PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Abstract: In a production system for performing predetermined processes on products (30) which each have a memory (6) incorporated therein, information necessary for those proces­ ses is sequentially written by an external computer (31) in the memory (6) incorporated in each product (30), and such infor­ mation is read out from the memory (6) and used by the production system to carry out the respective processes on the products.

Description: This invention relates to production systems. More particularly the invention relates to systems suitable for use in producing electronic products or devices, which products or devices comprise an inner bus. European patent specification EP-A2-0 142 436 (US-A-4 807 140) discloses a production system in which objects to be machined and/or treated and/or handled are provided with electronic labels in which information relating to the machining, treatment or handling is stored, and from which the information is read during the production process. In the field of vehicle production, German patent specification DE-A1-33 13 481 discloses the provision in a vehicle of a memory having fixed storage locations for storing specific information, and programmable storage locations for subsequently writing information relating to components, production errors, control data, sales data, etc. A production system has also been proposed in which the production process is controlled by a computer in a concentrated or integrated control fashion. As a typical and well known example of such a production system, there is the so-called "just-in-time" inventory system developed in Japan and there referred to as the "Kanban" production system. According to this "just-in-time" inventory system, each product being conveyed along the production line bears a so-called kanban [sign board) in which work instructions or information and the like are written and, on the basis of such work instructions or information written in the sign board associated with each product, the assembly, adjusting and other necessary work are carried out by robots or manually. In the field of electronic devices, such as, television receivers, video tape recorders (VTRs) and audio tape records, digital circuits are widely used. Most of these digitized devices employ an inner bus system. In such an inner bus system, a central processing unit (CPU), an inner bus, a read-only memory (ROM) and so on are incorporated in the device, and predetermined or set values for operation of each circuit are stored in this ROM. In normal operation, the foregoing set values are read from the ROM by the CPU, and the data read out are supplied through the inner bus to a predetermined circuit, whereby the circuit is driven to carry out a predetermined operation. At the same time, each circuit is controlled through the CPU by an external device, such as a keyboard or a remote controller. The inner bus used in such inner bus system is usually a two-wire system bus or a three-wire system bus. The two-wire system bus is formed of a data transmission line and a clock transmission line, and may utilize a communication system such as is disclosed in published unexamined Japanese patent specification no 57/106262. The three-wire system bus is formed of a data transmission line, a clock transmission line and a transmission line for an identifying signal which is used to identify a data block. In the case of electronic devices equipped with the above-mentioned inner bus system, the adjustment thereof during manufacturing and in use can be standardized, made common and simplified, so that reduction of the manufacturing and other costs can be expected. It is to be noted that, in the case of previously proposed production systems, such as, the "just-in-time" inventory system, the indication of the work instructions or information and the like, impose a heavy load on a host computer. Moreover, since several manufacturing processes must be carried out simultaneously, the production system requires a high-speed and large-sized computer. According to the present invention there is provided a production system having means for performing a plurality of manufacturing processes for producing products with each of which is associated a memory, the system comprising: means for writing in said memory of each of said products information necessary for the performance of each of said processes before the start of performance of the respective process; and means for reading said information from said memory at the beginning of the performance of each of said processes; each said product being an electronic product comprising as elements thereof an inner bus, a central processor and said memory connected to said inner bus, and electrical and electronic components capable of being adjusted in dependence on information stored in said memory; characterised in that: each said product has a connector connected to said inner bus and to which an external computer can be coupled to effect said writing in and reading from said memory. According to the present invention there is also provided a method of controlling a sequence of manufacturing processes for producing products, with each of which is associated a memory, the method comprising the steps of: writing in said memory of each of said products information necessary for the performance of each of said processes before the commencement of the respective process; and reading said information from said memory at the beginning of the performance of the respective process; each said product being an electronic product comprising as elements thereof an inner bus, a central processor and said memory connected to said inner bus, and electrical and electronic components capable of being adjusted in dependence on information stored in said memory; characterised in that: each said product has a connector connected to said inner bus and to which an external computer can be coupled to effect said writing in and reading from said memory. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references, and in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a television receiver to which an embodiment of production system according to the invention can be applied; Figures 2A, 2B and 2C are diagrammatical representations of the format of signals which are transmitted through a two-wire system bus line; Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall arrangement of an embodiment of production system according to the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram used to explain respective manufacturing processes of the embodiment of production system; Figure 5 is a flow chart showing steps in a program for an assembling process included in the system of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of several different types of front frames or bezels for a television receiver; and Figure 7 is a schematic representation showing successive stages in a production system for making television receivers, and to which this invention may be advantageously applied. An embodiment of production system according to this invention will be described in detail as applied to the manufacture of a television receiver which incorporates an inner bus system, with reference first to Figures 1 and 2. Within the television receiver, there are located an integrated circuit (IC) arrangement of an audio signal processing circuit 1, a video signal control circuit 2, a video signal processing circuit 3 and a deflection control circuit 4 (Figure 1). A CPU 5 and a memory 6 are also shown to be provided within the television receiver. As the memory 6 there is used, for example, a non-volatile memory. The circuit elements 1 to 6 are connected with one another through a bus line 7. The bus line 7 is connected to a connector 8 which is provided on the television receiver. At this connector 8, there is separably connected a computer 9 by way of an external bus line 10. A display section (not shown), such as a monitor receiver, is suitably connected to the computer 9. In normal operation, in accordance with an instruction issued from a keyboard 11 or an adjustment commander 12 for remote control operation, the CPU 5 suitably controls the circuits 1 to 4, and a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit 14 by which a tuner 13 is tuned. Accordingly, the channel selection, the adjustment of sound volume, the adjustment of picture and so on are carried out and the results are indicated on an indication section 15. In Figure 1, a remote control signal receiver circuit 16 receives the remote control signal from the commander 12 and supplies it to the CPU 5. An intermediate frequency (IF) amplifying circuit 17 receives a signal from the tuner 13 and converts it to an IF signal which is supplied to the audio signal processing circuit 1 and the video signal control circuit 2. Horizontal and vertical deflection coils 18 and 19 are connected to the deflection control circuit 4 to carry out the horizontal and vertical deflections of an electron beam or beams in an associated cathode ray tube (CRT) 22. An audio output amplifier 20 supplies an audio signal from the audio signal processing circuit 1 to a loudspeaker 23. A video output amplifier 21 supplies a video signal from the video signal control circuit 2 to the CRT 22. When adjustments are to be effected during the manufacturing process and during servicing of the television receiver, the computer 9 or the commander 12 is used, and the following operation is carried out. When the adjustment is to be effected during the manufacturing process, suitable digital data corresponding to an adjusted value or values are generated by operating the keyboard of the computer 9. Such digital data are supplied through the bus line 10, the connector 8 and the bus line 7 to the respective circuits 1 to 4. In each of the circuits 1 to 4, the digital data supplied thereto is latched through a bus interface (not shown) and converted to an analog control signal by a digital-to-analog (D/A) converting circuit (not shown), The circuits 1 to 4 are suitably controlled by the respective control signals and the output signals from the circuits 1 to 4, respectively, are changed in response to these control operations. Each of these controlled or changed output signals is converted to digital signals by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converting circuit (not shown) in the respective one of the circuits 1 to 4, and the resulting digital signals or data are returned through the bus interface and the bus lines 7 and 10 to the computer 9. On the basis of these returned digital signals, the indication section of the computer 9 indicates the results of the adjustments of the circuits 1 to 4. After it has been confirmed from the indication of the adjusted results that the proper adjustments have been carried out in response to operation of the keyboard of the computer 9, the adjusted values acting in the circuits 1 to 4 at that time are stored in the memory 6 as predetermined or reference values. In normal operation of the television receiver, the data representing the predetermined or reference values set as indicated above and stored in the memory 6 are read out by the CPU 5, and the circuits 1 to 4 carry out respective predetermined operations with these data used as the operation standards or reference values. When servicing or trouble-shooting the television receiver to find out the source of the trouble or malfunction, a computer 9' for rendering such service is connected to the television receiver at the connector 8. The computer 9' used for servicing the television receiver may be the same as or similar to that used in the manufacturing operation. By operating the keyboard of the computer 9', an address of a selected one of the circuits 1 to 4, respectively, is specified and thereby a circuit is selected to be examined for trouble. Subsequently, instructions are issued through the bus lines 10 and 7 in order that the data indicative of the operating state of the selected circuit is supplied to the computer 9'. In the selected circuit, the level of the signal corresponding to the operation state being examined is converted to digital data by the A/D converting circuit (not shown) of that circuit 1 to 4. The resulting digital data is supplied through the bus lines 7 and 10 to the computer 9' in which there has been previously stored the various reference values for the circuits 1 to 4 when the television receiver is in a correct operational state. The stored reference values are compared with the signal levels transmitted from the selected circuit and thereby the state of the selected circuit is examined. The result of such examination is indicated on the indication section of the computer 9'. It will be apparent that, by systematically carrying out the above-mentioned operations on the various circuits in like manner, it is possible to locate the troubled or defective circuit. Among the operating parameters suitable for control or adjustment in the manner described above, there are those relating to electron beam deflections, such as, the widths of rasters in the horizontal and vertical directions, linearity, pin cushion distortion and the like, those relating to colour adjustment, such as, the cut-off voltages of the R, G and B signals, the white balance adjustment and the like, and those relating to the grid bias adjustment of the CRT and so on. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a system in which data obtained in the adjustment operation during servicing of each television receiver are recorded on a memory, record medium or the like, or are transmitted through a telephone network line to a central integrated control computer which suitably processes such data. With such a system, the central integrated control computer can provide service history print-outs on the basis of data transmitted from several service stations and transmit them to a designing, development or a research section, so that the service history can guide future developments of the product. Referring now to Figures 2A, 2B and 2C, it will be seen that, in a two-wire system bus line, a first transmission line transmits therethrough serial data D2 shown in Figure 2B, while a second transmission line transmits therethrough a clock CL2 shown in Figure 2C. As shown in Figure 2A, the serial data D2 is formed of a start signal ST on one bit, an address signal of seven bits for specifying the address assigned to a respective one of the controlled circuits 1 to 4 (Figure 1), a read or write signal R/W of one bit for determining whether the data is to be supplied to the addressed controlled circuit or is to be read out from the addressed controlled circuit, an acknowledge signal ACK of one bit for confirming that the circuit to be controlled is addressed and is conditioned to either write the data that follows or to read data and supply the latter to the computer 9 or 9', data of eight bits indicative of an adjustment level or reference value and the like, n data each of which is formed of nine bits and used for other necessary operations and a stop signal SP of one bit. Having described how the television receiver using an inner bus system with a memory can be controlled by the external computer and so on from the outside, a production system embodying this invention will now be described for producing such television receiver. Figure 3 shows an overall arrangement of a production system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and in which a plurality of the television receivers 30, indicated schematically, are mounted on process or assembly lines. In order to supervise or control the production of the television receivers 30, low order computers (host computers) 31 equivalent to the above-mentioned computer 9 (Figure 1) are provided at the respective process lines. Moreover, these low order computers 31 are controlled, in turn, by a single high order or factory-wide computer 32. The low order computers 31 are used to write or store in the memory 6 (Figure 1) of each television receiver 30 on the respective process or assembly line, information necessary for the respective production process, and then to read such information from each memory 6 at a predetermined time as will be described later. For example, in response to the stored information from each memory 6 of each receiver, instructions are issued by the respective computer 31 to withdraw particular types of CRTs, printed circuit boards and the like from a warehouse or magazine in a predetermined sequential order and to place them on conveyors or unmanned cars directed to appropriate destinations, and it is checked whether or not the described operations are carried out correctly. Moreover, each computer 31 checks whether or not the respective production line is moving at a predetermined speed without interruption or error. A series of these operations can be controlled by the high order computer 32 directly or through the low order computers 31. The high order computer 32 gives instructions on production planning, material information and designing information to the low order computers 31, collects control information or feedback from the several production lines and stores the same on a disc or the like. Figure 4 shows an example of the flow of successive manufacturing processes performed on each television receiver 30 and the changing state of the information or data written in, or read out from the memory 6, in accordance therewith. In this case, for example, it is assumed that the successive manufacturing processes are adjustment of the printed circuit boards, adjustment of the completed receiver, inspection, and packing and servicing. At completion of the stage or process where adjustment of the printed circuit board is effected, information signals A, I, MB, CB, CA, BE, P and SERIAL NO are written in predetermined areas of the memory 6 of the respective receiver 30A (Figure 4) by the low order computer 31 (Figure 3) associated with the respective production line. In this case, the signal A designates the type or category of the product being made, the signal I identifies the assembly of the CRT, the deflection yoke and the like, the signal MB identifies the user control board, the signal CB identifies the accessory board, the signal CA identifies the cabinet, the signal BE identifies the bezel which are required for completion of the product A, and the signal P identifies the next process to be performed. The parenthesized numerals in Figure 4 designate the numbers of bits used for each signal which are, of course, only given by way of example. Of the information signals written in the memory 6, the information signals utilized in the next assembly process are read by the low order computer 31. At this stage, each of the signals I, MB, CB, CA, BE and P is read out by way of example. The low order computer 31, based on the read out signal P, instructs robots or the like, at a corresponding place or station along the assembly line, to start the assembly work associated with the process P. Moreover, in response to the read out of the signal P, the computer 31 directs an unmanned car, if the car is used as carrying means, to the respective destination or station or, if a conveyor system is used, instructs the system to convey the necessary elements to such station. In response to the signal I, the arrival of elements to be assembled, such as the CRT or the deflection yoke, at the indicated destination or station, is checked. If such elements are the correct ones, they are assembled by a robot or manually. Similarly, suitable operations are carried out in response to read out of the signals MB, CB, CA and BE, as indicated below. More particularly, a description will now be given, with reference to the flow chart of Figure 5, of the process or program by which the CRT and the bezel are assembled. Such program is shown to start at step S10. At step S20, the signal I is read out from the memory 6 by the low order computer 31 and at step S30, it is latched in the low order computer 31. Then, at step S40, it is determined whether or not the arrived CRT is of the correct type. If the CRT is of correct type, it is assembled with the respective deflection yokes and the like by a robot or manually at step S50. On the other hand, if the CRT is not correct, the program goes to a step S60 in which an error indication is provided. Subsequently, at step S70, the signal BE identifying the correct one of the types of bezels 33a, 33b and 33c shown on Figure 6 is read out from the memory 6 by the low order computer 31 and at step S80, the signal BE is latched in the low order computer 31. Then, at step S90, it is checked whether or not the correct type of bezel has arrived at the assembly station. If the bezel is correct, it is assembled by the robot or manually at step S100. If, on the other hand, the bezel delivered is not correct, an error indication is provided in step S110. The program of the series of assembly processes ends at step S120. Of course, similar assembly processes are performed in response to read out of thE signals MB, CB and CA. After such assembly processes have ended, a signal P' indicative of the next process, for example, an adjustment process, is written by the computer 31 in the memory 6 of the respective receiver 30B in Figure 4. The signal P' indicating an adjustment process is then read out of the memory 6 by the low order computer 31, which then effects the start of the adjustment process or instructs the unmanned car to proceed to the destination where the adjustment process will be performed, Then, the signal I is read from the memory 6 by the low order computer 31 so as to carry out the adjustments of the CRT, such as, adjustment of the white balance or adjustment of the beam deflection. After the adjustment processes have been completed, instead of the signal I, a signal B, and instead of the signals MB, CB, CA and BE, signals C and UB, are written in the memory 6 by the low order computer 31, as indicated at the stage 30C in Figure 4. The signal B indicates the test characteristics for the particular kind and size of the CRT, the signal C indicates a feature or features with which the respective television receiver is provided, and the signal UB indicates input and output blocks, respectively, to be attached to the receiver for the testing or inspection thereof. Also, signal P'' indicative of the next or testing process is written in the memory 6. Before commencement of the inspection or testing process, the signal P'' is read out from the memory 6 by the computer 31, whereby an instruction is given by the computer 31 to start the inspection, or an instruction is given for directing the unmanned car to the inspecting place or station. The signal B is read out from the memory 6 by the compuer 31, whereby to confirm that the white balance, the cut-off points of the R, G and B signals or the beam deflections conform to the test characteristics indicated by the signal B. Moreover, the signal C is read out from the memory 6 by the computer 31 which then confirms that, for example, the remote control operation and the operation of the user control section are correct. Furthermore, the signal UB is read out from the memory 6 by the computer 31 to select a predetermined input/output block, from among several input/output blocks, for attachment to the receiver when testing its input/output circuits. After the inspection process has ended, a signal D and a signal E are written in the memory 6 by the computer 31 instead of the signal UB and the signal P'', respectively, as indicated at stage 30D in Figure 4. In this case, the signal D designates a place or destination to which the receiver is to be shipped, and the signal E designates the colour. When the manufacturing process enters the packing process, the signals A to E and the signal SERIAL NO are read out from the memory 6 by the low order computer 31, and the packing and shipping is carried out in accordance with the respective items of information. Thus, the television receiver is delivered with signals A to E and the signal SERIAL NO written in its memory 6 as indicated at stage 30E in Figure 4, and these signals represent a kind of name-place which can be read when servicing the receiver to provide the respective types of information. Figure 7 schematically illustrates a sequence of manufacturing processes that may be typically performed on the described television receiver having an inner bus system in a production system according to the present invention. More particularly, at step S200, a printed circuit board is taken out from a printed circuit board magazine and, at step S210, a jumper is attached to the printed circuit board by a jumper inserting machine. At step S220, a resistor or the like is attached to the printed circuit board by a so-called axial inserting machine. At step S230, a capacitor or the like is attached to the printed circuit board by a so-called radial inserting machine and, at step S240, a micro-inductor, an intermediate frequency transformer (IFT), a variable resistor (VR) or the like are attached to the printed circuit board by a deformed parts inserting machine. At step S250, an IC, a ceramic filter or output transformer, or the like are attached to the printed circuit board by another deformed parts inserting machine. Moreover, at step S260, a flyback transformer, a power source unit, a heat sink or the like are manually mounted on the printed circuit board. The various parts mounted on the printed circuit board, as described above, are soldered by a dip machine at step S270 and, after being subjected to a heat shock test and vibration test at step S280, the board adjustment is carried out at step S290. The adjusted printed circuit board is assembled into a cabinet together with the CRT and the like, and a bezel is attached, at step S300. Thereafter, at step S310, the television receiver thus assembled is subjected to various adjustments, for example, of the white balance and deflection, and the insulating characteristics of the receiver are checked at step S320. At step S330, the television receiver is connected to the input and output blocks and is subjected to the delivery inspection. Thereafter, at step S340, the television receiver is packed by an automatic casing or packing machine, and then delivered. Although, in the example shown in Figure 4, this invention is applied to stages of the production system after the printed circuit board has been adjusted, it is possible similarly to apply this invention at any other stage of the production system, for example, the stage in which parts, such as, resistors, capacitors, ICs and the like, are being mounted on the printed circuit board. Moreover, although, in the above-described embodiment, this invention is applied to a television receiver, it is apparent that the invention is not limited to television receivers, but can be similarly applied to other electronic devices, or other products, such as vehicles, machine tools, robots and so on, which have memories. Thus, in the embodiment described, since the items of information necessary for the production process are sequentially written in and read out from the memory 6 incorporated in the product or device by the production system control computer 31 thereby to carry out the predetermined production steps, and the contents of the memory are re-written in accordance with changes of the process, the production can be controlled and carried out with high efficiency, even by a computer having a relatively small capacity, and there is no need for high speed operation of the computer so that computer processing can be carried out at low cost. In the previously proposed production system, information unnecessary for a particular process is also written on the sign board (Kanban). However, in the embodiment, only instructions or information necessary for a particular corresponding process is obtained each time it is required, so that the unnecessary instructions or information can be excluded. Moreover, in the previously proposed production system, a tag, on which the work history and the like are written, is attached to a chassis or the like and moves therewith along the production line. In the embodiment, the memory 6 can take the place of such a tag, so that all necessary data can be carried and made available with ease. Furthermore, a local area network (LAN) can easily be introduced into the production system, and also the product being produced can be easily modified, in accordance with market demand, at any stage of its manufacture.

Claims: A production system having means for performing a plurality of manufacturing processes for producing products (30) with each of which is associated a memory (6), the system comprising: means (9, 31) for writing in said memory (6) of each of said products (30) information necessary for the performance of each of said processes before the start of performance of the respective process; and means (9, 31) for reading said information from said memory (6) at the beginning of the performance of each of said processes; each said product (30) being an electronic product (30) comprising as elements thereof an inner bus (7), a central processor (5) and said memory (6) connected to said inner bus (7), and electrical and electronic components capable of being adjusted in dependence on information stored in said memory; characterised in that: each said product (30) has a connector (8) connected to said inner bus (7) and to which an external computer (9, 31) can be coupled to effect said writing in and reading from said memory (6). A production system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said information is rewritten in said memory (6) at the beginning of each of said processes before said information is read. A production system according to claim 2 wherein the means for performing said processes comprises means for effecting adjustment of printed circuit boards, means for assembling parts, means for adjusting predetermined characteristics of said electronic products (30), means for testing said electronic products (30), and means for packaging said electronic products (30). A production system according to claim 3 wherein said information is formed of digital codes. A production system according to claim 1 wherein said means (9, 31) for writing in and reading from said memory (6) of each of the electronic products includes computer means (31) which controls the performance of said processes. A method of controlling a sequence of manufacturing processes for producing products (30), with each of which is associated a memory (6), the method comprising the steps of: writing in said memory (6) of each of said products (30) information necessary for the performance of each of said processes before the commencement of the respective process; and reading said information from said memory (6) at the beginning of the performance of the respective process; each said product (30) being an electronic product (30) comprising as elements thereof an inner bus (7), a central processor (5) and said memory (6) connected to said inner bus (7), and electrical and electronic components capable of being adjusted in dependence on information stored in said memory; characterised in that: each said product (30) has a connector (8) connected to said inner bus (7) and to which an external computer (9, 31) can be coupled to effect said writing in and reading from said memory (6). A method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of rewriting at least some of said information in said memory (6) at the beginning of each of said processes before said information is read. A method according to claim 7 wherein said processes comprise adjusting printed circuit boards, assembling parts, adjusting characteristics of said electronic products (30), testing said electronic products (30), and packing said electronic products (30). A method according to claim 8 wherein said information is formed of digital codes. A production system according to claim 1 or a method according to claim 6 wherein said electronic products (30) are television receivers (30).

Inventors: ISHIKAWA, YOJI PATENT DIV. SONY CORPORATION, OHTA, MASUAKI PATENT DIV. SONY CORPORATION, SHINODA, HARUKI PATENT DIV. SONY CORPORATION
Applicants: SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G06F15
IPC codes: G07C3, G06Q50, B23Q41, B23P21, G06Q10