A television system for dimensional measurement of an object to produce an output analog voltage representative of the dimensional measurement and providing a direct visual readout of the dimensional measurement, which system includes a televising video signal having horizontal synchronizational signals and video information signals in horizontal scan lines which televising means has integral therewith means for generating a horizontal sweep voltage to control a horizontal line scan between successive horizontal synchronized signals, gating means responsive to a predetermined number of gating pulses established by a horizontal and vertical field of view positioning means, an amplifier for amplifying the composite video signal, generating means responsive to the black/white voltage level of the gated video information signal of each of a predetermined number of horizontal line scan increments for generating first and second control signals when the black/white level is at preselected levels, storing means such as a sample and hold circuit which is responsive to the control signals to sample and hold electrical signals representative of the average voltage levels of the horizontal sweep voltage at each horizontal line scan increment when the first and second control signals are generated, a differential amplifier for generating an analog output voltage derived from the difference in stored voltage levels and display means responsive to the analog output voltage for producing a visual read out of the dimensional measurement of the object.

A device is provided for improving the vertical resolution in a television-based, two-dimensional readout for radiation detection systems such as are used to determine the location of light or nuclear radiation impinging a target area viewed by a television camera, where it is desired to store the data indicative of the centroid location of such images. In the example embodiment, impinging nuclear radiation detected in the form of a scintillation occurring in a crystal is stored as a charge image on a television camera tube target. The target is scanned in a raster and the image position is stored according to a corresponding vertical scan number and horizontal position number along the scan. To determine the centroid location of an image that may overlap a number of horizontal scan lines along the vertical axis of the raster, digital logic circuits are provided with at least four series-connected shift registers, each having 512 bit positions according to a selected 512 horizontal increment of resolutions along a scan line. The registers are shifted by clock pulses at a rate of 512 pulses per scan line. When an image or portion thereof is detected along a scan, its horizontal center location is determined and the present front bit is set in the first shift register and shifted through the registers one at a time for each horizontal scan. Each register is compared bit-by-bit with the preceding register to detect coincident set bit positions until the last scan line detecting a portion of the image is determined. Depending on the number of shift registers through which the first detection of the image is shifted, circuitry is provided to store the vertical center position of the event according to the number of shift registers through which the first detection of the event is shifted. Interpolation circuitry is provided to determine if the event centroid is between adjacent scan lines and stored in a vertical address accordingly. The horizontal location of the event is stored in a separate address memory.

A method and apparatus for positioning an object in space in such a manner as to permit duplication of the positioning in a precise position wherein three characteristic points on the object wherein the coordinates of the points are determined and are electrically synthesized for generation of a signal for reproducing the points on the coordinates, and utilizing a television camera and monitor forming an image of the object on the screen and causing the points of the object to coincide with the reference points by means of a photosensitive sensor in such a manner that the characteristic points on the body are displaced so as to coincide with the synthesized points on the television screen.

A positioning control circuit for locating a document image frame with respect to the scanning field of a camera in which the video and sync signals output from the camera are processed to determine the existence of a document reference mark within the camera field, as well as the coordinate location relative to the camera field, of a specific point within the reference mark. The actual coordinate position of the specific point within the reference mark is compared with a desired coordinate location, and the document image repositioned relative to the camera field in response to any difference existing between the actual and desired coordinate positions. This process is repeated during each successive field scanning operation until the mark coincides with the desired position, whereupon further signal processing and document image repositioning is terminated.

In the bonding apparatus disclosed herein, possible misalignment of a semiconductor chip at the work station is sensed by first optically scanning the workpiece using a video scanning head mounted on a common X-Y carriage with the bonding head. A zone signal is generated which defines, within the scanned area, a limited zone of consideration. The video signal is evaluated as a function of the zone signal to measure the extent of coincidence between the zone and a target area on the workpiece. The placement and dimensions of the zone are progressively adjusted responsive to the evaluation and in accordance with a search algorithm to locate at least two target areas on the workpiece and the bonding head is then traversed to adjusted target coordinates derived from the optically located target areas.