System integrator S | Fujifilm [Singapore]

“We would like you to propose a lens that can be used assuredly for the new semiconductor inspection equipment that we are developing.” The semiconductor inspection equipment manufacturer said so, and consulted with the system integrator S. However, the company S could not determine a way to evaluate the quality and performance of lens suitable for high-precision semiconductor inspection in which an error even in units of micron is not permitted.

Issues

Company S wants to deliver lenses with guaranteed uniform quality and performance.
Also, they want to reduce the time and labor spent for handling complaints of unexpected problems.

After the introduction of FUJINON lens with individual performance management

Company S gained the trust of customers by delivering lenses for which full inspections are conducted and performance is guaranteed by Fujifilm.
The serial number control system enables the checking of performance before shipment from factory.

Issue 1: To confidently propose a lens for high-precision inspection

Problem 1: The resolution performances of lenses often vary even for the same model.

Issue 2: To eliminate the time and labor spent in finding the causes of complaints

Problem 2: There is no method to promptly clarify that there is no problem with the lenses.

If a trouble occurs in the machine vision system, the company S that introduced the lens may receive an inquiry. In that case, it takes time and effort to find the cause even if the problem is not caused by the lens. In this way, other work is affected. The company S wanted to quickly solve this inquiry of troubles by selecting a lens with guaranteed quality.

The keys to solving these issues were...
a definite criterion for evaluation and internal manufacturing quality assurance and inspection.

Solution: Proposing a lens for which individual quality control is thoroughly implemented

The company S compared multiple lenses in the catalog specifications. However, these lenses were not numerically different from each other. The company S was at a loss in selecting a lens because in its previous experience, lenses with the same specification varied in actual performance. Then the manufacturer of image processing software, a business partner of company S, heard that “FUJINON lenses with ‘4D High Resolution,’ undergo the full inspections.” The company S decided to consult with Fujifilm.

Solution of issue 1: Recommendation of lenses manufactured, inspected for each, and controlled individually by own factory

Solution of issue 2: Promptly recognizing the lens data to avoid complaints

Handling of problems requires time and labor. System integrators do not want troubles caused by their products. However, there is a rare case where a problem occurs after operation startup. As mentioned above, for all FUJINON lenses with ‘4D High Resolution performance,’ rare quality assurance is provided where the full inspections are conducted, the serial number is assigned for each product, and the performance data are recorded before shipment. If any problems occur in the vision system, the pre-shipment data can be checked using the serial number; additionally, if there is a problem in the lens, it can be traced promptly. The company S commented, “We used to have a hard time isolating the trouble, but using this lens allows the cause to be identified promptly by eliminating a possible cause that is due to the lens, thereby saves time and labor.”

Machine vision camera lenses that solved the issue

FUJINON ‘4D High Resolution’ lens with individual performance management
HF-12M/HF-XA-5M

* This story was arranged based on actual facts.

Products in the case study

HF-12M Series

NEW

HF-12M series is low distortion lens having 2.1μm pixel pitch and compatible with IMX536 CMOS sensor.

HF-XA-5M Series

NEW

HF-XA-5M series is designed for "4DHR" and compatible with IMX250 high performance CMOS image sensor.

A lens is adopted for a high-precision semiconductor inspection equipment. What is the decisive factor in the selection of a semiconductor manufacturer?