Imaging and inspection system for a dispenser and method for same

1. A dispensing system for dispensing materials onto a substrate, the dispensing system comprising:

a dispenser having a dispensing outlet positionable and moveable over a top surface of the substrate, the dispenser having a substantially vertical dispensing axis along which material from the dispenser is dispensed;

a vision system, mechanically coupled to the dispenser, the vision system being positionable to obtain images of the top surface of the substrate along an optical axis, wherein the vision system is constructed and arranged such that the optical axis intersects the dispensing axis, the vision system including a telecentric lens configuration, the vision system being configured to obtain two-dimensional images of the top surface of the substrate; and

a controller coupled to the dispenser and the vision system, the controller being configured to control dispensing parameters of the dispenser and to control the vision system and acquire images from the vision system, the controller and the vision system being configured to capture an image of a drop of material dispensed onto the substrate and to determine at least one parameter of the drop of material, the controller being configured to compare at least one parameter with a predetermined boundary for the at least one parameter to obtain a comparison result and to adjust the dispensing parameters based on the comparison result.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a light source mechanically coupled to the dispenser and constructed and arranged to direct light along an illumination axis that intersects the dispensing axis and the optical axis.

3. The dispensing system of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing system is constructed and arranged such that the top surface of the substrate at a dispensing position in the dispensing system is substantially horizontal and an angle between the optical axis and the top surface of the substrate is substantially equal to an angle between the illumination axis and the top surface of the substrate.

4. The dispensing system of claim 3 , wherein the light source is configured to generate a fan of rays along a line on the top surface of the substrate.

5. The dispensing system of claim 3 , wherein the light source is configured to generate a parallel set of rays.

6. The dispensing system of claim 5 , wherein the light source includes a laser.

7. The dispensing system of claim 3 , further comprising a gantry system coupled to the dispenser and the vision system to position the dispenser and the vision system over the top surface of the substrate.

8. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller and the vision system are configured to measure a height of at least one point on the top surface of the substrate.

9. The dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller and the vision system are configured to capture an image of a drop of material dispensed onto the substrate and to determine at least one parameter of the drop of material.

10. The dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one parameter is at least one of a height of the drop, a diameter of the drop, a volume of the drop, and a location of the drop on the substrate.

11. A dispensing system for dispensing materials onto a substrate, the dispensing system comprising:

a dispenser having a dispensing outlet positionable over a top surface of the substrate, the dispenser having a substantially vertical dispensing axis along which material from the dispenser is dispensed;

a vision system mechanically coupled to the dispenser, the vision system being positionable to obtain images of the top surface of the substrate along an optical axis, wherein the vision system is constructed and arranged such that the optical axis intersects the dispensing axis, wherein the vision system includes a telecentric lens configuration, the vision system being configured to obtain two dimensional images of the top surface of the substrate, wherein the vision system includes a detector having a detector plane that forms a first acute angle with the optical axis, and wherein the first acute angle is substantially equal to a second acute angle between the optical axis and the top surface of the substrate;

a light source coupled to the dispenser and constructed and arranged to direct light along an illumination axis that intersects the dispensing axis and the optical axis;

a gantry system coupled to the dispenser and the vision system to position the dispenser and vision system over the top surface of the substrate; and

a controller coupled to the dispenser and the vision system, wherein the controller and the vision system are configured to capture an image of a drop of material dispensed onto the substrate and to determine at least one parameter of the drop of material.

12. A dispensing system for dispensing materials onto a substrate, the dispensing system comprising:

a dispenser having a dispensing outlet positionable over a top surface of the substrate, the dispenser having a substantially vertical dispensing axis along which material from the dispenser is dispensed; and

a vision system, mechanically coupled to the dispenser, the vision system being positionable to obtain images of the top surface of the substrate along an optical axis, wherein the vision system is constructed and arranged such that the optical axis intersects the dispensing axis, wherein the vision system includes a detector having a detector plane that forms a first acute angle with the optical axis, wherein the first acute angle is substantially equal to a second acute angle between the optical axis and the top surface of the substrate, and wherein the vision system includes a telecentric lens configuration and is capable of capturing two dimensional images of the top surface of the substrate.