OrCAD Link Tool for Automated Optical Inspection of Assembled Boards

Automated optical inspection (AOI) of assembled PCB's is one of the most widely spread non-destructive testing method used in mass-production of electronic systems. Fast video processing algorithms and precise mechanical systems are supporting this cost-effective method for investigating electronics assemblies. However, for small production quantities, or for often changes in production line, the AOI bottleneck resides in the effort needed for adapting the pattern recognition files and component locations for each new board. The paper will present an effective method for importing assembly and technology files directly from the CAD environment and generating proper configuration files for the AOI system. The proposed linking tool will not only have the advantage of reducing time-to-test parameter, but will also increase the accuracy of the AOI process by providing test setups directly from CAD files of the device-under-test board (Prasad, 2002).