JP2009094437A - Electronic component mounting device, and updating method of control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic component mounting device capable of dissolving time loss due to line stoppage for the version upgrading of a control program and improving productivity, and an updating method of the control program. <P>SOLUTION: A storage part 23 for storing the control program is provided with a system area 23c configured such that a control function for making the electronic component mounting device execute original functions can not access or the need of the access is eliminated, and a work area 23b where the control program is to be developed when the electronic component mounting device is activated. While a control part 24 makes the electronic component mounting device execute the original functions using the control program developed in the work area 23b, an updating version transmitted from a host computer 3 is overwritten and installed in the system area 23c and version upgrading is performed without stopping a device operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic component mounting apparatus constituting an electronic component mounting system for mounting an electronic component on a substrate, and a control program updating method for updating a control program in the electronic component mounting apparatus.

In general, the program software for controlling the operation of the electronic component mounting apparatus constituting the electronic component mounting system is frequently changed and upgraded in many cases for the purpose of debugging or improvement even after the operation of the apparatus is started. For this reason, an electronic component mounting apparatus is known that has a management function for dealing with version upgrades (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the example shown in this patent document, the correctness / incorrectness of the correspondence relationship between versions of various program software having a higher-order / lower-order relationship is automatically determined to prevent malfunction caused by version mismatch.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-224999

  By the way, when upgrading such program software, it takes several tens of minutes of processing time to install a new program and replace it with the old version. For this reason, during the process of installing a new program, the apparatus is forced to stop operating and wait. And when there are many devices that make up the electronic component mounting line, it is necessary to sequentially repeat the operation for updating the program for each device, so the time loss due to the line stop for version upgrade is In the past, there has been a need for measures to eliminate such time loss and improve productivity.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic component mounting apparatus and a control program updating method that can improve productivity by eliminating time loss caused by a line stop for upgrading a control program. To do.

  An electronic component mounting apparatus according to the present invention is an electronic component mounting system that constitutes an electronic component mounting system for mounting electronic components on a substrate and is controlled by a host computer. The electronic component mounting apparatus is mounted on the electronic component mounting device. A storage unit for storing a control program for executing an original function for the electronic component, wherein the storage unit stores the control program and is provided in the electronic component mounting apparatus. A system area in which a control function for executing the function is configured to be inaccessible or unnecessary, and a work area in which the control program is expanded when the electronic component mounting apparatus is activated, and An updated version of the control program sent from the host computer is loaded into the system area without using the control function. With a program update means that updates to come.

An update method of a control program of the present invention constitutes an electronic component mounting system for mounting electronic components on a board, and in an electronic component mounting device controlled by a host computer, the electronic component mounting device is used for electronic component mounting. An update method of a control program for updating a control program for executing an original function, wherein the storage unit storing the control program stores the control program and is provided in the electronic component mounting apparatus. A system area configured such that a control function for causing the component mounting apparatus to execute the original function is inaccessible or unnecessary, and a work area in which the control program is expanded when the electronic component mounting apparatus is activated. An updated version of the control program transmitted from the host computer is provided. Updated by overwriting the system area without using the control function.

  According to the present invention, in a storage unit that stores a control program, a system area in which a control function for causing the electronic component mounting apparatus to execute an original function unique to the apparatus is inaccessible or unnecessary, and By providing a work area in which a control program is expanded when the electronic component mounting apparatus is started up, the system area can be used while the electronic component mounting apparatus is executing the original function using the control program expanded in the work area. Thus, it is possible to overwrite and update a new control program, eliminate the time loss due to the line stop for the upgrade of the control program, and improve the productivity.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an electronic component mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of an electronic component mounting apparatus constituting the electronic component mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of an electronic component mounting system according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of version information of a control program and a version change instruction in the electronic component mounting system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a control program upgrade process in the electronic component mounting system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the configuration of the electronic component mounting system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The electronic component mounting system 1 is configured by arranging a plurality of electronic component mounting devices M1, M2, and M3, which are devices for mounting electronic components, in series, and each of the electronic component mounting devices M1, M2, and M3 is a LAN system 2. It is controlled by the host computer 3 connected via The board supplied from the upstream device is sequentially transported by the electronic component mounting devices M1, M2, and M3, and each electronic component mounting device uses a component mounting function that is an original function for mounting electronic components unique to these devices. A component mounting operation is performed on these boards.

  Next, the structure of the electronic component mounting apparatuses M1, M2, and M3 will be described with reference to FIG. The electronic component mounting apparatuses M1, M2, and M3 have the same structure, and only the electronic component mounting apparatus M1 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, a transport path 5 is disposed on the base 4 in the X direction (substrate transport direction). The conveyance path 5 conveys the board 6 to be mounted and positions it on the component mounting stage. Component supply units 7 are arranged on both sides of the conveyance path 5, and a plurality of tape feeders 8 are arranged in parallel on the component supply unit 7.

  A Y-axis table 9 is disposed in the Y direction at both ends of the base 4 in the X direction, and an X axis table 10 is installed on the Y axis table 9 in the X direction. The X-axis table 10 is equipped with a mounting head 11 and a substrate recognition camera 12 that moves integrally with the mounting head 11. By driving the Y-axis table 9 and the X-axis table 10, the mounting head 11 and the substrate recognition are performed. The camera 12 moves in the X direction and the Y direction. As a result, the mounting head 11 takes out the electronic component from the component supply unit 7 and transfers and mounts it on the substrate 6 positioned on the component mounting stage of the transport path 5. The substrate recognition camera 12 moves onto the substrate 6 to image the substrate 6 and recognize the position.

A component recognition camera 13 and a nozzle stocker 14 are disposed between the conveyance path 5 and the component supply unit 7. When the mounting head 11 that has picked up the electronic component from the transport path 5 moves above the component recognition camera 13, the component recognition camera 13 images the electronic component held by the mounting head 11, and thereby the position of the electronic component is determined. Be recognized. The nozzle stocker 14 holds a plurality of types of suction nozzles attached to the mounting head 11. Mounting head 11 is nozzle stocker 1
4, the nozzle replacement operation is performed, and the mounting head 11 is mounted with a suction nozzle corresponding to the type of electronic component.

  Next, the configuration of the control system of the electronic component mounting system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The host computer 3 includes a storage unit 31, a control processing unit 32, and a communication unit 33. The storage unit 31 stores various data and programs necessary for controlling the overall operation of the electronic component mounting system 1. The program stored in the storage unit 31 includes a control program for causing the electronic component mounting apparatuses M1, M2, and M3 to execute a component mounting function that is an original function. Based on the program and data stored in the storage unit 31, the control processing unit 32 issues a control command to the electronic component mounting apparatuses M1, M2, and M3 of the electronic component mounting system 1 via the communication unit 33 and the LAN system 2. Send. This control command includes a version upgrade command (see FIG. 4C) for changing an existing control program to a new version in the electronic component mounting apparatuses M1, M2, and M3.

  The electronic component mounting apparatuses M1, M2, and M3 include a mechanism driving unit 20, an operation input unit 21, a display unit 22, a storage unit 23, a control unit 24, a communication unit 25, and an overwriting processing unit 26 as control functions. In FIG. 3, only the communication unit 25 is shown for the electronic component mounting apparatuses M2 and M3, and the other elements are not shown. The mechanism driving unit 20 drives a component mounting mechanism for transferring and mounting electronic components by the substrate transport mechanism, the component supply unit 7 and the mounting head 11 in the transport path 5. The operation input unit 21 is an input device such as a keyboard or a touch panel, and inputs operation commands and control data. The display unit 22 is a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and performs various displays such as display of a guidance screen when an operation is input.

  The storage unit 23 has a function of storing control programs and data used for the operation of the electronic component mounting apparatus and various processes, and is provided with a version storage unit 23a, a work area 23b, and a system area 23c. The version storage unit 23a is information on the versions of various control programs in each of the electronic component mounting apparatuses M1, M2, and M3, that is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the main body system, HMI (human machine interface), recognition, transport Version information indicating the current version type for each control program, such as head, supply, etc. and version change history information for each control program as shown in FIG. 4B are stored. In the version change history information, the date of the version change made up to that point and the version type after the change are stored.

  The system area 23c stores a control program for causing the electronic component mounting apparatus (in this case, the electronic component mounting apparatus) to execute an original function for mounting the electronic component specific to the apparatus (here, the component mounting function). In the work area 23b, a control program stored in the system area 23c when the electronic component mounting apparatus is activated is developed. Then, the control unit 24 reads the control program by accessing the work area 23b, and the control unit 24 controls the mechanism driving unit 20 based on the control program, so that the component mounting operation using the component mounting function is performed. Executed. That is, the control unit 24 corresponds to a control function for causing the electronic component mounting apparatus to execute a component mounting function that is an original function.

In this control system configuration, a software barrier is provided in the system area 23c with respect to the control section 24, and the control section 24 is configured not to access the system area 23c. Since the control program device for executing the component mounting operation is expanded in the work area 23b as described above, the control unit 24 only needs to access the work area 23b and read the necessary program. It is not necessary to access 23c, and even if access to the system area 23c of the control unit 24 is prohibited, no functional trouble occurs. In addition, without providing a barrier on software, the data writing function to the system area 23c may be configured completely independent of the control unit 24 so that the control unit 24 does not need to access the system area 23c at all. . That is, in the electronic component mounting apparatus shown in the present embodiment, the system area 23c is configured such that the control unit 24 is inaccessible or unnecessary.

  The control unit 24 functions to control the operation and processing of each unit in the apparatus based on a control program stored in the storage unit 23 in accordance with a control command from the host computer 3, that is, a control program developed in the work area 23b. Read processing, and a function of controlling each part of the electronic component mounting apparatus by the read control program. The communication unit 25 is connected to the communication unit 33 of the host computer 3 via the LAN system 2 and can exchange signals necessary for controlling the device with the host computer 3 which is a host control device. It can be done.

  In updating the control program in response to a command from the host computer 3, the overwriting processing unit 26 enters the system area 23c based on a control program update command transmitted from the host computer 3 which is a host control device via the communication unit 25. Performs overwrite installation of the updated control program. At this time, the above-described processing can be executed without using the function of the control unit 24 provided in the electronic component mounting apparatus.

  That is, the overwriting processing unit 26 serves as a program update unit that overwrites and updates the system area 23c with an updated version of the control program transmitted from the host computer 3 without using the control function of the control unit 24. Yes. With this configuration, the process of overwriting and installing the updated version of the control program transmitted from the host computer 3 in the system area 23c even while the control unit 24 controls the mechanism driving unit 20 to execute the component mounting operation. Can be executed independently by the overwriting processing unit 26, and the version of the control program can be upgraded without stopping production.

  Next, a control program update process in the electronic component mounting system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. This update process is performed by the storage unit of each electronic component mounting device M1, M2, M3 constituting the electronic component mounting system 1 when a version upgrade for the purpose of debugging the control program or improving the function is executed. 23, a new control program is installed.

  First, when the electronic component mounting apparatus is activated, the current version of the control program stored in the system area 23c is expanded in the work area 23b (ST1). Next, the control unit 24 controls the mechanism driving unit 20 based on the control program read out by accessing the work area 23b, thereby starting production (ST2). During this production, a program update command is transmitted from the host computer 3 to the electronic component mounting apparatus to be updated (ST3), and the subsequent processing is automatically executed in each apparatus.

  The program update command is issued in the form of a version change instruction as shown in FIG. 4C, and is issued by instructing the current version type and the changed version type. The electronic component mounting apparatus that has received the program update command automatically confirms that the version of the control program that is the target of the update command matches (ST4). That is, the current version of the already installed control program is confirmed with reference to the version information (see FIG. 4A) stored in the version storage unit 23a.

Here, if the current version matches the instructed version after change, it is determined that there is no need to execute version change processing, and production is continued as it is (ST5). If the versions do not match in (ST4), the overwriting processing unit 26 overwrites and installs the updated control program in the system area 23c (ST6). The updated version of the control program is transmitted from the host computer 3 to each device together with a program update command, and is received via the communication unit 25.

  While the program change process for this version upgrade is being executed, “installing” is displayed on the display unit 22 of the electronic component mounting apparatus (ST7). As a result, it is possible to prevent the machine operator from performing an inappropriate machine operation such as turning the power off inadvertently while executing the program change process. When the installation is completed, the version history of the version storage unit 23a is updated (ST8). Next, new board loading into the apparatus is stopped (ST9), and production work such as component mounting operation is continuously performed on the board already loaded. Then, after the board is unloaded by an EOP (end of program) for completing the component mounting function on the loaded board, the equipment is stopped (ST10).

  After that, after it is confirmed by the board detection function of the apparatus that no uncarried board remains in the apparatus, the equipment is restarted (ST11). A process of developing in the area 23b is executed (ST12). That is, here, the updated new version of the control program stored in the system area 23c is expanded in the work area 23b, and the control unit 24 can execute the reading process for the work area 23b.

  Next, the host computer 3 is notified that the control program has been updated normally (ST13), and then the production by the apparatus is resumed (ST14). By following such a process when switching control programs, it is possible to record which version of the control program is applied to each board as a production history for each board, ensuring traceability in production management. .

  That is, in the control program update process in the electronic component mounting apparatus described above, the updated version of the control program transmitted from the host computer 3 is overwritten and updated without using the control function of the control unit 24. I am doing so. And the communication part 25 of the said apparatus transmits the update result of a control program to the host computer 3 which is a high-order control apparatus.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to stop the operation of the equipment even during the installation process of a new control program for version upgrade, and particularly in an electronic component mounting system configured by connecting a plurality of devices as shown in the present embodiment. It is possible to eliminate the time loss caused by the line stop for the upgrade of the control program and improve the productivity.

  In the present embodiment, an example of an electronic component mounting apparatus that originally has a component mounting function for transferring and mounting an electronic component on a board has been shown as an electronic component mounting apparatus constituting the electronic component mounting system. The application of the invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to a screen printing apparatus, a printing inspection apparatus that performs inspection after printing, an appearance inspection apparatus that performs inspection after mounting components, and the like. In the case of the screen printing apparatus, the function of executing the screen printing work is an original function, and in the print inspection apparatus and the appearance inspection apparatus, the function of performing imaging, recognition, and pass / fail judgment for the substrate is an original function.

  The electronic component mounting apparatus and the method for updating a control program in the electronic component mounting apparatus according to the present invention can improve productivity by eliminating time loss caused by line stop for upgrading the control program. It has an effect and is useful in the field of electronic component mounting where electronic components are mounted on a substrate.

Structure explanatory drawing of the electronic component mounting system of one embodiment of this invention The top view of the electronic component mounting apparatus which comprises the electronic component mounting system of one embodiment of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the electronic component mounting system of one embodiment of this invention Explanatory drawing of the version information and version change instruction | command of a control program in the electronic component mounting system of one embodiment of this invention FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control program upgrade process in the electronic component mounting system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic component mounting system 3 Host computer 23b Work area 23c System area M1, M2, M3 Electronic component mounting apparatus

Claims (2)

An electronic component mounting system that configures an electronic component mounting system for mounting electronic components on a substrate and is controlled by a host computer,
A storage unit for storing a control program for causing the electronic component mounting apparatus to execute an original function for mounting the electronic component;
The storage unit stores the control program and is provided in the electronic component mounting apparatus, and a control function for causing the electronic component mounting apparatus to execute the original function is configured to be inaccessible or unnecessary. A system area, and a work area in which the control program is expanded when the electronic component mounting apparatus is activated;
An electronic component mounting apparatus, further comprising program update means for overwriting the system area with an updated version of the control program transmitted from the host computer without using the control function. A control program for configuring an electronic component mounting system for mounting an electronic component on a board and causing the electronic component mounting device to execute an original function for mounting the electronic component in an electronic component mounting device controlled by a host computer. An update method of a control program to be updated,
The storage unit storing the control program stores the control program and is provided with the electronic component mounting apparatus, and the control function for causing the electronic component mounting apparatus to execute the original function is inaccessible or accessible. A system area configured unnecessarily, and a work area in which the control program is expanded when the electronic component mounting apparatus is activated,
An update method for a control program, comprising: updating an update version of the control program transmitted from the host computer by overwriting the system area without using the control function.

Images