2019_4q_omron_e

26/39 IAB: X-ray Substrate Inspection Equipment

We have a video to show you. OMRON’s AXI is a unique OMRON inspection product that combines hardware, such as the industry’s fastest controller, servo motors and image sensors, with proprietary software. It epitomizes the advances to control technology that are possible through innovative-automation. Seeing is believing. Please watch the video. First, on the left you will see conventional 3D technology. An X-ray beam is emitted from below. You can then see that images are being captured as it moves. However, conventional 3D testing technology to date stopped at each individual inspection point to take images, prolonging tact time. It was also only able to take a limited number of images. This is why conventional technology did not meet the customers’ speed or accuracy requirements. Inspections were done on a sampling basis. Next, on the right is OMRON’s AXI. As you can see, the circular movement is continuous. You can only see the front sensor in the video, but on the lower side, there is an X-ray beam source controlled by the controller. OMRON’s high level fine-tuning and alignment of hardware and software made it possible to eliminate the need to stop at each inspection point. Instead, we developed a unique and rapid continuous technology for capturing images. This technology made it possible to speed up inspection times 2.3-fold relative to conventional 3D testing. You may think that a 2.3-fold improvement is not much of a change. However, this 2.3-fold speed is significant, because it makes it possible to inspect all of the individual units in the production line. Look once more at the video on the right. You should be able to see 2 rails. In this video, the devices on the rails are not moving, but in real use, the devices would move and it would be possible to inspect all of the devices in line. This is a revolutionary application that has made possible a process that was considered impossible to date. Today, we highlighted AXI as an example of the highly competitive assets we have built up as a result of the proactive investments to enhance innovative-automation. This is merely one example. We have developed many more application packages. Going forward, we will continue to leverage these assets to achieve sustainable growth for the IAB business.