US6983232B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronics assembly systems customer benefit modeling tools and methods
Assignee: ASMPT SMT USA LLC
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Filing: 2001-06-01
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Granted: 2006-01-03
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Expires: 2021-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Methods and tools for quickly and accurately performing complex customer benefit modeling for an electronic components assembly system are disclosed. In one embodiment, predefined user interfaces allow a consultant, customers, salespersons, or line designers to input a line configuration by selecting from a list predefined objects that represent specific line components. In addition, the user inputs other line configuration data specific to the line being configured. The information contained in the user interface is extracted for use a discrete event simulator. Templates for simulation objects may be created in advance and populated with data from the input interface. A simulation is built and run. Simulation results may be exported to an output means, which may allow for custom generated reports. The reporting means may include a means for allowing customer specific information and data to be inputted.
Inventors
- 👤 Tuan Nguyen
- 👤 Anthony Peter Duck
- 👤 Ian Rawles
- 👤 Thomas Mair
- 👤 Robert Gray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:17
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/418; G05B19/41885; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/04; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0283; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/32; G05B2219/32338; G05B2219/32343; G05B2219/32352; G05B2219/32359; G05B2219/34; G05B2219/34038; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for modeling an electronic components assembly system, the method comprising: representing equipment having specific operating parameters in a proposed line configuration; for each piece of equipment in the proposed line configuration, associating values for the specific operating parameters; building a simulation; running the simulation on a computer; and generating a report for the simulation, wherein the steps of representing the equipment having specific operating parameters in a proposed line configuration, associating values for the specific operating parameters for each piece of equipment in the proposed line configuration, and building a simulation are performed within approximately thirty minutes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for modeling an electronic components assembly system, the method comprising: representing equipment having specific operating parameters in a proposed line configuration; for each piece of equipment in the proposed line configuration, associating values for the specific operating parameters; building a simulation; running the simulation on a computer; and generating a report for the simulation, wherein the steps of representing the equipment having specific operating parameters in a proposed line configuration, associating values for the specific operating parameters for each piece of equipment in the proposed line configuration, and building a simulation are performed within approximately thirty minutes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of building the simulation further comprises building simulation objects from templates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the templates are completed with values for specific operating parameters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of customizing the simulation report.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of: a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, wherein the performance measure is a cost of ownership of the electronics assembly system.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of: a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, wherein the performance measure is a cost of ownership of the electronics assembly system.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of: a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, wherein the model is generated within approximately one half hour.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of: a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, wherein the model is generated within approximately one half hour.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the criterion is a value for the cost of ownership of the electronics assembly system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the model represents the assembly system at the material flow level of abstraction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the step of generating the model comprises the steps of: selecting components from a set of such components that have been at least partially modeled in advance and; entering values corresponding to the selected, at least partially modeled components, wherein the selected components and entered values serve as the basis for a simulation of the system.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of: a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, wherein the model is generated using a spreadsheet program in combination with a simulation program.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of: a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, wherein the model is generated using a spreadsheet program in combination with a simulation program.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of: a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, wherein information relating to at least one method step is transmitted over a network.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of: a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration; b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system; c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system; d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration; e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion; and f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration, wherein information relating to at least one method step is transmitted over a network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
A computer system configured to model an electronic component assembly line, comprising: means for selecting, from a predetermined list, specific equipment for a proposed line configuration, the specific equipment having operating parameters; means for associating predetermined values with the operating parameters; means for performing a simulation; and means for generating a report, wherein the means for selecting specific equipment for a proposed line configuration is a spreadsheet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
A computer system configured to model an electronic component assembly line, comprising: means for selecting, from a predetermined list, specific equipment for a proposed line configuration, the specific equipment having operating parameters; means for associating predetermined values with the operating parameters; means for performing a simulation; and means for generating a report, wherein the means for selecting specific equipment for a proposed line configuration is a spreadsheet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the means for associating predetermined values with the operating parameters is a macro that copies values for the operating parameters from a database.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the database is a second spreadsheet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the means for performing a simulation is discrete event simulation software.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the means for generating a report is a third spreadsheet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the third spreadsheet contains user selectable inputs for generating custom reports.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for assembling an electronic apparatus, comprising: a. creating an electronics assembly system configuration by: i. selecting assembly system components using a customer benefit modeling approach, ii. purchasing the components, and iii. installing the components; b. selecting settings of electronics assembly system parameters using a customer benefit modeling approach; c. imposing those settings on the electronics assembly system; and d. running the electronics assembly system to produce the electronic apparatus, wherein the customer benefit modeling approach comprises generating a model of the electronics assembly system having a given configuration, predicting on a computer a performance measure for the electronics assembly system having the given configuration using the model, comparing the predicted performance measure against a criterion to determine if the criterion is met by the predicted performance, and, if the predicted performance does not meet the criterion, modifying the configuration of the electronics assembly system, and wherein the model comprises a spreadsheet component and a simulation model component.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for assembling an electronic apparatus, comprising: a. creating an electronics assembly system configuration by: i. selecting assembly system components using a customer benefit modeling approach, ii. purchasing the components, and iii. installing the components; b. selecting settings of electronics assembly system parameters using a customer benefit modeling approach; c. imposing those settings on the electronics assembly system; and d. running the electronics assembly system to produce the electronic apparatus, wherein the customer benefit modeling approach comprises generating a model of the electronics assembly system having a given configuration, predicting on a computer a performance measure for the electronics assembly system having the given configuration using the model, comparing the predicted performance measure against a criterion to determine if the criterion is met by the predicted performance, and, if the predicted performance does not meet the criterion, modifying the configuration of the electronics assembly system, and wherein the model comprises a spreadsheet component and a simulation model component.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein the model represents the assembly system at the material flow level of abstraction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-01-02 | 2009-07-04 | 2010-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-01-02 | 2013-07-04 | 2014-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-01-02 | 2017-07-04 | 2018-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |