Samuel D Ingram

US Patent:

6587743, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Jul 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/361791

Inventors:

William H. White - Houston TX
Samuel K. Ingram - Houston TX

Assignee:

B P Microsystems, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

700121, 29740

Abstract:

Systems and methods for teaching a location in a device programming apparatus. The X, Y, Z and angle coordinates of a pick and place nozzle are initialized, and the nozzle is moved in the X and Y coordinates to a position above the device in the location to be taught. The new X and Y coordinates of the nozzle are stored to a memory along with the initial angle coordinate. The system automatically determines the Z location of the surface of the device. The nozzle then automatically picks up the device and performs vision centering to determine the X, Y and angle offsets with respect to the initialized coordinates. The X, Y and angle offsets are used to modify the stored X, Y and angle coordinates so as to precisely determine the X and Y location of the device center as well as the device angle with respect to the systems global reference frame.