US 4,819,178 A · Automatic circuit adjusting system and circuit adjusting tool therefor

Abstract

An automatic circuit adjusting system comprises a circuit adjusting tool assembly. The circuit adjusting tool assembly is movable to adjust different orientations of circuit elements. The circuit adjusting tool assembly has a plurality of adjusting tools. The circuit adjusting tool assembly is controlled in its movement and selection of adjusting tools by means of a microprocessor based controller. The controller is so programmed as to shift the circuit adjusting tool assembly to different orientations of circuit elements on a printed circuit board in order according to a preset order. The controller is also preset to schedule selection of the desired one of the adjusting tools corresponding to the position of the circuit adjusting tool assembly. According to the preferred construction, the circuit adjusting tool assembly comprises a single common driving motor for driving a plurality of the adjusting tools. Driving torque of the driving motor is distributed to the respective adjusting tools through a common power train that drives all of them at the same speed and magnitude. The adjusting tools in the circuit adjusting tool assembly are thrustingly movable in an axial direction to engage with their respective one of the cirucit elements to be adjusted. The adjusting tools are normally placed in an idling position and shifted to an active position to engage with the corresponding cirucit elements when selected by the controller.

Claims29

Dependent claims

An automatic circuit adjusting system comprising:

an adjusting tool assembly with adjusting tools for performing adjustment on a circuit element on a printed circuit board;
a driving means associated with said adjusting tool assembly for driving said adjusting tool;
a movable frame carrying said adjusting tool assembly for shifting the latter within a predetermined two-dimensional coordinate system;
first means for supporting said printed circuit board in a predetermined orientation with respect to said two-dimensional coordinate system;
second means for applying a preset test signal to the circuit element of the printed circuit board, said second means for receiving an output in response to said test signal from said printed circuit board, and comparing said output of said printed circuit board with a predetermined refernce signal for deriving an error signal;
third means for shifting said movable frame according to a predetermined schedule for positioning said adjusting tool assembly in alignment with each of said circuit elements to be adjusted in order;
and
fourth means for deriving an adjusting magnitude for the circuit element to be adjusted based on said error signal and producing a driver signal for driving said driving means at a magnitude corresponding to the value of said error signal.

5 more elements

An automatic circuit adjusting system for testing and adjusting a plurality of circuit elements on a printed circuit board, comprising:

a single tool assembly movable on a two-dimensioned coordinate system and having a plurality of tools, each of which is designed for performing adjustment of corresponding one or more circuit elements;
a driving means for selectively operating one of said tools in said tool assembly for performing adjustment of one of said circuit element elements coupled with said one of tools;
first means for supporting said printed circuit board in a predetermined orientation in said two-dimensional coordinate system;
second means for producing a test signal for performing testing of said printing circuit board, said test signal being so determined as to obtain a predetermined output from said printed circuit board when the circuit element is acurately adjusted;
third means for receiving said output of said printed circuit board produced in response to said test signal and comparing said output with a predetermined reference signal representative of said predetermined output to be received when said circuit element is acurately adjusted, said third means producing an error signal based on a deviation between said output of said printed circuit board and said reference signal;
and
fourth means for driving said tool assembly to shift said selected one of tools in alignment with said circuit element to be adjusted and driving said one of tools for adjustment so as to reduce said error signal value to zero.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic circuit adjusting system and circuit adjusting tool therefor

Life of this patent

Automatic circuit adjusting system and circuit adjusting tool therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29