Feeder/programming/buffer control system and control method

US6647303B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Data I/O Corporation · US

Inventors

• Simon B. Johnson · Bonney Lake, US
• George Leland Anderson · Bothell, US
• Lev M. Bolotin · Kirkland, US
• Bradley Morris Johnson · Bentonville, US
• Mark Sean Knowles · Maple Valley, US
• Carl W. Olson · Renton, US
• Vincent Warhol · Woodinville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 15, 1999
• Grant date: Nov 11, 2003
• Expiry date: Oct 15, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P90/02
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A control system and method are provided having a control agent controlling a user interface, a robotic control, a programming control, and a job control. The control system is used with a feeder/programming/buffer system which has a feeder mechanism for receiving programmable devices, a robotic handling mechanism for manipulating the programmable devices among the other mechanisms, a programming mechanism for performing a programming operation on the programmable devices at a high rate of speed, and a buffer mechanism for providing the programmed programmable devices to a production assembly line on a continuous basis.