Patent ID: 6618629
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
For controlling a circuit-board-processing line that includes a plurality of circuit-board-processing-line machines, at least a plurality of the circuit-board-processing-line machines providing respective SMEMA ports and being connected in series by SMEMA channels extending between the SMEMA ports, at least one of the circuit-board-processing-line machines providing a non-SMEMA communications port separate from the SMEMA ports, a control system comprising:A) at least one SMEMA-device emulator providing: i) SMEMA ports that so interface with a respective one of the SMEMA channels as thereby to interpose that SMEMA-device emulator in that SMEMA channel and ii) a separate, non-SMEMA communications port, by which that SMEMA-device emulator receives signals in accordance with which it transmits signals from at least one of its SMEMA ports; and B) line-coordination circuitry connected in communication with at least one said SMEMA-device emulator's non-SMEMA communications port for transmission of signals thereto and in communication with at least one said circuit-board-processing-line machine's non-SMEMA communications port for reception of signals therefrom, the signals sent by the line-coordination circuitry to the SMEMA-device emulator's communications port depending on the signals received from the non-SMEMA port of at least one said circuit-board-processing-line machine.