WO2010108089A2

WO2010108089A2 - Display device for measurement tool

Info

Publication number: WO2010108089A2
Application number: PCT/US2010/027962
Authority: WO
Inventors: Al Boehnlein
Original assignee: Perceptron, Inc.
Priority date: 2009-03-19
Filing date: 2010-03-19
Publication date: 2010-09-23
Also published as: WO2010108089A3

Abstract

A measurement device is herein disclosed. The measurement device comprises a measurement module and a measuring probe operably coupled to said measurement module, said measuring probe having at least one sensor at a distal end of said measuring probe, wherein said sensor communicates sensor signals to said measurement module. Further, the device includes a camera having a lens coupled to the measuring probe, wherein said lens focuses on an area proximate to said distal end of said probe; and a display unit displaying images generated by said camera.

Description

DISPLAY DEVICE FOR MEASUREMENT TOOL

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/161 ,434 filed on March 19, 2009. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a display device used in connection with a measurement tool.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Modern electronic circuit boards include various electrical circuits that use various electrical components. Often, the components may be electrically conductive and/or may carry an electrical charge. The components may be arranged in close proximity to one another.

[0004] When a circuit board requires assembly, servicing, testing, or repair, various tools may be used to perform measurements corresponding to the components. For example, the tool may be a multi-meter that measures voltage or current between components on the circuit board. The tool may be an oscilloscope or other measurement tool to measure time based signals between components. The measurement tool may measure various data including voltage, current, resistance, continuity, pressure, temperature, and time based signals.

[0005] The measurement tool may include probes to contact the components and create the connections used for the measurements. A user of the measurement tool may use one or more probes to connect the components and perform the measurement in an area being inspected. The user may cause electrical damage to the circuit board by creating an unintended electrical connection between components and/or other connections with the probes. For example, the probes may create a short circuit between two components on the circuit board. The user may physically damage the circuit board by applying too much pressure to the component while performing the measurement. As circuit boards decrease in size and increase in complexity, the potential for damage increases. [0006] Furthermore, the user may shift visual focus from the area being inspected to the measurement tool in order to see a current measurement reading. When the user shifts focus from the circuit board to the measurement tool, the probes of the tool may also shift and damage the circuit board. The components and electrical connections are often small, making inspection and work on the circuit board difficult to see without magnification. Relative size and depth of the components may be difficult to determine due to the close proximity of the components to one another. Ambient light may cast shadows on the circuit board further diminishing visibility of the area being inspected.

[0007] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

SUMMARY

[0008] A measurement device is herein disclosed. The measurement device comprises a measurement module and a measuring probe operably coupled to said measurement module, said measuring probe having at least one sensor at a distal end of said measuring probe, wherein said sensor communicates sensor signals to said measurement module. Further, the device includes a camera having a lens coupled to the measuring probe, wherein said lens focuses on an area proximate to said distal end of said probe; and a display unit displaying images generated by said camera.

[0009] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

[0010] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS [0011] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 1 is a drawing of an exemplary measurement device; [0013] Figure 2 is a drawing of an exemplary measurement device integrating the measurement module and the display device in a single housing;

[0014] Figure 3 is a drawing of an exemplary measurement device integrating the measurement module and the display device in separate housings;

[0015] Figure 4 is a drawing of an exemplary measurement device having the measurement module and the display device in separate housings, wherein the measurement is communicated to the display device;

[0016] Figure 5 is a drawing of an exemplary measurement device having two cameras;

[0017] Figure 6 is a drawing of an exemplary measuring probe and a camera including a light source that illuminates a measuring area; [0018] Figure 7 is a drawing of an exemplary measuring probe and a camera including a light source that illuminates a measuring area;

[0019] Figure 8 is a drawing of an exemplary measuring probe and a camera including a light source using structured lighting;

[0020] Figure 9 is a drawing of an exemplary measuring probe having a camera disposed therein; and

[0021] Figure 10 is a drawing of an exemplary measuring probe having a camera disposed therein.

[0022] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1 , a device 100 enables the user of a measurement tool 200 to view an area 102 of a circuit board 104 being inspected on a display 106. The area 102 may include various components 108 and connections 1 10. The device 100 includes a camera 1 12 mounted to a probe 1 14 that is directed towards the area 102 being inspected. The camera 1 12 transmits an image 1 16 of the area 102 to the display 106. The camera 1 12 may be detachable from the probe 1 14. The camera 1 12 and the probe 114 may be integrated into a single unit.

[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the device 100 may be integrated in the measurement tool 200. The measurement tool 200 may include the display 106 and the probe 1 14 may include the camera 1 12. The camera 1 12 transmits the image 1 16 of the area 102 to the display 106 on the measurement tool 200. The probe 1 14 transmits a measurement reading 1 18 to the display 106. The user may view the image 1 16 of the area 102 and the current measurement reading 1 18 on the same display 106.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, in another embodiment 100', the display 106 may be separate from the measurement tool 200. The display 106 may display the image 1 16 of the area 102 while the measurement tool 200 displays the measurement reading 1 18. [0027] Referring now to FIG. 4, in another embodiment 100", the display

106 and the measurement tool 200 may be coupled such that the camera 1 12 transmits the image 1 16 to the display 106. The probe 1 14 transmits the measurement reading 1 18 to the measurement tool 200. The measurement tool 200 transmits the measurement reading 118 to the display 106. [0028] Referring to FIG. 5, in another embodiment 100'", a second camera 120 transmits an image 122 of the measurement reading 1 18 on the measurement tool 200 to the display 106.

[0029] The device 100 may include magnification to improve visibility of the components 108 and connections 1 10 of the circuit board 104 on the display

106. For example, the image 116 may be magnified to improve viewing of the area

102. The magnification may be optical magnification by the camera 1 12 or digital magnification.

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the probe 114 may include a light source 124 to improve visibility of the components 108 and connections 1 10 of the circuit board 104. For example, the camera 1 12 may include the light source 124 to improve the image 116 of the area 102 being inspected. The probe 1 14 may include a depth cue generator to provide improved depth perception. For example, the light source 124 may be mounted off-axis with respect to the camera 1 12. The light source 124 may cast a shadow 126 from the probe 1 14 onto the circuit board 104. The user may use the shadow 126 to determine an approximate distance (D) between the probe 1 14 and the component 108 based on a distance (D') between the shadow 126 and the component 108.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 8, the probe 1 14 may include a light source 124' using structured lighting. The structured lighting may include a light pattern 128 emitted from the light source 124'. The camera 1 12 may acquire dimensional data based on the light pattern 128 as light reflects back to the camera 1 12 from the component 108. The camera 1 12 may transmit the dimensional data to the device 100 to be displayed. [0032] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the camera 1 12 may be disposed within the probe 1 14. A mirror 130 may reflect the area 102 being inspected back to the camera 1 12. The light source 124 may include an LED light to illuminate the area 102. The camera 1 12 may transmit the image 1 16 of the area 102 to the display 106 by a printed circuit board 132. As shown in FIG. 9, the display 106 may be integrated with the probe 114. In other embodiments, the display 106 may be attached to a separate tool such as an electrical testing probe, a soldering tool, and/or a precision glue tool. The image 116 may be transmitted to the display 106 by a radio frequency, a personal area network protocol, or other wireless connection. [0033] In any of the embodiments, the camera 1 12 may be disposed outside the probe 114 or within the probe 1 14 using the mirror 130. The device 100 may include a camera fixture to attach the camera 112 to existing designs or products. For example, the camera 1 12 may be attached to an existing test probe or soldering iron using the camera fixture. The camera 1 12 may be removable from the test probe or soldering iron.

[0034] While the above description has been provided with reference to electrical measurement device, it is envisioned that the concepts set forth above also extend to a soldering tool, a precision glue tool and other similar tools.

[0035] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A measurement device comprising: a measurement module; a measuring probe operably coupled to said measurement module, said measuring probe having at least one sensor at a distal end of said measuring probe, wherein said sensor communicates sensor signals to said measurement module; a camera having a lens coupled to the measuring probe, wherein said lens focuses on an area proximate to said distal end of said probe; and a display unit displaying images generated by said camera.