VIEW Engineering explained

Type:Private
Fate:Renamed to VIEW Micro-Metrology (2008)
Foundation:Canoga Park, California
Founder:Dr. Richard Hubach
Jack Sacks
Veeder South
Location Country:United States
Locations:1 facility (2011)
Area Served:Worldwide
Industry:Semiconductor device fabrication
Integrated circuit packaging
Printed circuit board
Computer data storage
Precision assembly & fabrication
Products:Machine vision systems
Coordinate-measuring machines
Automated optical inspection systems
Parent:Quality Vision International, Inc.

VIEW Engineering was one of the first manufacturers of commercial machine vision systems.[1] These systems provided automated dimensional measurement, defect detection, alignment and quality control capabilities. They were used primarily in the Semiconductor device fabrication, Integrated circuit packaging, Printed circuit board, Computer data storage and Precision assembly / fabrication industries.[2] VIEW's systems used video and laser technologies to perform their functions without touching the parts being examined.

History

While working as a physicist at Hughes Aircraft Company, Dick Hubach recognized a need for automated dimensional measurement systems, when he discovered that the cost to verify the correct manufacture of some aerospace components actually exceeded the cost to manufacture those components.[3] This recognition led to a new start-up company named VIEW Engineering.

VIEW Engineering was founded in Canoga Park, California in 1976.[1] The next year, VIEW introduced the word's first automated, 3-axis, machine vision-based, dimensional measurement system – the RB-1.[4] The RB-1 was the forerunner of modern machine vision-based Coordinate-measuring machines (CMMs). This was followed in 1978 by the introduction of the first pattern recognition (Template matching) system for automated Wirebonding machines and Wafer probers – the PR-1.[4]

As the company's business increased, VIEW Engineering relocated to a facility in Chatsworth, California in late 1977 and again to Simi Valley, California in 1981.[5]

General Motors Corporation invested in VIEW Engineering in 1984[6] as part of its plan to improve automobile manufacturing quality in the U.S. through widespread use of factory floor machine vision technology. In 1989, VIEW Engineering purchased Synthetic Vision Systems, Inc.[7]

VIEW Engineering was an OEM for Mitutoyo in the late 1980s. This relationship was concluded when Mitutoyo licensed VIEW's machine vision technology in 1994. This licensed technology became the foundation for Mitutoyo's video and laser-based CMMs.[8]

In 1996, Robotic Vision Systems, Inc. (RVSI) first brought a patent infringement lawsuit against VIEW Engineering related to the coplanarity measurement of packaged semiconductor devices.[9] In 2000, RVSI's patent was finally declared invalid and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled in favor of VIEW Engineering.[10] Even after this ruling, RVSI contemplated continuing its appeals through 2001.[11]

Also in 1996, VIEW Engineering was purchased by General Scanning, Inc. (GSI).[12] Quality Vision International, Inc. (QVI) purchased the company from GSI Lumonics (previously GSI) in 2000.[13] In 2005, QVI combined VIEW Engineering with Micro Metric, Inc. of San Jose, California, and in 2008 renamed the new company "VIEW Micro-Metrology."[1] In 2009, VIEW's California operations were relocated to QVI's Western Region facility in Tempe, Arizona.

VIEW Micro-Metrology continues to be global supplier of high-accuracy video coordinate measuring systems and software, primarily serving micro-electronic, mobile device and data storage manufacturing.[14]

Product timeline

The timeline given above is summarized here.[4]

Patents

VIEW Engineering's patents related to correlation-based pattern recognition were the foundation of the company's beginnings:
A number of VIEW Engineering's 31 patents address key video technologies useful in machine vision-based CMMs including:
Other VIEW Engineering patents relate to the 3D laser-scanning technology used in VIEW's PGA, QFP, TQFP, TSOP and BGA package inspection systems:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About VIEW Micro-Metrology. VIEW Micro-Metrology. 7 July 2011.
  2. Web site: VIEW Micro-Metrology Applications. VIEW Micro-Metrology. 7 July 2011.
  3. Web site: VIEW Ugly Duckling PDF Document. VIEW Micro-Metrology. 12 July 2011.
  4. Web site: History of VIEW Micro-Metrology. VIEW Micro-Metrology. 9 July 2011.
  5. Web site: VIEW Engineering, Inc, Simi Valley. Techspex. 7 July 2011.
  6. Web site: GM Corp acquires a minority stake in VIEW Engineering Inc. Thomson Financial Mergers & Acquisitions. 7 July 2011.
  7. Web site: VIEW Engineering Inc acquires Synthetic Vision Systems. Thomson Financial Mergers & Acquisitions. 7 July 2011.
  8. Web site: Mitutoyo Company UK, Mitutoyo Worldwide, Section 9, 2nd Paragraph. Mitutoyo UK. 13 July 2011.
  9. Web site: 189 F3d 1370 Robotic Vision Systems Inc v VIEW Engineering Inc. OpenJurist. 14 July 2011.
  10. Web site: Court Decides on Machine Vision Patent Suit. Society of Manufacturing Engineers. 14 July 2011.
  11. Web site: Robotic Vision Systems Inc Says It May Appeal in Patent Infringement Suit. MachineVisionOnline. 14 July 2011.
  12. Web site: General Scanning Inc acquires VIEW Engineering Inc. Thomson Financial Mergers & Acquisitions. 7 July 2011.
  13. Web site: GSI Lumonics announces the sale of its Metrology Product Line to QVI. PRNewswire. 7 July 2011.
  14. Web site: VIEW Micro-Metrology. VIEW Micro-Metrology. 7 July 2011.
  15. Web site: VIEW Engineering Assignee Patent Directory Page 1. Patentmaps. 10 July 2011.
  16. Web site: Illumination. VIEW Micro-Metrology. 10 July 2011.
  17. Web site: VIEW Engineering Assignee Patent Directory Page 2. Patentmaps. 10 July 2011.
  18. Web site: VIEW Engineering Assignee Patent Directory Page 3. Patentmaps. 10 July 2011.
  19. Web site: VIEW Engineering Assignee Patent Directory Page 4. Patentmaps. 10 July 2011.
  20. Web site: Ronchi Grid. VIEW Micro-Metrology. 10 July 2011.

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