Modular optimizer with precedence constraint-handling feature for optimization of component placement machines

• Main Authors: ESHELMAN LARRY J, SCHAFFER J. DAVID
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.11.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; PRINTED CIRCUITS; REGULATING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

A modular optimizer, for use in determining a configuration of a production line with one or more component placement machines, is configured to handle precedence constraints. The precedence constraints may be of the form A B MT, which specifies that part A must be placed on a designated assembly board before part B if either part is to be placed by a machine type MT. A given set of precedence constraints includes at least a first class of constraints that apply to only one component placement machine type and a second class of constraints that apply to more than one component placement machine type. Assignment of constraints to the different classes is based on decisions of a part splitter module of the modular optimizer regarding which parts are assigned to which machine types. Each of the constraints in the first class of constraints associated with a given machine type are handled in a corresponding machine module of the modular optimizer. The second class of constraints is handled in the part splitter module of the modular optimizer. Outputs of the part splitter module are delivered to the machine modules and processed therein to generate information used in determining the configuration.