Patent ID: 6983532
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: G01R,H05K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A system for use within a surface mount production line having a conveyor for receiving a printed circuit board, and for moving the printed circuit board through the surface mount production line, the system comprising: a concurrent programming system containing first and second programming sites; a pick and place system for picking up first and second electronic devices from one or more tray shuttles, and for placing the first and second electronic devices within the first and second programming sites, respectively, the first and second electronic devices being programmable in a concurrent manner and independent of each other; and a central control unit for communicating with the conveyor, the concurrent programming system, and the pick and place system, the central control unit directing the conveyor to move the printed circuit board permitting the pick and place system to place the first and second electronic devices on the printed circuit board after the devices are programmed; wherein the conveyor system is controlled according to state variables associated with receiving a printed circuit board from an upstream device and providing an assembled printed circuit board assembly to a downstream device, and wherein the state variables include one or more of a first variable indicating that the upstream device is ready to deliver the printed circuit board, a second variable indicating that the downstream device is ready to receive the assembled printed circuit board assembly, a third variable indicating that the conveyor system is ready to receive the printed circuit board, and a fourth variable indicating that the conveyor system is ready to deliver the assembled printed circuit board assembly.