Electronic component installing apparatus and method

A method for installing an electronic component on an electronic component circuit board, comprising the steps of:

• operating an electronic circuit board transporting unit to transport an electronic circuit board to and from a predetermined position;
• mounting a head positioning device, including a fixed portion, adjacent said transporting unit;
• mounting a head to said head positioning device for movement relative to said fixed portion thereof, said head including a suction nozzle for creating a suction force to draw thereto and hold an electronic component;
• operating said head positioning device to move said head along X and Y axes relative to said fixed portion and said transporting unit and to position said head at a given position along said X and Y axes;
• mounting a detection means to one of said head and said fixed portion, and operating said detection means to detect positional information for at least one of the electronic component and said suction nozzle;
• and
• mounting a controller, operable to control operation of said head and said suction nozzle, to the other of said head and said fixed portion;
• and
• optically transmitting/receiving control signals between said detection means and said controller by operating a first optical signal transmitting/receiving unit mounted to said head for movement with said head and a second optical signal transmitting/receiving unit mounted to said fixed portion of said head positioning device.