of interest for the seed pixel.
Electronic components are produced according to manufacturing methods that provide for three dimensional inspection of the electronic componenets.
To illustrate this invention, a preferred embodiment will be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1B1, 1B2, and 1B3 show an example calibration pattern and example images of the calibration pattern acquired by the system.
FIGS. 2F1 and 2F2 show a bottom view and a side perspective view of precision dots used in the method for determining a side perspective view angle.
FIGS. 3B1, 3B2, and 3B3 show example images of a part acquired by the system.
FIGS. 11B1, 11B2, and 11B3 show an example calibration pattern and example images of a calibration pattern acquired by the system, utilizing a single side perspective view, of the invention.
FIGS. 12B1, 12B2, and 12B3 show an example ball grid array and example images of the ball grid array for three dimensional inspection, utilizing a single side perspective view.
In one embodiment of the invention, the method and apparatus disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for calibrating the system by placing a pattern of calibration dots of known spacing and size on the bottom plane of a calibration reticle. From the precision dots the missing state values of the system are determined allowing for three dimensional inspection of balls on ball grid array devices, BGA devices or balls on wafers or balls on die. In one embodiment of the invention the system may also inspect gullwing and J lead devices as well as ball grid arrays.
Refer now to
FIGS. 1B1, 1B2 and 1B3 show an example image 50 from camera 10 and an example image 60 from camera 15 acquired by the system. The image 50, a bottom view of dot pattern 22, shows dots 52 acquired by camera 10. The dot pattern contains precision dots 24 of known dimensions and spacing. The precision dots 24 are located on the bottom surface of the calibration reticle 20. The image 60 shows two side perspective views of the dot pattern 22. A first side perspective view in image 60 contains images 62 of dots 24 and is obtained by the reflection of the image of the calibration reticle dot pattern 22 off of fixed optical elements 30, 32 and 38 into camera 15. A second side perspective view in image 60 contains images 66 of dots 24 and is obtained by the reflection of the image of the calibration reticle dot pattern 22 off of fixed optical elements 34, 36 and 38 into camera 15.
Optical element 36 is positioned to adjust the optical path length of a second side perspective view to equal the optical path length of a first side perspective view. Those skilled in the art will realize that any number of perspective views can be utilized by the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, the maximum depth of focus of a side perspective view includes an area of the reticle including the center row of dots. This allows for a fixed focus system to inspect larger parts, with one perspective view imaging half of the part and the second perspective view imaging the other half of the part.
tan θ=C/DB
C/sin A=L/sin A
Therefore:
C=L
cos θ=DS/L=DS/C
C=DS/cos θ
Substituting:
tan θ=(DS/cos θ)/DB=DS/DB cos θ
(tan θ)(cos θ)=DS/DB=sin θ
θ=arcsin(DS/DB)
FIGS. 2F1 and 2F2 show a bottom view and a side perspective view of precision dots used in the method for determining a side perspective view angle 177 as shown in
DBcal=DB(Dh/DH)
Substituting into the equation for the side perspective view angle 177 described earlier yields:
θ=arcsin(DS/DB)=arcsin(DS/DBcal)
θ=arcsin(DSDH/DBDh)
FIGS. 3B1, 3B2, and 3B3 show an example image 80 from camera 10 and an example image 90 from camera 15 acquired by the system. The image 80 shows the bottom view of the balls located on the bottom surface of a part 70. The image 90 shows two side view perspectives of the balls located on part 70. A first side perspective view in image 90 contains images of balls 91 and is obtained by the reflection of the image of the part 70 off of fixed optical elements 30, 32 and 38 into camera 15. A second side perspective view in image 90 contains images of balls 92 and is obtained by the reflection of the image of the part 70 off of fixed optical elements 34, 36 and 38 into camera 15. Optical element 36 is positioned to adjust the optical path length of a second side perspective view to equal the optical path length of a first side perspective view. In one embodiment of the invention, the maximum depth of focus of a side perspective view just includes an area of the part including the center row of balls. This allows for a fixed focus system to inspect larger parts, with one perspective view imaging at least half of the part and the second perspective view imaging at least the other half of the part. Those skilled in the art will realize that any number of perspective views can be utilized by the invention. In another embodiment of the invention, all of the balls are in focus from both side perspective views resulting in two perspective views for each ball. This permits two Z calculations for each ball as shown in conjunction with
The invention contemplates the inspection of parts that have ball shaped leads whether or not packaged as a ball grid array. The invention also contemplates inspection of leads that present a generally curvilinear profile to an image sensor.
The inspection system processes the pixel values of the stored image 80 in step 154 to find a rotation, and X placement and Y placement of the part relative to the world X and Y coordinates. The processor determines these placement values finding points on four sides of the body of the part. In step 155, the processor employs a part definition file that contains values for an ideal part.
By using the measurement values from the part definition file and the placement values determined in step 154, the processor calculates an expected position for each ball of the part for the bottom view contained in image 80.
The processor employs a search procedure on the image data to locate the balls 81 in image 80. The processor then determines each ball's center location and diameter in pixel values using grayscale blob techniques as described in
The processor proceeds in step 156 to calculate an expected position of the center of each ball in both side perspective views in image 90 using the known position of each side view from calibration. The processor employs a subpixel edge detection method described in
Now refer to
In step 159 the Z height of each ball is calculated in world coordinates in pixel values. The method proceeds by combining the location of the center of a ball from the bottom view 80 with the reference point of the same ball from a side perspective view in image 90 as described in
In step 161 these part values are compared to the ideal values defined in the part file to calculate the deviation of each ball center from its ideal location. In one example embodiment of the invention the deviation values may include ball diameter in several orientations with respect to the X and Y part coordinates, ball center in the X direction, Y direction and radial direction, ball pitch in the X direction and Y direction and missing and deformed balls. The Z world data can be used to define a seating plane, using well known mathematical formulas, from which the Z dimension of the balls with respect to the seating plane can be calculated. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there are several possible definitions for seating planes from the data that may be used without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In step 162 the results of step 161 are compared to predetermined thresholds with respect to the ideal part as defined in the part file to provide an electronic ball inspection result. In one embodiment the predetermined tolerance values include pass tolerance values and fail tolerance values from industry standards. If the measurement values are less than or equal to the pass tolerance values, the processor assigns a pass result for the part. If the measurement values exceed the fail tolerance values, the processor assigns a fail result for the part. If the measurement values are greater than the pass tolerance values, but less than or not equal to the fail tolerance values, the processor designates the part to be reworked. The processor reports the inspection result for the part in step 163, completing part inspection. The process then returns to step 151 to await the next inspection signal.
Now refer to
Now refer to
tan θ1=Z/L1
Z can be computed by processor 13 since the angle 262 is known from calibration. The offset E 265 is the difference between the virtual point 261 defined by the intersection of ray 255 and ray 256 and the crown of ball 71 at point 264, defined by the intersection of ray 255 with the crown of ball 71, and can be calculated from the knowledge of the angle 262 and the ideal dimensions of the ball 71. The final value of Z for ball 71 is:
ZFinal=Z−E
In one embodiment of the invention the processor 13 implements image processing functions written in the C programming language.
The C language function “FindBlobCenter”, as described below, is called to find the approximate center of the ball 71 by finding the average position of pixels that are greater than a known threshold value. Using the coordinates of the approximate center of the ball 71, the region 282 of lower grayscale pixel values can be converted to higher grayscale values by calling the C language function “FillBallCenter”, as described below. The exact center of the ball 71 can be found by calling the C language function “FindBallCenter” which also returns an X world and Y world coordinate. The diameter of the ball 71 can be calculated by the C language function, “Radius=sqrt(Area/3.14)”. The area used in the diameter calculation comprises the sum of pixels in region 281 and 282.
The C language function “FindBlobCenter” is called to compute the approximate center of the crescent image 291 by finding the average position of pixels that are greater than a known threshold value. Using the coordinates of the approximate center of the crescent image 291, the C language function “FindCrescentTop” is called to determine the camera pixel, or seed pixel 292 representing the highest edge on the top of the crescent. The camera pixel coordinates of the seed pixel are used as the coordinates of a region of interest for determining the subpixel location of the side perspective ball reference point.
One example of grayscale blob analysis and reference point determination implemented in the C language is presented as follows:
In another embodiment of the invention, the method and apparatus disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for calibrating the system by placing a pattern of calibration dots of known spacing and dimensions on the bottom plane of a calibration reticle and for providing for two side perspective views of each ball for the three dimensional inspection of parts. From the precision dots the missing state values of the system are determined allowing for three dimensional inspection of balls on BGA devices or balls on wafers or balls on die.
Now refer to
Now refer to
tan θ1=Z1/L1
Z1=L1 tan θ1
The value Z2 is defined as the distance between world point 718 and 709 and is related to L2 as follows:
tan θ2=Z2/L2
Z2=L2 tan θ2
The average of Z1 and Z2 are calculated and used as the value for Z of the ball. This method is more repeatable and accurate than methods that use only one perspective view per ball.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the method and apparatus disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for calibrating the system by placing a pattern of calibration dots of known spacing and dimensions on the bottom plane of a calibration reticle and for providing a single side perspective view for the three dimensional inspection of parts. From the precision dots the missing state values of the system are determined allowing for three dimensional inspection of balls on BGA devices or balls on wafers or balls on die.
FIGS. 11B1, 11 B2, and 11 B3 show an example calibration pattern and example images of a calibration pattern acquired by the system, utilizing a single side perspective view, of the invention. FIGS. 11B1, 11B2, and 11B3 show an example image 50 from camera 10 and an example image 64 from camera 15 acquired by the system. The image 50 showing dots 52 acquired by camera 10 includes a bottom view of the dot pattern 22, containing precision dots 24 of known dimensions and spacing, located on the bottom surface of the calibration reticle 20. The image 64 shows a side perspective view of the dot pattern 22, containing precision dots 24 of known dimensions and spacing, located on the bottom surface of the calibration reticle 20. A side perspective view in image 64 contains images of dots 65 and is obtained by the reflection of the image of the calibration reticle dot pattern 22 off of fixed optical element 40, passing through nonlinear element 42 and into camera 15.
The side perspective calibration is identical to the method shown in
The determination of the state values for the side perspective view is identical to the method shown in
In still another embodiment employing a single side perspective view, the invention does not include the nonlinear element 42.
FIGS. 12B1, 12B2, and 12B3 show an example ball grid array and example images of the ball grid array for three dimensional inspection, utilizing a single side perspective view. FIGS. 12B1, 12B2, and 12B3 show an example image 80 from camera 10 and an example image 94 from camera 15 acquired by the system. The image 80 shows the bottom view of the balls 71 located on the bottom surface of a part 70. The image 94 shows a side perspective view of the balls 71 located on part 70. The side perspective view in image 94 contains images of balls 95 and is obtained by the reflection of the image of the part 70 off of fixed optical element 40 and passing through the nonlinear fixed element 42 into camera 15.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the system can be used to inspect other types of electronic parts in three dimensions, such as gullwing and J lead devices. By utilizing only one camera and adding an additional set of prisms on the reticle 400 these other devices may be inspected. The advantage of being able to inspect different devices with the same system includes savings in cost, and floor space in the factory. Additionally this design allows more flexibility in production planning and resource management.
The UltraVim is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/850,473 entitled THREE DIMENSIONAL INSPECTION SYSTEM by Beaty et al., filed May 5, 1997 which is incorporated in its entirely by reference thereto.
Refer now to
The invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the Patent Statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment details and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/351,892, filed Jul. 13, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,365, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/008,243, filed Jan. 16, 1998, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,898. The application Ser. No. 09/351,892 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,898 are incorporated by reference herein, in their entireties, for all purposes.
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