Patent ID: 8299393

Claim:
In association with a printed circuit board (PCB), and a plurality of electronic components on the PCB that include at least a first component and a second component, wherein the thermal mass of the first component is substantially greater than the thermal mass of the second component, a method comprising the steps of: during an initial time period, placing the PCB and components thereon at an initial position with respect to a first heat source, wherein the first heat source is operable to provide heat energy in accordance with a thermal profile comprising successive phases; after the initial time period, moving the PCB and components thereon into the first heat source; operating the first heat source during each of said phases in accordance with the thermal profile to selectively apply heat energy to the PCB and to the plurality of components thereon; and during said initial time period or a specified one of said phases, selectively, operating a focused heat source to direct heat energy to the first component, to provide the first component with a temperature during successive phases that is determined by the combined effect of heat energy received by the first component, both from the first heat source and from the focused heat source.