DESC:PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHMENT. ,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. An apparatus (101) for sorting a plurality of miniature components (107), the apparatus (101) comprising:
a glass platform (103) comprising a glass plate (105), wherein the plurality of miniature components (107) are placed on the glass plate (105) in any orientations to maintain stable positions of the plurality of miniature components (107);
an imaging set up comprising an image acquisition device (113) and a light source (111),
wherein the light source (111) is a collimated backlight which is positioned immediately below the glass plate (105) and is configured to emit light rays parallel to the plurality of miniature components (107) placed on the glass plate (105) with low diverging angles, and
wherein the image acquisition device (113) is positioned above the glass plate (105) and is configured to automatically capture one or more images of the plurality of miniature components (107) at different focal planes;
a control unit (117) communicatively coupled with the imaging setup (109) and configured to:
receive the captured one or more images of the plurality of miniature components (107);
process and analyse the captured one or more images, using at least one image processing technique, to measure different dimensions of the plurality of miniature components (107); and
sort the plurality of miniature components (107) according to the measured different dimensions of the plurality of miniature components (107).
2. The apparatus (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glass platform (103) is made from a high scratch resistant material and exhibits an optical transparency for light illumination through the glass plate (105).
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3. The apparatus (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source (111) comprises at least one of an Light Emitting Diode (LED) array or a fluorescent source packed with at least one of a Fresnel lens or parabolic reflector to produce parallel light rays.
4. The apparatus (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (117) is further configured to:
automatically adjust the light source (111) to decrease or increase an intensity of the light.
5. The apparatus (101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein to process and analyse the captured images, the control unit (117) is configured to:
extract unique points on the plurality of miniature components (107) by performing detailed and precise object analysis; and
identify one or more parameters of the plurality of miniature components (107) based on the analysis, wherein the one or more parameters comprises symmetry of the plurality of miniature components (107), aspect ratio of the plurality of miniature components (107), shape and size of the plurality of miniature components (107), height or depth of the plurality of miniature components (107), and length and width of the plurality of miniature components (107).
6. The apparatus (101) as claimed in claim 5, wherein to sort the plurality of miniature components (107), the control unit (117) is configured to:
group the plurality of miniature components (107) based on the symmetry of the plurality of miniature components (107), aspect ratio of the plurality of miniature components (107), shape and size of the plurality of miniature components (107), height or depth of the plurality of miniature components (107), and length and width of the plurality of miniature components (107).
7. A method (400) for sorting a plurality of miniature components(107), the method (400) comprising:
placing (402) a plurality of miniature components (107) in any orientations on a glass platform (103) to maintain stable positions of the plurality of miniature components
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(107), wherein the glass platform (103) comprises a glass plate (105) to hold the plurality of miniature components (107);
illuminating (404) light rays parallel to the plurality of miniature components (107) placed on the glass plate (105) with low diverging angles using a light source (111), wherein the light source (111) is a collimated backlight and positioned immediately below the glass plate (105);
automatically capturing (406) one or more images of the plurality of miniature components (107) at different focal planes using an image acquisition device (113) positioned above the glass plate (105);
receiving (408) the captured one or more images of the plurality of miniature components (107);
processing and analysing (410) the captured one or more images, using at least one image processing technique, to measure different dimensions of the plurality of miniature components (107); and
sorting (412) the plurality of miniature components (107) according to the measured different dimensions of the plurality of miniature components (107).
8. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the glass platform (103) is made from a high scratch resistant material and exhibits an optical transparency for light illumination through the glass plate (105).
9. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light source (111) comprises at least one of an Light Emitting Diode (LED) array or a fluorescent source packed with at least one of a Fresnel lens or parabolic reflector to produce parallel light rays.
10. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:
automatically adjusting the light source (111) to decrease or increase an intensity of the light.
11. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:
extracting unique points on the plurality of miniature components (107) by performing detailed and precise object analysis; and
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identifying one or more parameters of the plurality of miniature components (107) based on the analysis, wherein the one or more parameters comprises symmetry of the plurality of miniature components (107), aspect ratio of the plurality of miniature components (107), shape and size of the plurality of miniature components (107), height or depth of the plurality of miniature components (107), and length and width of the plurality of miniature components (107).
12. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:
grouping the plurality of miniature components (107) based on the symmetry of the plurality of miniature components (107), aspect ratio of the plurality of miniature components v, shape, and size of the plurality of miniature components (107), height or depth of the plurality of miniature components (107), and length and width of the plurality of miniature components (107).