US 6,275,815 B1 · Apparatus for optimizing the layout and charge maps of a flowline of pick and place machines

Abstract

An apparatus uses a computer-controlled algorithm that enables production of high-quality layouts and charge maps or set-ups for arbitrary printed circuit boards for electronic component placement machines alone or as one of many in a production line. A class of algorithms known as genetic algorithms employing an initial population of chromosomes are used. Each chromosome represents a set of parameters that control how a layout and charge maps are generated. Problem descriptors, based on one time code are generated. An adaptive searcher searches parameters and generates trial solutions as chromosomes and a heuristic layout generator interprets these chromosomes to generate the layout and charge maps using the problem descriptors.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A data processing device comprising

a processor adapted to perform the following operations:
maintaining an internal representation of at least some aspects of a flowline, the flowline including at least first and second respective machines, each respective machine having respective first and second sets of elements, each respective first set of elements being those that are present every time the respective machine runs successfully;
and each respective second set of elements being those that are optional when the respective machine runs successfully, at least one of the first sets of elements containing at least one specific element not present in at least one of the other of the first sets;
conducting an incomplete search of configurations of the second sets of elements together;
and
providing a preferred configuration of the flowline based on the incomplete search;
and
an output at which the preferred configuration is supplied.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for optimizing the layout and charge maps of a flowline of pick and place machines

Life of this patent

Apparatus for optimizing the layout and charge maps of a flowline of pick and place machines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18