Skip to main content
Log in

Recognition of thin, flat microelectromechanical structures for automation of the assembly process

  • Published:
Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Visual recognition of microelectromechanical parts is necessary for automation of the assembly process. The visual recognition system that we have developed is based partly on neural networks and partly on digital image-processing techniques. The system takes grey-level microscope images and produces recognition code as the output as well as information about micropart position. The recognition procedure is not sensitive to micropart position. This is ensured by preprocessing based on calculation of the image moment properties. For the recognition, a supervised feedforward neural network is utilized. A combination of standard backpropagation and resilient propagation is chosen for learning the network. The performance of the system is tested on recognition of the parts of a microvalve system. The results are satisfactory with respect to recognition accuracy and recognition time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Becker, E. W., Ehrfeld, W., Hagmann, P., Maner, A. and Münchmeyer, D. (1986) Fabrication of microstructures with high aspect ratios and great structural heights by synchrotron radiation lithography. Microelectronics Engineering, 4, 35–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun, H. and Riedmiller, M. (1992) RPROP: a fast adaptive learning algorithm, in Proceedings of the International Symposium on Computer and Information Science VII.

  • Bryzek, J., Petersen, K. and McCulley, W. (1994) Micromachines on the march. IEEE Spectrum, 5, 20–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cios, K. J. and Shin, I. (1995) Image recognition neural network: IRNN. Neurocomputing, 7, 159–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahrenberg, J., Maas, D., Menz, W. and Schomburg, W. K. (1994) Active microvalve system manufactured by the LIGA process, in Proceedings of ACTUATOR `94, Bremen, Germany, pp. 71–74.

  • Gengenbach, U. and Göttert, J. (1994) Requirements and first results of an assembly and handling apparatus for automated fabrication of microsystems, in Proceedings of Seminar on handling and Assembly of Microparts, Vienna, Austria, IFWT, TU Wien.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzales, R. and Woods, R. (1992) Digital Image Processing, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanseler, J. (1995) Back propagation, in Artificial Neural Networks, Braspenning, P. J., Thuijsman, F. and Weijters, A.J.M.M. (eds), Springer, pp. 37–66.

  • Kim, H. and Nam., K. (1995) Object recognition of one-DOF tools by a back-propagation neural net. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks, 2, 484–487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolesar, Jr, E. S. and Dyson, C. S. (1995) Optical imaging with a piezoelectric robotic tactile sensor. IEEE Journal of Micro-electromechanical Systems, 2, 87–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maas, D., Büstgens, B., Fahrenberg, J., Keller, W. and Seidel, D. (1994) Application of adhesive bonding for integration of microfluidic components, in Proceedings ACTUATOR `94, Bremen, Germany, pp. 75–78.

  • Menz, W., Bacher, W., Harmening, M. and Michel, A. (1991) The LIGA technique–a novel concept for microstructures and the combination with Si-technologies by injection molding, in Proceedings of MEMS 91, Nara, Japan, pp. 69–73.

  • Mitsuishi, M., Nagao, T., Natamura, Y., Kramer, B. and Warisawa, S. (1992) A manufacturing system for the global age, in Human Aspects and Computer Integrated Manufacturing Olling, G. J. and Kimura, F. (eds.), Elsevier Science, pp. 841–852.

  • Musavi, M. T., Chan, K. H., Hummels, D. M. and Kalantri, K. (1994) On the generalization ability of neural network classifiers. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Recognition and Machine Intelligence, 6, 659–663.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radjenović-Mrčarica, J. (1996) Neural network visual recognition system for microelectromechanical parts assembly, PhD Thesis, UBTUW-Verlag, Vienna, Austria.

  • Rosenfeld, A. and Kak, A. (1989) Digital Image Processing.

  • Rumelhart, D. E. Hinton, G. E. and Williams, R. J. (1986) Learning internal representation by error propagation, in Parallel Distributed Processing: Explorations in the Micro-structures Cognition, Rumelhart, D. E. and Mc.Clelland, J. L. (eds.) MIT Press, Cambrige, MA, pp. 318–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seithi, I. K. and Jain A. K. (1991) Artificial Neural Networks and Statistical Pattern Recognition–Old and New Connections, Elsevier Science.

  • Wilson, S. S. (1991) Teaching network conectivity using simulated annealing on a massively parallel processor, Proceedings of the IEEE, 4, 559–566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zell, A., Mamier, G., Vogt, M., Mache, N., Hübner, R., Herrmann, K. U., Soyez, T., Schmalzl, M., Sommer, T., Hatzigeorgiou, A., Dörning, S. and Posselt, D. (1995) SNNS: Stuttgart Neural Network Simulator: Users Manual, Version 4.0, University of Stuttgart, Institute of Applied and Distributed High Performance Systems.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

RADJENOVIC´-MRČARICA , J., DETTER , H. Recognition of thin, flat microelectromechanical structures for automation of the assembly process. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 8, 191–201 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018569123830

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018569123830

Navigation