Manufacturing control network having a relational database
First Claim
1. A communications system comprising:
- a plurality of workstations each including (a) a computer terminal having a display and at least one input device, (b) test apparatus operatively coupled to said computer terminal and to a workpiece for performing at least one test measurement of the workpiece, and (c) an assembly application program which generates a first display of an assembly procedure to be followed by an assembler on said display of said computer terminal and a second display for display of the at least one test measurement obtained by said test apparatus or a result of the at least one test measurement on said display of said computer terminal; and
a relational database operatively connected to said workstations via a communications link, said relational database storing data which is independent of the assembly program and which is indicative of the assembly procedure used by the assembly application program and the test measurement of the workpiece.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system includes a plurality of work stations and a relational database operatively linked therewith. Each of the workstations includes a computer terminal having a display and at least one input device, test apparatus operatively coupled to said computer terminal, and an assembly application program which generates a first display of an assembly procedure to be followed by an assembler on said display of said computer terminal and a second display screen for display of test results obtained by said test apparatus on said display of said computer terminal. The relational database stores data which is independent of the assembly program and which indicative of the assembly procedure used by the assembly application program. A data structure of the relational database includes an tracking table and an action table, in which the tracking table being used to link to data contained in the action table. The tracking table identifies a type of product, a serial number of the product, and process steps associated with the product, and the action table identifies work instructions, test files and automated manufacturing files.
54 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A communications system comprising:
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a plurality of workstations each including (a) a computer terminal having a display and at least one input device, (b) test apparatus operatively coupled to said computer terminal and to a workpiece for performing at least one test measurement of the workpiece, and (c) an assembly application program which generates a first display of an assembly procedure to be followed by an assembler on said display of said computer terminal and a second display for display of the at least one test measurement obtained by said test apparatus or a result of the at least one test measurement on said display of said computer terminal; and a relational database operatively connected to said workstations via a communications link, said relational database storing data which is independent of the assembly program and which is indicative of the assembly procedure used by the assembly application program and the test measurement of the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A manufacturing and testing communications method, comprising:
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providing at least one work instruction to an assembler working at a workstation to assemble a workpiece by generating a first display of an assembly procedure to be followed by the assembler on a display screen of the workstation; controlling a test apparatus to perform at least one test measurement of the workpiece; generating a second display of the at least one test measurement obtained by said test apparatus and/or a result of the least one test measurement on the display screen; and storing data in a relational database which is indicative of the assembly procedure used and which includes the at least one test measurement and/or result thereof. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification