Placement of electronic components
First Claim
1. An electronic component placement machine comprising:
- a series of feeders adapted to supply discrete electronic components for subsequent placement onto a destination circuit board;
a data module coupled to each feeder, each data module comprising a memory storage device;
a communications module coupled to each feeder, each communications module comprising a data module transceiver that is coupled to the memory storage device;
a pick head, movable between selected feeders for sequentially picking the discrete electronic components from a respective feeders for subsequent placement onto a destination circuit board; and
a pick head transceiver secured to the pick head for movement therewith, the pick head transceiver adapted to communicate over a duplex communications channel with the data module transceiver of a selected feeder when the pick head is positioned to remove components from the selected feeder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic component placement machine is disclosed that includes a series of feeders adapted to supply discrete electronic components for subsequent placement onto a destination circuit board; at least one data module coupled to each feeder, each data module comprising a memory storage device; at least one communications module coupled to each feeder, each communications module comprising a data module-transceiver coupled to a memory storage device of the associated data module; a pick head, movable between selected feeders for sequentially picking the discrete electronic components from a respective feeders for subsequent placement onto a destination circuit board; and a pick head-transceiver secured to the pick head for movement therewith between feeders, the pick head-transceiver arranged to communicate over a duplex communications channel with a data module-transceiver of a selected feeder when the pick head is positioned to pick from the selected feeder.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An electronic component placement machine comprising:
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a series of feeders adapted to supply discrete electronic components for subsequent placement onto a destination circuit board;
a data module coupled to each feeder, each data module comprising a memory storage device;
a communications module coupled to each feeder, each communications module comprising a data module transceiver that is coupled to the memory storage device;
a pick head, movable between selected feeders for sequentially picking the discrete electronic components from a respective feeders for subsequent placement onto a destination circuit board; and
a pick head transceiver secured to the pick head for movement therewith, the pick head transceiver adapted to communicate over a duplex communications channel with the data module transceiver of a selected feeder when the pick head is positioned to remove components from the selected feeder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating an electronic component placement machine comprising:
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positioning a pick head proximate a selected one of a plurality of electronic component feeders;
establishing a duplex communication channel between a pick head transceiver coupled to the pick head and a data module transceiver coupled to the selected feeder;
transmitting operational data between the pick head transceiver and the data module transceiver over the duplex communications channel;
disengaging the duplex communications channel; and
positioning the pick head proximate a second selected feeder. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification