COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A MANUAL ASSEMBLY SEQUENCE
First Claim
1. A computer program product having computer usable program code executable to perform operations for managing a manual assembly sequence, the computer program product comprising:
- instructing a human assembler to assemble a set of components for an assembly step of an assembly sequence, each component having at least one unique identifier;
confirming that the set of components is properly assembled according to the assembly step based on a reading that corresponding unique identifiers of two components of the set of components are positioned relative to each other in order to proceed to a subsequent assembly step of the assembly sequence;
instructing the human assembler to assemble a set of subsequent components for the subsequent assembly step according to the subsequent assembly step; and
confirming that the set of subsequent components is properly assembled according to the subsequent assembly step based on a subsequent reading that corresponding unique identifiers of two components of the set of subsequent components are properly positioned relative to each other.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer program product, apparatus and system are disclosed for managing a manual assembly sequence by electronically referencing unique identifiers associated with physical components to be assembled in the sequence. Certain embodiments facilitate management of an assembly of a consumer product. In one embodiment, RFID tags are used as unique identifiers. Such embodiments may use RFID tags to determine the presence of the components before each assembly step in the assembly sequence and to determine that the components are being assembled in sequence. Other embodiments determine whether the components are properly assembled after being assembled, that the distance between the components falls within a predetermined range, and/or that the components for an assembly steps is properly orientation with respect to other components.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer program product having computer usable program code executable to perform operations for managing a manual assembly sequence, the computer program product comprising:
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instructing a human assembler to assemble a set of components for an assembly step of an assembly sequence, each component having at least one unique identifier; confirming that the set of components is properly assembled according to the assembly step based on a reading that corresponding unique identifiers of two components of the set of components are positioned relative to each other in order to proceed to a subsequent assembly step of the assembly sequence; instructing the human assembler to assemble a set of subsequent components for the subsequent assembly step according to the subsequent assembly step; and confirming that the set of subsequent components is properly assembled according to the subsequent assembly step based on a subsequent reading that corresponding unique identifiers of two components of the set of subsequent components are properly positioned relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus configured to manage a manual assembly sequence, the apparatus comprising:
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an interface module configured to instruct a human assembler to assemble components of each assembly step of an assembly sequence; a verification module configured to generate a verification that an assembly sequence can progress to a subsequent assembly step; and a control module configured to sequentially present the assembly steps of the assembly sequence in response to the verification from the verification module. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system to manage a manual assembly sequence, the system comprising:
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an assembly sequence comprising a set of assembly steps ordered in sequence such that assembly according to a manual assembly sequence produces a consumer product; two or more components configured for assembly by a human assembler in completion of the assembly steps for the manual assembly sequence; and an electronic assembly manager to manage the manual assembly sequence, comprising; a processor; a transceiver configured to wirelessly reference one or more radio frequency identification (“
RFID”
) tags associated with the components;a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising, an interface module configured to instruct the human assembler to assemble components of each assembly step of the assembly sequence; a verification module configured to generate a verification that an assembly sequence can progress to a subsequent assembly step; and a control module in communication with the interface module configured to sequentially present the assembly steps of the assembly sequence in response to the verification from the verification module; and a display in communication with the memory, the display configured to display one or more instructions to the human assembler. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification