JP3779870B2 - Product discrimination device and product discrimination method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a product discriminating apparatus that automatically discriminates the type of an electronic product having a microcomputer and marks it in an identifiable state.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a microcomputer is mounted on a predetermined circuit board and housed in a predetermined protective case for commercialization.
[0003]
Conventionally, a microcomputer and a circuit board are covered with a protective case as described above. And in order to be able to identify the kind of product, sticking a barcode sticker or a name plate on the surface of a case is performed.
[0004]
Here, if the same shape and the same color are used for the cases of all types of products, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by standardizing the cases. However, if the case shape, color, etc. are all the same, it is difficult to determine the type of product at a glance from the appearance of the case, and it is possible to grasp the type of product when attaching a barcode sticker, etc. It becomes difficult.
[0005]
In addition, it is possible to determine the type of product from the appearance of the microcomputer inside the case and the circuit board instead of judging from the appearance of the case. For example, only the program stored in the microcomputer is different. In many cases, the types of products differ even though the connection wiring of the circuit board is the same, and it is difficult to determine the type of the product even if the internal state of the case is visually confirmed. is there.
[0006]
Therefore, conventionally, the shape and color of the case is changed depending on the type of product so that the type can be determined from the appearance of the product, and a barcode seal or the like is applied based on the appearance. .
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional case, a plurality of types of cases having different shapes and colors are used due to differences in microcomputer programs and the like, resulting in high management costs for the cases themselves.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a product discriminating apparatus capable of automatically discriminating the type of microcomputer mounted on a product and adding an identification element such as a bar code seal to the surface of the case, and a product discriminating method thereof Is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention, to identify the type of the electronic products microcomputer is mounted to operate in the program corresponding to the specifications of electronic products, identification to the electronic products of the case A product discrimination device for affixing an element, based on a control means, a communication means for transmitting / receiving a signal to / from the microcomputer of the electronic product based on an instruction from the control means, and an instruction from the control means An identification element sending means for creating or selecting an identification element corresponding to the type of the electronic product and sending it; and an attaching mechanism for sticking the identification element sent from the identification element sending means to the case of the electronic product; And the control means requests identification information stored in the microcomputer in advance from the microcomputer via the communication means. A request command is received, identification information given from the microcomputer is received in response to the request command, the type of the electronic product is determined based on the identification information, the identification content is specified, and the identification The identification element sending means is instructed to send the identification element of the content, and the pasting mechanism is instructed to stick the identification element to the case of the electronic product.
[0010]
The invention according to claim 2 is the product discrimination device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits a predetermined command frame to the microcomputer through the communication unit, and the control unit transmits the predetermined command frame according to the command frame. The electronic product is inspected based on a reply signal given from a microcomputer.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 3 is a product discrimination method using the product discrimination device according to claim 1, wherein the control means stores identification information stored in advance in the microcomputer from the microcomputer. Transmitting a request command to be requested via the communication means, receiving identification information given from the microcomputer in response to the request command via the communication means, and the control means based on the identification information Determining the type of the electronic product and specifying the identification content, and the control means instructs the identification element sending means to send the identification element of the identification content, and the identification element sending based on the command A means for sending an identification element of the identification content, and the control means for attaching the identification element to the case of the electronic product. Instructs the configuration, the sticking mechanism is attached the identification element to the casing of the electronic product based on the instruction.
[0012]
The invention according to claim 4 is a product discrimination method using the product discrimination device according to claim 2, wherein the control means transmits a predetermined command frame to the microcomputer through the communication means; The control means inspects the electronic product based on a reply signal given from the microcomputer according to the command frame, and the control means stores the microcomputer in advance in the microcomputer. Transmitting a request command for requesting the identified identification information via the communication means, receiving the identification information given from the microcomputer in response to the request command via the communication means, and the control means Determining the type of electronic product based on the identification information and specifying the identification content; and Instructing the identification element sending means to send the identification element of the identification content, the identification element sending means sending the identification element of the identification content based on the command, and the control means Is attached to the case of the electronic product, and the attachment mechanism attaches the identification element to the case of the electronic product based on the instruction.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
{First embodiment}
<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a product discrimination device 1 and an electronic product 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, the product discriminating apparatus 1 reads identification information (hereinafter referred to as “ID”) stored in advance in a ROM (storage unit) 4 or the like in a microcomputer 3 inside the electronic product 2. Based on the ID, an identification element DS such as a bar code seal or a name plate associated with the type of the electronic product 2 is printed and attached to the surface of the case of the electronic product.
[0015]
Before describing the product discrimination device 1, an electronic product 2 as an inspection target will be described. The electronic product 2 includes a microcomputer 3 mounted on a predetermined circuit board 5 and housed in a predetermined case 6 such as a rectangular box.
[0016]
In addition to the CPU and RAM, the microcomputer 3 incorporates the ROM 4 as described above, and the ROM 4 stores a program in which the functional operation of the microcomputer 3 is defined and various data such as an ID. ing. As for the program in the ROM 4, one of different types is selected and stored in the ROM 4 according to the specifications of the electronic product 2 to which each microcomputer 3 is applied. The ID may be uniquely assigned to each microcomputer 3, or the identification given to each type of program of the microcomputer 3 and each type of electronic product 2 to be applied. A number or the like may be given. The ROM 4 may be anything as long as it can write various data such as programs and IDs. For example, a rewritable semiconductor element such as an EEPROM and a flash ROM is used.
[0017]
The microcomputer 3 has at least first and second input ports 7a and 7b for signal input and first and second output ports 8a and 8b for signal output.
[0018]
The microcomputer 3 that operates in accordance with the program in the ROM 4 drives the external load 16 from the first output port 8a to the circuit board 5 based on the operation signal given from the circuit board 5 to the first input port 7a. Based on the drive function for outputting the drive signal and the external input signal given from the circuit board 5 to the second input port 7b, the predetermined information associated in advance is sent from the second output port 8b to the circuit board 5 as the external output signal. As a communication function.
[0019]
Here, the communication function sends various external output signals to the second output port 8b in response to the external input signal given to the second input port 7b. When a predetermined ID request command (request command) as an external input signal is given from the second input port 7b and an inspection response function that enables confirmation, etc., externally from the second output port 8b An ID output function for outputting ID data as an output signal.
[0020]
The circuit board 5 has a wiring pattern 5a formed on an insulating substrate, and an input interface circuit 13, an output interface circuit 15, an external communication input interface circuit 18, an external communication output interface circuit 20, and a power control circuit on the wiring pattern 5a. 23 is mounted.
[0021]
The input interface circuit 13 receives an operation signal related to the operation of the external switch 11 connected to the input interface terminal 12 and performs predetermined electrical processing such as A / D conversion. This is an input signal adjustment circuit to be input to the first input port 7a.
[0022]
The output interface circuit 15 performs an electrical process such as D / A conversion on the drive signal output from the first output port 8 a of the microcomputer 3 to drive the external load 16 connected to the output interface terminal 14. It is an output signal adjustment circuit.
[0023]
The external communication input interface circuit 18 is a data receiving circuit that receives an external input signal supplied from the outside to the external communication interface terminal 17 and inputs it to the second input port 7 b of the microcomputer 3.
[0024]
The external communication output interface circuit 20 is a data transmission circuit that outputs an external output signal to the external communication output interface terminal 19 when an external output signal is output from the second output port 8 b of the microcomputer 3.
[0025]
The power supply control circuit 23 is a regulator that converts the main power supply voltage from the main power supply connected to the power supply terminal 21 into a voltage level suitable for the operating voltage of the microcomputer 3.
[0026]
1 denotes a ground (GND) terminal of the electronic product 2, and reference numeral 25 denotes a load power source that supplies power to the load 16.
[0027]
Next, the product discrimination device 1 that reads the ID of the electronic product 2 and affixes an identification element DS such as a barcode seal on the surface of the case 6 will be described.
[0028]
The product discriminating apparatus 1 is also used as an inspection device for inspecting functions and circuits provided in the electronic product 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit (control means) 31, the control unit 31 and the electronic product 2 are used. A communication circuit (communication means) 32 that transmits and receives signals to and from the printer, and a printing unit that prints identification contents such as a barcode on a print label in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 31 to create an identification element DS Means) 33 and a pasting mechanism 34 for pasting the identification element DS created by the printing unit 33 to a predetermined position on the surface of the case 6 of the electronic product 2.
[0029]
The control unit 31 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and is a functional element that operates according to a program stored in advance in the ROM. In the program that regulates the operation of the control unit 31, the communication circuit 32 is supplied with various data as external input signals to the electronic product 2 and receives an external output signal given from the electronic product 2 through the communication circuit 32. In particular, an inspection function for inspecting functions and circuits provided in the electronic product 2 as an inspection device, and printing for giving a print command of the identification element DS to the printing unit 33 based on ID data given from the electronic product 2 A command function and a pasting command function for instructing the pasting mechanism 34 to paste the identification element DS on the surface of the case 6 after printing the identification element DS in the printing unit 33 are defined.
[0030]
The inspection function of the control unit 31 is, for example, a function for checking whether data writing to a RAM (not shown) in the microcomputer 3 of the electronic product 2 is correct or whether the function of driving and controlling the load 16 of the microcomputer 3 is normal. The transmission data for inspection as various command frames is given as an external input signal to the external communication input interface terminal 17 of the electronic product 2 through the communication circuit 32, and given from the electronic product 2 in response to the transmission data for inspection. A response signal as an external output signal is received through the communication circuit 32, and correctness determination is performed by collating with the predicted data content.
[0031]
The print command function of the control unit 31 provides an ID request command as an external input signal to the external communication input interface terminal 17 of the electronic product 2 through the communication circuit 32, and is given from the electronic product 2 in response to the ID request command. The ID data as an external output signal is received through the communication circuit 32, the type of the electronic product 2 is determined based on the ID data, and the identification content such as a barcode is specified. And a print command for printing to the printing unit 33 is given.
[0032]
The sticking command function of the control unit 31 operates a sticking mechanism 34 described later after the creation of the identification element DS in the printing unit 33 is completed.
[0033]
The communication circuit 32 outputs various command frames and ID request commands given from the control unit 31 to the external communication input interface terminal 17 of the electronic product 2 as external input signals, and the external communication output interface terminal 19 of the electronic product 2. The external output signal output from is supplied to the control unit 31. As a communication between the communication circuit 32 and the electronic product 2, for example, a serial communication method of a unique communication protocol in which the product discrimination device 1 is a master and the electronic product 2 is a slave is employed.
[0034]
The printing unit 33 is a general printing apparatus of a thermal transfer method or an ink jet method, and the control unit 31 uses the control unit 31 on the surface of a print label that is detachably pasted on a mount based on a print command from the control unit 31. The specified print content is printed.
[0035]
For example, a vacuum suction method is applied to the pasting mechanism 34, and a peeling function for peeling the printed label on which the printing content is printed by the printing unit 33 from the mount, and the printed label after peeling are vacuum-sucked as an identification element DS. It has a suction sticking function of pressing and sticking to a predetermined position on the surface of the case 6 of the electronic product 2.
[0036]
<Operation>
The operation from the assembly process of the electronic product 2 to the completion will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0037]
First, in step S1, parts are assembled. Specifically, the input interface circuit 13, the output interface circuit 15, the external communication input interface circuit 18, the external communication output interface circuit 20, and the power control circuit 23 are mounted on an insulating substrate on which the wiring pattern 5a is formed in advance. The circuit board 5 is configured, and the microcomputer 3 is mounted on the circuit board 5.
[0038]
Next, in step S2, the communication circuit 32 of the product discrimination device 1 is connected to the external communication input interface terminal 17 and the external communication output interface terminal 19 of the electronic product 2, and the functions and circuits provided in the electronic product 2 are inspected. In this case, first, transmission data for inspection as various command frames is given to the external communication input interface terminal 17 of the electronic product 2 through the communication circuit 32 from the control unit 31 of the product discriminating apparatus 1, and this transmission data for inspection is supplied. In response to this, a reply signal as an external output signal given from the electronic product 2 is received through the communication circuit 32, and the correctness judgment is performed by collating with the predicted data content.
[0039]
Subsequently, in step S3, the circuit board 5 on which the microcomputer 3 is mounted is accommodated in the case 6.
[0040]
In step S4, the type (product number) of the electronic product 2 is determined.
[0041]
Specifically, first, an ID request command is given to the external communication input interface terminal 17 of the electronic product 2 through the communication circuit 32 as an external input signal from the control unit 31 of the product identification device 1. In the electronic product 2, the ID request command given to the external communication input interface terminal 17 is transmitted to the second input port 7 b of the microcomputer 3 via the external communication input interface circuit 18. The microcomputer 3 outputs the ID data in the ROM 4 to the second output port 8b as an external output signal in response to the given ID request command. The data of this ID is given to the external communication output interface terminal 19 through the external communication output interface circuit 20, and is transmitted to the control unit 31 through the communication circuit 32 of the product discrimination device 1. The control unit 31 determines the type of the electronic product 2 based on the data of this ID, specifies the identification content such as a barcode, and transmits this information to the printing unit 33 to give a print command. Thereafter, the printing unit 33 prints the identification content given from the control unit 31 on the surface of the print label.
[0042]
After printing by the printing unit 33, the control unit 31 instructs the operation of the pasting mechanism 34 in step S5. At this time, the sticking mechanism 34 peels the printed label from the mount, vacuum-sucks the peeled printed label, and presses and sticks the printed label to the predetermined position on the surface of the case 6 of the electronic product 2 as the identification element DS. Is finally completed.
[0043]
As described above, when the identification element DS is pasted on the surface of the case 6 of the electronic product 2, the ID data stored in the microcomputer 3 in the electronic product 2 is read, and the identification element is based on the ID data. Since the DS is created and affixed to the surface of the case 6, even when it is difficult to identify the type of the electronic product 2 on the appearance of the case 6, the identification element DS is affixed very easily and without error. be able to. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, there is no need to prepare a plurality of types and shapes of cases 6 in advance, and management costs can be reduced by standardizing the cases 6.
[0044]
In addition, since the product discrimination device 1 also serves as an inspection device for inspecting the electronic product 2, it is not necessary to reconnect after the electronic product 2 is inspected, and to improve efficiency in the manufacturing process. Can do.
[0045]
In the above embodiment, the barcode seal is taken as an example of the identification element DS. However, for example, a name plate may be applied.
[0046]
Further, the identification element DS is created by printing the identification contents by the printing unit 33. However, based on the ID data read out from the microcomputer 3 of the electronic product 2 in advance, a plurality of types of identification elements DS are facilitated. The identification element DS may be selected and pasted.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first and third aspects of the invention, when the identification element is affixed to the surface of the case of the electronic product, the control means of the product identification device uses the identification information stored in the microcomputer in the electronic product. Reading, sending the identification element from the identification element sending means based on this identification information, it can be stuck on the surface of the case with the sticking mechanism, so even if it is difficult to identify the type of electronic product on the appearance of the case, The identification element can be applied very easily and without error. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare cases of multiple types of shapes and colors in advance, and management costs can be reduced by standardizing the cases.
[0048]
According to the second and fourth aspects of the invention, since the product discrimination device inspects the electronic product, it is not necessary to perform the product discrimination by reconnecting before and after the inspection of the electronic product. There is an effect that the efficiency in the manufacturing process can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a state where a product discriminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to an electronic product.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the product discrimination device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Product discrimination device 2 Electronic product 3 Microcomputer 4 ROM
5 Circuit board 6 Case 31 Control unit 32 Communication circuit 33 Printing unit 34 Pasting mechanism DS Identification element

Claims (4)

Identifies the type of the electronic products microcomputer is mounted to operate in the program corresponding to the specifications of electronic products, a product discriminating device for affixing the identification element to the electronic products of the case,
Control means;
Communication means for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the microcomputer of the electronic product based on an instruction of the control means;
Identification element sending means for creating or selecting and sending an identification element corresponding to the type of the electronic product based on an instruction of the control means;
A sticking mechanism for sticking the identification element sent from the identification element sending means to the case of the electronic product;
The control means includes
A request command for requesting identification information stored in advance in the microcomputer is transmitted to the microcomputer via the communication means, and the identification information given from the microcomputer in response to the request command is received. Determining the type of the electronic product based on the identification information, specifying the identification content, instructing the identification element sending means to send the identification element of the identification content, and sending the identification element to the electronic product A product discriminating apparatus which commands the sticking mechanism to stick to a case. The product discrimination device according to claim 1,
The control means transmits a predetermined command frame to the microcomputer through the communication means, and inspects the electronic product based on a reply signal given from the microcomputer in response to the command frame. Product discrimination device to be used. A product discrimination method using the product discrimination device according to claim 1,
Transmitting a request command for requesting identification information stored in the microcomputer in advance from the control means to the microcomputer via the communication means;
Receiving the identification information given from the microcomputer in response to the request command via the communication means, and the control means determining the type of the electronic product based on the identification information and specifying the identification content When,
The control means commands the identification element sending means to send the identification element of the identification content, and the identification element sending means sends the identification element of the identification content based on the command;
The control means instructs the sticking mechanism to stick the identification element to the case of the electronic product, and the sticking mechanism sticks the identification element to the case of the electronic product based on the command. Product identification method. A product discrimination method using the product discrimination device according to claim 2,
The control means transmitting a predetermined command frame to the microcomputer through the communication means;
A step of inspecting the electronic product by the control means based on a reply signal given from the microcomputer according to the command frame;
Transmitting a request command for requesting identification information stored in the microcomputer in advance from the control means to the microcomputer via the communication means;
Receiving the identification information given from the microcomputer in response to the request command via the communication means, and the control means determining the type of the electronic product based on the identification information and specifying the identification content When,
The control means commands the identification element sending means to send the identification element of the identification content, and the identification element sending means sends the identification element of the identification content based on the command;
The control means instructs the sticking mechanism to stick the identification element to the case of the electronic product, and the sticking mechanism sticks the identification element to the case of the electronic product based on the command. Product identification method.

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