An apparatus for inspecting a printed circuit board device, the device
including at least one component mounted on a circuit board, the
apparatus comprising an object carrier for carrying the printed circuit
board device, imaging means for imaging along an optical axis so as to
receive light reflected from surfaces of the device when placed on the
object carrier within a field of view of the imaging means, and light
projecting means for projecting light toward the object carrier in an
oblique direction with respect to the optical axis of the imaging means
for illumination of said surfaces of the device. The light projecting
means includes a substantially dome-shaped structure incorporating a
plurality of light elements for producing and projecting the light. Said
plurality of light elements includes light elements of different light
characteristics and light elements of different orientations of
projection for creating a predetermined illumination pattern on said
surfaces of said printed circuit board device. The dome-shaped structure
is composed of an assembly of a plurality of structural rings, each
incorporating an array of said light elements and being fitted together
in an replaceable manner to form said ring assembly, thereby enabling to
vary said light pattern by replacing one or more of said structural rings
that are incorporating light elements of predetermined light
characteristics and predetermined orientation of projection by different
structural rings incorporating light elements of different light
characteristics and orientation of projection than said predetermined
ones.