MXPA00009781A - Programmer systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A micro device using assembly system (30) for feeding, programming, and placing micro devices on circuit boards includes a robotic handing system capable of picking up and placing the micro devices on the circuit boards on a conveyor system. A control system controls the conveyor system and the robotic handling system (18). An input feeder (14) provides the micro devices and a programming system (50) is capable of programming a plurality of micro devices in sockets (54) which are in line parallel with the input feeder (14). The input feeder (14) responds to communication with the control system to feed the unprogrammed micro devices while the programming system (50) programs the micro devices and communicates to the control system. The robotic handling system (18) responds to communication of the programming system with the control system to pickup and places the programmed micro devices on the circuit boards at high speed.

Description

PROGRAMMING SYSTEMS REFERRAL TO RELATED REQUESTS This application claims the benefit of the provisional patent application of E.U.A. 60 / 164,785, filed November 10, 1999. The present application contains a subject related to a co-pending patent application of E.U.A. by George Leland Anderson, Robert Edward Cameron, and Scott Alien Fern, entitled "HIGH SPEED PROGRAMMER SYSTEM". The related request is assigned to Data l / O Corporation and is identified by case number 1015-003 and application number of E.U.A. 09/471, 675. The present application also covers the subject related to a co-pending patent application of E.U.A. by Bryan D. Powell, George Leland Anderson, Lev M. Bolotin and Robin Edward Cameron, entitled "PROGRAMMER". The related application is assigned Data l / O Corporation and is identified with case number 1015-008 and application number of E.U.A. 09/471, 634 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to electronic manufacturing systems, and more particularly to systems and programmers of programmable devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Previously, certain electronic assembly operations were carried out far from the main production assembly systems. Although various feeder machines and robotized handling systems abound in electronic circuit boards with integrated circuits, operations related to integrated processing circuits, such as programming, testing, calibration and measurement, were carried out in separate areas in separate equipment, instead of be integrated into the main production assembly systems. For example, in the programming of programmable devices, such as programmable read-only and electrically erasable memories (EEPROM) and snapshot EEPROM, separate programming equipment was used, which was often located in a separate area of the card assembly systems. circuits. There were several reasons for performing offline programming.

First, the programming team was relatively large and bulky. This was because of the need to accurately insert and remove programmable devices at high speeds inside and outside the programming sockets in the programmer. Since insertion and removal required relatively long lateral movements at high speed and very precise positioning, very rigid robotic handling equipment was required. The stiffness requirement meant that the various components had to be relatively solid with strong structural support elements to maintain the integrity of the structure and the precision positioning of the picking and positioning system that moved at high speeds. Due to the size of the programming team and the limited space for the larger assembly team, they were located in different areas. Second, a single high-speed production assembly system could employ programmed devices faster than they could be programmed into a single programming mechanism. This required several programming systems, which were generally operated for longer periods to have a reserve of programmed devices for the production assembly systems. This meant that the operating times and the entry requirements were different between the two systems. Third, no one had been able to build a single system that could be easily integrated with the mechanical and electrical portions of the production assembly systems. These systems are complex, and in general, they require a large amount of time from expensive engineering designs to make the changes be incorporated into the additional equipment. A major problem associated with the programming of programmable devices in a separate area, and with the subsequent relocation of the devices programmed into the production assembly area to be inserted into the electronic circuit boards, was that it was difficult to have two separate procedures running in different areas and to coordinate between the two separate systems. Often, the production assembly system ran out of programmable devices and the entire production assembly system had to be suspended. On other occasions, the programming team was employed to schedule a sufficient inventory of programmed devices to ensure that the production assembly system would not be suspended; however, this raised inventory costs. Other problems arose when programming had to be changed and there was an extensive inventory of integrated circuits programmed at hand. In this situation, the inventory of programmable devices had to be reprogrammed, which implied a loss of time and money. Although it was clear that a better system was desirable, there seemed to be no way to really improve the situation. There were several seemingly insurmountable problems that impeded improvement.

First, the operating speeds of those production assembly systems far exceeded the programming speed of conventional programmers that the programmer had to produce much more than he thought was possible with conventional systems. Second, the programmer should not only be faster than the existing programmers, but should also be much smaller. The ideal system would be integrated into a production assembly system, but it would do so without interrupting an existing production assembly system or without requiring the extension of a new production assembly system on top of one of the extension without the ideal system. In addition, most of these production assembly systems were already filled with, or were designed to be filled with, various types of feed and handling modules that provide limited space for any additional equipment. Third, any programmer integrated with the production assembly system should obviously also interface with the control software and electronics of the production system software for communication and organization purposes. This would be a problem because the software of the production assembly system was not only complex, but confidential and / or owned by the manufacturers of those systems. This meant that integration had to be done with the collaboration of the manufacturers, who were reluctant to invest an engineering design effort in anything, except to improve their own systems, or it had to be done with a great effort of engineering design to understand the software from the manufacturers before working on the control software of the programmers. Fourth, the mechanical interface between a programmer and the production team needed to be extremely accurate in order to place programmed devices related to the collection and placement handling equipment of the production assembly system. Fifth, there is a large number of different manufacturers of production handling equipment, as well as production manufacturing equipment. This means that a large number of different configurations of the production assembly system should be studied, as well as the main design commitments that different manufacturers required. Sixth, the ideal system would allow rapid change between different microdevices that have different configurations and sizes. Seventh, the ideal system needed to be able to accommodate several different mechanisms of micro-device feeding, including tape feeders, tubes and trays. Finally, there was a need to quickly eject microdevices that failed during programming. It seemed that all the previous problems made any effective solution impossible. In particular, this was true when trying to invent a broad system that was portable, allowing the operation to only "connect and run" only with external air and electrical power, that would provide automated programming and manipulation, and that could present the programmable devices already programmed into an automated production assembly system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a microdevice processing system that can be employed with a microdevice that uses an assembly system with a control system and a robotic handling system. An input feeder for providing microdevices is operatively associated with a processing system that can process microdevices. The input feeder and the processing system have the ability to communicate with the control system. The input feeder responds to the communication with the control system to feed the microdevices, the processing system performs the processing of the microdevices and communicates with the control system, and the robotic handling system responds to the control system to take the microdevices and place them in the assembly system. This provides a system that can be quickly connected to a microdevice that uses an assembly system that has a control system and a robotic handling system. An input feeder for providing microdevices is operatively associated with a programming system capable of programming microdevices. The input feeder and the programming system have the ability to communicate with the control system. The input feeder responds to the communication with the control system to feed the microdevices, the programming system performs the processing of the microdevices and communicates with the control system, and the robotic handling system responds to the control system to take the microdevices and place them in the assembly system. This provides a system that can be quickly connected to a microdevice that uses the assembly system to provide processed microdevices at high speed. The present invention also provides a microdevice that uses an assembly system to power, program and place microdevices on circuit cards. A robotic handling system that can collect the microdevices and place them on the circuit boards in a conveyor system. A control system is responsible for the conveyor system and robotic handling system. An input feeder provides microdevices in a linear array and a programming system has the ability to program a plurality of microdevices in sockets that are in line parallel with the linear array. The input feeder and the programming system have the ability to communicate with the control system. The input feeder responds to the communication with the control system to feed the microdevices without programming, while the programming system places and programs the plurality of microdevices and communicates with the control system. The robotic handling system responds to the communication of the programming system with the control system to collect and place the programmed microdevices on the high-speed circuit cards. The above and additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 (prior art) is an example of a prior art programming system; Figure 2 (prior art) is an example of an electronic circuit board manufacturing line of the prior art that is part of the present invention; Figure 3 is an isometric view of a mode of a programmer of the present invention; Figure 4 is a somatic view of an alternative embodiment of a programmer of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the systems of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring to Figure 1 (prior art), a conventional processing system is illustrated, such as a programming system 10 for programmable electronic devices. The programming system 10 is extremely large and has a rigid frame 12 to which an input feeder 14 is attached. The input feeder 14 can be a conventional tape and reel, which supplies non-programmed devices to the programming system 10. A system of robotic manipulation 18, which has the ability to move in a coordinate system XYZ and? (X and Y are horizontal movements, Z is vertical and? Is angular), carries a collection and placement head (PNP) 20 to collect the devices without programming and transfer them to the programming area 22 and insert them into the programming sockets (not illustrated) in the programming system 10. When the programming is complete, the robotic handling system 18 will move the head of PNP 20 in place to remove the parts of the programming sockets and place them in an output mechanism 24. If the programming devices can not be programmed, the robotized handling system 18 and the head of PNP 20 will deposit the defective device in an ejector hub 26.

The programming system 10 will continue with automatic operation until all acceptable devices in the input feeder 14 are programmed and transferred to the output mechanism 24. Referring to FIG. 2 (prior art), a production assembly system is illustrated 30 which includes a microdevice that uses the assembly system 31. The production assembly system 30 includes a feeder table 32, where the various input feeders are joined, such as the input feeder 34 and 36. Where the programmed devices intervene , the output means of the output mechanism 24 in Figure 1 (prior art) would be used as the input means in the input feeder 34. In Figure 2 (prior art), two feeders 34 and 36 are illustrated, where each of the input feeders 34 and 36 could contain the same or different types of programmable devices. The input feeders 34 and 36 can be trays, stackers of trays, tubes, stackers of tubes or tapes and reels. The production assembly system 30 has a support frame 37 which carries a robotic handling system 40, which has the ability to carry a PNP head 42 along a coordinate system X-Y-Z-? to take the devices of the input feeders 34 and 36 and place them in the subassemblies, such as the printed circuit boards 38, when moving on the conveyor 48, which is placed on a frame of the assembly system 46. The input feeders 34 and 36 are positioned separately from the direction of movement of the conveyor 48. The robotic handling system 40 and the conveyor 48 are under the control of a software program running on a computer system (not illustrated). The software has the ability to be modified to subject the robotic handling system 40 and the conveyor 48 to the control of the auxiliary equipment, or to provide outputs to the auxiliary control equipment. Regarding figure 3, a programmer 50 of the present invention is illustrated, which can be described as a "vertical" online programmer. Programmer 50 consists of a replaceable socket adapter 52 having a plurality of in-line programmable device sockets 54. Socket adapter 52 has a thickness, width and depth greater than amplitude. The plurality of skirtings 54 extends the thickness, extends in width, and is in line and in a position parallel to the depth. The skirting adapter 52 allows tailor-made construction of different sizes of programmable devices as a function of replacement by a skirting adapter having sockets of different sizes. Each of the sockets of that plurality of sockets 54 is a conventional socket of the type that normally holds a programmable device of a single size. The number of sockets in the plurality of plinths 54 is a function of the desired production or application of the programmer 50. In the illustrated mode, 4 plinths 54 are provided. The plurality of plinths 54 may be placed on a back plane 60 extending in horizontal position. The back plane 60 has a thickness, width and depth greater than the amplitude. The size of the backplane 60 has the same approximate size as the skirting adapter 52. The width and depth define a flat surface having a plurality of backplane contacts 58 configured to make contact with the various legs of the programmable devices. The backplane 60 is connected through the backplane connectors 59 to a controller board with upstanding legs 62 that provides an interface with a smaller controller card 64 that extends in a vertical position. The controller card 64 has a thickness, width and depth, where the width and depth define a flat surface. The back plane 60, the control board with legs 62 and the controller card 64 are held in a fixed relation to each other by means such as screws, adhesives, castings, etc., in combination with spacers, frames, etc., such as separators 66. The controller card 64 carries a microprocessor, controller and / or other circuitry 68 to control and program the programmable devices. It should be noted that the back plane 60 is horizontal and is connected to the controller board with legs extending in vertical position 62, which is connected horizontally with the vertical controller card 64. Where the width of the controller card 64 is smaller than the width of the controller board with legs 62, a structure is formed with the backplane 64 mounted on brackets on the controller board with legs 62, and the controller card 64 leaves a space 69 just below the backplane 60. Where it is desirable that a tape , as the one used to carry the programmable devices, it passes as close as possible to the plane of the skirting adapter 52 and is disassembled laterally; this structure mounted on corbels provides a unique solution. In addition, the backplane 60 allows as many plinths 54 as one wishes to place in line only with adding them to the depth. Referring to Figure 4, a programmer 56 of the present invention is illustrated, which can be described as a "horizontal" online scheduler. Where the elements are the same as those described for the programmer 50, illustrated in Figure 3, the same numbers and descriptions are applicable. The plurality of skirtings 54 is in line and can be placed on the back plane 60 which extends horizontally. The backplane 60 is connected through the backplane connectors 59 to a controller board with legs extending in a horizontal position 62, which provides an interface with the controller card 64 which extends horizontally. It should be noted that for the different configurations of the present invention more sockets could be added in parallel position to the plurality of sockets in line 54 where the amplitude space allows.

Once again, the back plane 60, the control board with legs 62 and the controller card 64 are held in a fixed relation to each other by means of resources such as screws, adhesives, castings, etc., in combination with spacers, frames, etc. , such as the separators 66. This placement allows the programmer 56 to be located in spaces where vertical space is restricted, or where it will be used as an isolated desk system. Referring to Figure 5, alternative embodiments of programming systems 70 are illustrated. The programming systems 70 are connected to the production assembly system 30, where the conveyor 48 passes below a robotic handling sequence 72 for the robotic handling system 40. and the PNP head 42. The robotized manipulation sequence 72 defines the area in which the devices can be collected and placed by the robotic manipulation system 40. The programming systems 70 are six embodiments of the present invention, which can be used in a manner independently or together, and incorporate the programmer 50. However, it is to be understood that the programming systems 70 may appeal to other programmers through modifications that would be apparent to those skilled in the art. The different programmer systems are called "neighbor" system 75, "open sandwich" system 80, "closed sandwich" system 85, "train" system 90, "feeder change" system 95 and a system "pallet stacker" matrix "100. Except where otherwise indicated, the illustrated programmer systems 70 employ a ribbon and spool input feeder, but a tray, a tray stacker, a tube, a tube stacker and a combination can also be employed. of them without departing from the scope of the invention. In these embodiments that employ the tape and reel system, the individual system has a width that is parallel to the conveyor 48, the depth is perpendicular to the conveyor 48, and the height is perpendicular to the width and depth. A neighboring system 75 is a portable connection and execution system consisting of an input feeder, such as the input feeder 34, which is close to the programmer 50. The collection point for parts coming from the input feeder 34 and the plurality of programmer sockets 54 are under the robotic handling sequence 72 of the robotic handling system 40 of the production assembly system 30. The neighboring system 75 consists of three individual systems: one is the input feeder 34, another is the programmer 50 and another is the robotic handling system 40. The input feeder 34 and the programmer 50 are in communication with the control system that is in charge of the robotic handling system 40.

The neighboring system 75 operates when the input feeder 34 provides programmable devices without programming. When these devices are in position, the robotic handling system 40 uses the PNP head 42 to pick up a programmable device without programming and transfer it to the programmer 50. The programmer 50 then programs the programmable device. When the programming is complete, a signal is sent to the robotic handling system 40 to remove the programmed programmable device and place it on the printed circuit board 38 on the conveyor 48. The programmer 50 also sends signals when a device has defects and must be deposited in an ejection area 74. Basically, the communication between the input feeder 34 and the programmer 50 with the robotic manipulation system 40 lends itself to easy integration into the software / hardware system of the assembly system 30. For example, the signals between the input feeder 34 and the robotic handling system 40 would be respectively "Progress to a new device without programming" and "An unprogrammed device is ready to be collected". The signals between the programmer 50 and the robotic handling system 40 would also indicate whether an acceptable or defective programmable device is in a specific socket. An open sandwich system 80 consists of the input feeder 34 with the programmer 50 adjacent to it and a manipulation system 82 for moving programmable devices without programming from the input feeder 34 to the programmer 50., and then remove the already programmed programmable devices and return them to the input feeder 34 from where the robotic handling system 40 would collect them. The handling system 82 is a three-axis manipulation system at least for moving programmable devices horizontally and vertically through a sequence covering the input feeder 34 and the programmer 50. A closed sandwich system 85 has a pair of input feeders, said input feeders 34 and 36 have the programmer 50 sandwiched between them. The input feeder 34 has a handling system 86 and the input feeder 36. The handling system 86 could manipulate programmable devices between the input feeders 34 and 36, and the programmer 50 would include a transfer mechanism 88, such as a small conveyor belt. In operation, the input feeder 34 provides the unprogrammed programmable devices that are to be collected by the manipulation system 86 and placed in the transfer mechanism 88. With a large transfer mechanism 88, several programmable devices could be placed thereto. time or in sequences so that the manipulation system 86, or a subunit of the manipulation system 86, collects at the same time and achieves simultaneous placement in the scheduler 50. After programming, the already programmed programmable devices are collected at the same time by the manipulation system 86, or a subunit, and placed in the input feeder 36 to move them through the input feeder 36 to the collection point and to collect them individually or simultaneously by the robotic manipulation system 40. A Once again, it is only necessary to send simple signals to the control system or to dic The system sends them to the input feeder 34. A train system 90 has the input feeder 34 and the programmer 50 in a collinear position. A handling system 92 moves the parts in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction from the input feeder 34 to the programmer 50; and the robotized handling system 40 removes programmed programmable devices from the programmer 50. In part of the train system 90, it is desirable for the tape to pass through the programmer 50 and the configuration mounted on brackets with the space 69 of the programmer 50 is valuable in particular for the train system 90. The robotic handling system 40 then collects the programmable devices already programmed out of the sockets 54 which are under the robotic handling sequence 72 for the assembly system 30. A feeder change system 95 has the sockets 54 of the programmer 50 in a position parallel to the direction of the conveyor 48 and off the table 32. A handling system 96 collects the programmable devices without programming from a feeder change area 97 by simply moving in a direction parallel to the conveyor 48 and in a vertical direction to put them in the 50 programmer. The manipulator system 96 also removes the programmed programmable devices from the programmer 50 and places them in a transfer mechanism 98, such as a mini-conveyor belt, which is perpendicular to the conveyor 48 and which carries the programmable devices under the robotic handling sequence 72 from where they would be collected under the control of the control system by the robotic handling system 40. A matrix tray stacker system 100 has the programmer 50 located next to the table 32 and perpendicular to the conveyor 48. It has an associated handling system 102 that collects the programmable devices without programming from an area of matrix trays 103 and place them in the programmer 50 using at least two axes of movement. The handling system 102 also collects already programmed programmable devices and places them in a transfer mechanism 104, such as a mini-transporter, using a third transport movement axis under the robotic handling sequence 72 from where the handling system would pick them up. robotized 40 under the control of the control system. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, minimal communication is required between the input feeder 34, the programmer 50 and the production assembly system 30. Furthermore, as shown in the drawings, the programming systems 70 are portable and are located immediately adjacent the inlet feeder 34 and can be placed adjacent to the production assembly system 30 to minimize robotic handling movements, and thus increase production of the combined systems 70 and 30. From the foregoing, it should also be understood that the present invention is applicable to what can be described as "microdevices". The microdevices include a wide range of electronic and mechanical devices. The preferred embodiment describes processing, which is programming for programmable devices, which includes but is not limited to devices, such as snapshots, programmable read-only and electrically erasable memories (EEPROM), programmable logic devices (PLD), sets of programmable field gates (FPGA), and microcontrollers. However, the present invention encompasses processing for electronic, mechanical, hybrid and other devices that require testing, device feature measurements, calibration and other processing operations. For example, these types of microdevices would include but not be limited to devices such as microprocessors, integrated circuits (IC), specific application integrated circuits (ASICs), micromechanical machines, microelectromechanical devices (MEM), micromodules and fluid systems. Although the invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred and specific embodiment, it should be noted that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to encompass said alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. All the points explained herein or illustrated together with the drawings are intended to be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting sense.

Claims (10)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A microdevice processing system that can be used with a microdevice that employs an assembly system 30 having a control system and a robotic handling system 18, comprises: an input feeder 14 for providing microdevices; a processing system 10 having the ability to process microdevices, the processing system 10 is in position adjacent to the input feeder 14 and can be placed adjacent to the assembly system 30; the input feeder 14 and the processing system 10 have the ability to communicate with the control system, the input feeder 14 responds to communication with the control system to feed the microdevices, the processing system 10 has the ability to process the microdevices and communicate with the control system, and the robotic handling system 18 responds to the communication of the processing system 10 with the control system to take the microdevices and place them in the assembly system 30.

2.- The system of microdevice processing according to claim 1, further characterized in that it includes: a handling system 40 adjacent to the input feeder 14 and the processing system 10, the handling system 40 has the ability to move microdevices from the input feeder 14, and place the microdevices in the processing system 10.

3. - The microdevice processing system according to claim 2, further characterized in that the input feeder 14 has the ability to provide the microdevices in a linear array; the processing system 10 has the ability to place a plurality of microdevices in a linear array during processing, and the linear array of the processing system 10 is parallel to the linear array of the input feeder 14; and the handling system 40 has the ability to move microdevices from the linear row of the input feeder 14 to the linear row of the processing system 10.

4. The microdevice processing system according to claim 3, further characterized in that the input feeder 14 and the processing system 10 are collinear with the linear row of the colinear input feeder 14 with the linear row of the processing system 10.

5. The microdevice processing system according to claim 3, characterized also because it includes: a transfer mechanism 88 operatively associated with the processing system 10 for moving microdevices between the input feeder 14 and the robotic handling system 18.

6. - The microdevice processing system according to claim 5, further characterized in that the transfer mechanism 88 has the ability to move microdevices between the processing system 10 and the robotized handling system 18.

7.- The processing system of microdevices according to claim 5, further characterized in that the transfer mechanism 88 has the ability to move microdevices in a linear array perpendicular to the linear row of the processing system 10.

8.- The microdevice processing system in accordance with the claim 5, further characterized in that the transfer mechanism 88 has the ability to move microdevices between the input feeder 14 and the processing system 10.

9. The microdevice processing system according to claim 6, further characterized in that it includes a second feeder d and input 14 for moving microdevices between the processing system 10 and the robotic handling system 18; and wherein, the handling system 40 has the ability to move the microdevices from the transfer mechanism 88 to the processing system 10 and from the processing system 10 to the second input feeder 14.

10. - The microdevice processing system according to claim 9, further characterized in that the handling system 40 has the ability to move microdevices from the input feeder 14 to the transfer mechanism 88.