# US 2012/0310397 A1 · System and method for managing tool calibration in computer directed assembly and manufacturing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0310397 A1 - Document ID: US20120310397A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/490,397 - Filed: 2012-06-06 - Published: 2012-12-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-06 - Assignees: Paramit Corporation - Inventors: BALBIR S. RATAUL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120310397A1 ## CPC - G05B 19/4188: {characterised by CIM planning or realisation} - G05B 19/41805: {characterised by assembly} - G05B 19/41865: {characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow} - G05B 2219/24168: Identify connected programmer to allow control, program entry - G05B 2219/31001: CIM, total factory control - G05B 2219/31053: Planning, generate assembly plans - Y02P 80/40: Minimising material used in manufacturing processes - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for managing tools and calibrating tools when performing assembly instructions in a computer directed assembly system. To ensure tools remain calibrated, in one embodiment a tool identifier associated with a tool required for the assembly instruction is obtained. Using the tool identifier, a tool usage time for the tool is aggregated from an assembly record database. To determine whether the tool may need calibration, the tool usage time from a last calibration point is compared with a tool usage threshold for calibrating the tool as provided for by the associated assembly instruction. If the tool usage threshold is exceeded, using the tool is disallowed unless the tool is recalibrated. Alternatively, the tool is authorized for use to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point does not exceed the tool usage threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method of managing a tool used when assembling a manufactured product according to an assembly instruction from a computer directed assembly system, the method comprising: obtaining a tool identifier associated with a tool necessary to perform an assembly instruction used in the assembly of materials onto a component of the manufactured product; aggregating a tool usage time from an assembly record database according to the tool identifier and determining a last calibration point for the tool; determining if the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds a tool usage threshold for calibrating the selected tool as provided for by the associated assembly instruction; disallowing use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction; and authorizing use of the tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point does not exceed the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining a tool identifier is provided from at least one source selected from a set of sources including: a bar code on the tool, a Quick Response (QR) code on the tool, an alpha-numeric sequence visible on the tool, and a radio-frequency identification tag associated with the tool. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining the last calibration point for the selected tool includes reading the last calibration point from at least one storage area selected from a set of storage areas including: a storage area built into the tool for recording the last calibration point and a storage area in the assembly record database that associates that last calibration point with the tool identifier for the tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction is selected from a set of tool usage thresholds including: a manufacturer specified tool usage threshold and a user specified tool usage threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: updating the tool usage time in the assembly record database to include additional time associated with using the tool to perform the assembly instruction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the additional time is selected from a set of time intervals including: an actual time interval for using tool, an estimated time interval for using the tool, and a fixed time interval associated with each use of the tool. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein authorizing use of the tool to perform specified assembly is limited to a time interval as indicated in the assembly instruction. ### Claim 8 A computer program product for managing a tool used when assembling a manufactured product according to an assembly instruction from a computer directed assembly system, tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to: obtain a tool identifier associated with a tool necessary to perform an assembly instruction used in the assembly of materials onto a component of the manufactured product; aggregate a tool usage time from an assembly record database according to the tool identifier and determining a last calibration point for the tool; determine if the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds a tool usage threshold for calibrating a selected tool as provided for by the associated assembly instruction; disallow use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction; and authorize use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point does not exceed the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8 wherein obtaining the tool identifier is provided from at least one source selected from a set of sources including: a bar code on the tool, a Quick Response (QR) code on the tool, an alpha-numeric sequence visible on the tool, a radio-frequency identification tag associated with the tool. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8 wherein determining the last calibration point for the selected tool includes reading the last calibration point from at least one storage area selected from a set of storage areas including, a storage area built into the tool for recording the last calibration point and a storage area in the assembly record database that associates that last calibration point with the tool identifier for the tool. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions that when executed cause the programmable processor to: update the tool usage time in the assembly record database to include additional time associated with using the tool to perform the assembly instruction ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the additional time is selected from a set of time intervals including: an actual time interval for using tool, an estimated time interval for using the tool, and a fixed time interval associated with each use of the tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8 wherein authorizing use of the tool to perform specified assembly is limited to a time interval as indicated in the assembly instruction. ### Claim 14 An apparatus for managing a tool used when assembling a manufactured product according to an assembly instruction from a computer directed assembly system, the apparatus comprising: a processor capable of executing instructions; and a memory holding instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to: obtain a tool identifier associated with a tool necessary to perform an assembly instruction used in the assembly of materials onto a component of the manufactured product; aggregate a tool usage time from an assembly record database according to the tool identifier and determining a last calibration point for the tool; determine if the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds a tool usage threshold for calibrating a selected tool as provided for by the associated assembly instruction; disallow use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point exceeds the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction; and authorize use of the selected tool to perform the assembly instruction when it is determined that the tool usage time from the last calibration point does not exceed the tool usage threshold provided in association with the assembly instruction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein obtaining the tool identifier is provided from at least one source selected from a set of sources including, a bar code on the tool, a Quick Response (QR) code on the tool, an alpha-numeric sequence visible on the tool, a radio-frequency identification tag associated with the tool. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein determining the last calibration point for the selected tool includes reading the last calibration point from at least one storage area selected from a set of storage areas including, a storage area built into the tool for recording the last calibration point and a storage area in the assembly record database that associates the last calibration point with the tool identifier for the tool. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising instructions that when executed, cause the programmable processor to: update the tool usage time in the assembly record database to include additional time associated with using the tool to perform the assembly instruction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the additional time is selected from a set of time intervals including: an actual time interval for using tool, an estimated time interval for using the tool, and a fixed time interval associated with each use of the tool. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein authorizing use of the tool to perform a specified assembly is limited to a time interval as indicated in the assembly instruction.