Modular optimizer with precedence constraint-handling feature for optimization of component placement machines
First Claim
1. A method for use in determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one component placement machine type and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one component placement machine type;
processing each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding machine module of a modular optimizer which includes a plurality of machine modules each corresponding to one of the machine types; and
processing the second class of constraints in a part splitter module of the modular optimizer, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular optimizer, for use in determining a configuration of a production line with one or more component placement machines, is configured to handle precedence constraints. The precedence constraints may be of the form A B MT, which specifies that part A must be placed on a designated assembly board before part B if either part is to be placed by a machine type MT. A given set of precedence constraints includes at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one component placement machine type and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one component placement machine type. Assignment of constraints to the different classes is based on decisions of a part splitter module of the modular optimizer regarding which parts are assigned to which machine types. Each of the constraints in the first class of constraints associated with a given machine type are handled in a corresponding machine module of the modular optimizer. The second class of constraints is handled in the part splitter module of the modular optimizer. Outputs of the part splitter module are delivered to the machine modules and processed therein to generate information used in determining the configuration.
18 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for use in determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one component placement machine type and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one component placement machine type;
processing each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding machine module of a modular optimizer which includes a plurality of machine modules each corresponding to one of the machine types; and
processing the second class of constraints in a part splitter module of the modular optimizer, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory for storing information characterizing at least a portion of the production line; and
a processor coupled to the memory and operative to implement at least a portion of a modular optimizer having a part splitter module and a plurality of different machine modules each associated with a different component placement machine type, the modular optimizer;
determining a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one of the component placement machine types and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one of the component placement machine types;
processing each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding one of the machine modules; and
processing the second class of constraints in the part splitter module, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19)
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14. A modular optimizer for determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the modular optimizer comprising:
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a part splitter module; and
a plurality of different machine modules each associated with a different component placement machine type;
wherein the modular optimizer is operative;
to determine a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one of the component placement machine types and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one of the component placement machine types;
to process each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding one of the machine modules; and
to process the second class of constraints in the part splitter module, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration.
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17. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable medium for storing one or more software programs for use in determining a configuration of a production line comprising one or more component placement machines used to place components for assembly, the one or more programs when executed implementing the steps of:
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determining a set of precedence constraints including at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one component placement machine type and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one component placement machine type;
processing each of the constraints in the first class of constraints that are associated with a given machine type in a corresponding machine module of a modular optimizer which includes a plurality of machine modules each corresponding to one of the machine types; and
processing the second class of constraints in a part splitter module of the modular optimizer, the part splitter module providing inputs to one or more of the machine modules;
wherein outputs of the machine modules provide information used to determine the configuration.
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Specification