Method, system and device for providing information to an SMT system operator

A method for providing operator information in an Surface Mount Technology (SMT) system, the SMT system including an SMT information database and a SMT pick and place machine, the method comprising:

• receiving a bin, the bin being a basket, trolley or accumulator, the bin including a plurality of compartments, each compartment configured to hold a separate bin load unit of a plurality of bin load units, each separate bin load unit including a component tape reel, the bin further including an alphanumerical display controller and an alphanumerical display such that the alphanumerical display controller and the alphanumerical display are physically attached to and structurally supported by the bin;
• causing the alphanumerical display controller physically attached to and structurally supported by the bin to recognize and register an identity of a bin load unit held in the bin based on an identity tag attached to the bin load unit being scanned;
• causing the alphanumerical display controller physically attached to and structurally supported by the bin to communicate data representing the identity of the bin load unit from the bin to the SMT information database via a communications network, based on the alphanumerical display controller physically attached to and structurally supported by the bin recognizing and register the identity of the bin load unit held in the bin, such that the identity of the bin load unit is associated with an identity of the bin in the SMT information database;
• receiving, at the alphanumerical display controller physically attached to the bin from the SMT information database via the communications network, display data relating to an SMT job;
• and
• presenting said display data on the alphanumerical display physically attached to the bin,
• wherein the causing the alphanumerical display controller to recognize and register the identity of the bin load unit held in the bin includes
• an identity tag scanner scanning the identity tag attached to the bin load unit held in the bin,
• the identity tag scanner transmitting information to the alphanumerical display controller physically attached to and structurally supported by the bin, in response to the scanning, and
• the alphanumerical display controller processing the information received from the identity tag scanner to recognize and register the identity of the bin load unit held in the bin.