Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-13
2001-02-13
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S950000, C345S960000, C348S125000, C382S141000, C382S149000, C700S083000, C700S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188402
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a manufacturing control station, and in particularly, to the workstation of a manufacturing facility in which instructional, manufacturing and test functions are integrated into an interactive system for use by a parts assembler.
2. Description of the Related Art
Notwithstanding the significant progress made in recent years in automated manufacturing techniques, the manual assembly of component parts is still predominant in certain industries. Exemplary of this is the assembly of optical components into optical devices such as optical amplifiers. The typical such plant or factory, in which one or more assemblers is assigned the task of manually assembling one or more component parts, suffers numerous drawbacks.
For example, the assembler's station is usually accompanied by several bulky instruction manuals, such as three-ring binders laid open on the surface of the work station. These manuals are often awkward to handle and intrusive in the work space. Also, time is expended in turning pages as work progresses, and updates require the cumbersome replacement of pages of each manual at each station.
In addition, in cases where the assembler's duties include test and measurement functions, the conventional workstation must rely heavily on the attentiveness and precision of the assembler to ensure accurate results. The assembler is instructed to follow exactly the test and measurement routines specified in the manuals, and to accurately record results. However, in most cases the assembler will test numerous devices which fall well within specifications. This inevitably leads to a state of complacency on the part of the assembler, who comes to expect positive test results, and substantially increases the possibility of the assembler reading false-positives, i.e., testing a “bad” component or subassembly as “good”. This situation ultimately results in decreased device yields.
This problem of decreased yields is further compounded in the case of update s in assembly or test routines. The assembler, due to repetition over a long period of time, often becomes accustomed to carrying out the certain steps in a given process. In fact, one can expect that the assembler will rely almost entirely on memory, eventually getting to the point where there are little or no references made to the instruction manuals. This makes it difficult to ensure the procedural updates are correctly being followed by the assembler, and in fact, reduces the probability of actual compliance with the new assembly routine. Again, the result is a reduction in device yields.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing workstation which overcomes many of the drawbacks of the conventional station, and in particular, to provide a workstation in which instructional, manufacturing, and test and measurement functions are integrated into an interactive system for use by a parts assembler.
According to the present invention, a workstation for use in the assembly of component parts is provided which includes a computer terminal having a display and at least one input device, a test apparatus operatively coupled to the computer terminal, and an application program which generates a first display screen for display of an assembly procedure to be followed by an assembler on the display of the computer terminal and a second display screen for display of test results obtained by the test apparatus on said display of said computer terminal. In the case where at least one of multiple assembly steps includes a test function, the application program automatically performs the test function using the test equipment and inhibits display of a next assembly step in the event that results of the test function are outside predetermined parameters.
The invention provides a number of advantages over the conventional art. For example, the invention provides a tool for traceability of components in the assembly process. In addition, process controls result in increased yields. Moreover, the invention insures effective communication of work instructions, while at the same time being paperless. Also, the table definitions and relational database aspects of the invention greatly increase the process flexibility.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5576946 (1996-11-01), Bender et al.
patent: 5638461 (1997-06-01), Fridge
patent: 5703788 (1997-12-01), Shei et al.
patent: 5754426 (1998-05-01), Dumais
patent: 5760829 (1998-06-01), Sussmeier
patent: 5861882 (1999-01-01), Sprenger et al.
Howley, J. and Mackowiak,B., Paperless assembly using touchscreen based graphics, Manufacture Tech., pp. 231-234, 1991.
Finnell, T., pc Workstations in the Manufacturing Environment, Exposition group, Boson, USA pp. 170-172, 1989.
Csipkes Andrei
Ransford Mike J.
Schwarten Dave A.
Bayerl Raymond J.
Ciena Corporation
Daisak Daniel N.
Nguyen Thomas T.
Soltz David L.
LandOfFree
Manufacturing control station does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Manufacturing control station, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Manufacturing control station will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2608056