RFID module for a pick-and-place machine

Abstract

An RFID reader module for querying an RFID tag, which is arranged in a placement machine, wherein the placement machine has a placement head with a nozzle interface, wherein the RFID reader module has: a reader module interface which is set up for a releasable and repeatable intervention with the nozzle interface, a reader module data connection for outputting data to the placement machine, an RFID reader for receiving data from the RFID tag and sending the received data to the data connection, and a power source for the RFID reader, comprising an energy storage device for at least temporary storage of electrical energy.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an RFID reader module, an RFID system, and a pick-and-place machine. Background and state of the art

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the technical field of equipping component carriers with electronic components. The components can be packaged electronic components or unpackaged electronic components designed as chips, which are taken directly from a finished wafer and fed into an SMT (surface mount technology) placement process.

[0003] The production of electronic subassemblies typically takes place using so-called pick-and-place machines, which automatically remove the electronic components from a component feeder and place them onto a component carrier, such as a printed circuit board. A component handling device, such as a placement head, transfers the components from the component feeder to their respective placement positions.

[0004] To provide traceability of equipment (such as belt feeders, nozzle magazines, feed carts, etc., as known in the prior art) used with placement machines, such equipment can be provided with a machine-readable unique identifier capable of identifying both the orientation type and the specific item. For example, barcodes, QR codes, or similar optically readable codes can be provided on the equipment. However, such codes are passive, and no information can be written to them. Furthermore, all relevant information (i.e., data) storage must reside in an external database linked to the barcode code.

[0005] An alternative to optical codes, such as barcodes, is the use of RFID tags attached to equipment. This mature technology offers several advantages over optical codes. For example, there is no need for illumination to read the information, and some RFID tags can be written to. RFID tags can be broadly categorized as either "short-range" or "long-range," indicating the distance from which they can be read by an RFID reader. Each of these categories has associated challenges. For instance, "long-range" RFID tags, which can be read from a greater distance, typically operate in the UHF frequency range and are regulated differently in various countries and regions of the world. They therefore present logistical and certification problems.Additionally, the exact position of the tag within the placement machine cannot be determined with such a device. On the other hand, "short-range" RFID tags require a reader that must be mounted on a robot and positioned close to the RFID tag. For example, it is possible to mount a reader on the placement head of the machine. However, this requires the reader to be hardwired directly into the placement system, with both a power and an information / data interface. Furthermore, the placement heads in the machines can be replaced depending on the application; for example, a "matrix" head can be replaced by a rotary head, which may require the respective RFID readers to be mounted in different configurations, potentially affecting reliability.

[0006] The present invention aims to address these problems and to provide a system which provides an RFID tag reader which can query RFID tags with their associated advantages over optical codes, which can use a "short range" system and thus avoid the known logistical problems of "long range" systems, and which nevertheless does not require hard wiring.

[0007] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by providing an RFID reader in the form of a dedicated module, which can be selectively picked up by a placement head of a pick-and-place machine, and advantageously by any type of placement head. Advantageously, the module can be provided with either an energy storage device or an energy harvesting device, thus eliminating the need for a wired power interface. Additionally, the module can advantageously be provided with a wireless data transmission device to enable wireless data transmission. When not in read mode, the RFID reader module can be stored in a docking module located in the pick-and-place machine, where it can be recharged and / or transmit read data to the pick-and-place machine. Summary of the invention

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an RFID reader module is provided for querying an RFID tag which is arranged in a pick-and-place machine, wherein the RFID reader module comprises: a reader module interface which is designed for a detachable and repeatable intervention with a moving component of the placement machine, a reader module data connection for outputting data to the placement machine, an RFID reader for receiving data from the RFID tag and sending the received data to the data connection, and a power source for the RFID reader, comprising an energy storage device for at least temporary storage of electrical energy.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an RFID system for use in a pick-and-place machine is provided, comprising: the RFID reader module according to the first aspect, and a docking module, wherein the docking module can be positioned in the placement machine and has a dock for receiving and storing the RFID reader module.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a placement machine is provided which has the RFID system according to the second aspect.

[0011] Other specific aspects and features of the present invention are set out in the attached claims. Brief description of the drawings

[0012] The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings (not to scale), in which: Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows in a sectional side view an RFID reader module and an associated docking module according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2. Schematic view of the RFID reader module from the side in a sectional view. Fig. 1 shows in use. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0013] One embodiment of the present invention is described in Fig. Figure 1 shows an RFID reader module 1 separate from an associated docking module 2. In use, both of these items are positioned in a placement machine (not shown). The docking module 2 can be provided, for example, at any suitable position near a placement area of ​​the placement machine, such as in a magazine (not shown), which can also be used to store placement nozzles, grippers, or similar items. The RFID reader module 1 can be stored in the docking module 2 when performing an RFID read is not required, and during this time, the RFID reader module 1 can be charged by means of the docking module 2, as described in more detail below. When it is necessary to perform an RFID read, the RFID reader module 1 can be picked up by the docking module 2, for example, by means of a placement head 12, as shown in Figure 1. Fig. 2 is shown.

[0014] The RFID reader module 1 has an upper body part 3, which is designed for repeatable and detachable engagement with a moving component of the placement machine, for example, a placement head. For this purpose, the upper body part 3 includes a nozzle interface 5, allowing the RFID reader module 1 to be picked up and held by a placement head in a manner similar to a nozzle. It is understood that nozzle interfaces can be standardized, so that a placement head of a placement machine can be selectively engaged with a variety of nozzles, all of which have such a nozzle interface. Different placement heads, for example, those manufactured by different companies, can be configured to engage with dedicated or at least differently designed nozzle interfaces.

[0015] The lower body section 4 is dimensioned to fit snugly into the docking module 2. As shown, the lower body section 4 has a power source which includes an energy storage device 6, shown here as a rechargeable battery, for at least temporary storage of electrical energy. The energy storage device 6 receives energy from a module charging interface 7, which is configured to interact with a dock charging interface 11 provided in the docking module 2. A data connection 8 is provided in the lower body section 4 for outputting data to the pick-and-place machine, in particular for outputting data read by the RFID reader module.Advantageously, and as shown, the data link 8 includes a wireless data transmitter or transceiver, such as a Bluetooth device or a device using an alternative wireless protocol, such as ZigBee, which receives power from the energy storage device 6. In such cases, the pick-and-place machine can be equipped with a wireless data receiver (not shown) to receive the data transmitted by the data link 8. Advantageously, the data receiver can be located in the docking module 2. The use of a wireless data link is preferred because the data read by the RFID reader can be sent immediately to the data receiver.However, instead of a wireless data connection, the read data can alternatively be stored, at least temporarily, in the RFID reader module and then transmitted via a physical connection to a data receiver (not shown), which is located in the docking module 2 when the RFID reader module 1 is included in it.

[0016] The lower body part 4 also has an RFID reader 9 for receiving data from an RFID tag (14, see Fig. 2) and transmit the received data to the data connection 8. Advantageously, and as shown, the RFID reader 9 is arranged at the lower end of the lower body part 4 so that it can be positioned close to an underlying RFID tag. The RFID reader 9 receives electrical power from the energy storage device 6.

[0017] In other embodiments (not shown), the energy storage 6 and / or the data connection 8 can be housed in the upper body part 3, or span the upper and lower body parts 3, 4.

[0018] The docking module 2 has a docking body 10 with a recess in its upper surface, which forms a receptacle 15 for receiving the lower body part 4. A docking charging interface 11 is provided near the receptacle 15, configured to interact with the module charging interface 7. As shown, both the module and the docking charging interface 7 have annular rings that extend around the lateral extension of the lower body part 4 and the receptacle 15, respectively. This arrangement is particularly advantageous because the rotational position of the RFID reader module 1 in the receptacle 15 does not need to be precise. However, this arrangement is not necessary, and other alternatives are possible.The interaction between the dock charging interface 11 and the module charging interface 7 can be contactive and conductive, so that electrical energy is transferred directly from the docking module 2 to the RFID reader module 1, or it can be non-contact, for example, using inductive charging. To effect charging, the dock charging interface 11 is connected via socket 16 to an electrical power supply (not shown) via the pick-and-place machine.

[0019] Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a sectional view from the side of the RFID reader module 1. Fig.1 during use. As shown, the RFID reader module 1 was picked up by means of a placement head 12 of a placement machine, wherein the upper body part 3 is arranged in a female nozzle receptacle 17 of the placement head 12 and engages therein by means of the nozzle interface 5. When the RFID reader module 1 is engaged with the placement head 12, the placement head 12 can be used to move the RFID reader module towards an RFID tag 14, which is shown here arranged on a feeding device 13, with the RFID reader 9 near the RFID tag 14.

[0020] The embodiments described above are only examples, and other possibilities and alternatives within the scope of the invention are obvious to those skilled in the art. While, for example, the energy storage device is shown as a rechargeable battery, other implementations are possible. The energy storage device 6 could, for example, comprise a capacitor. This implementation may be particularly suitable if the power source includes an energy harvester, for example, an energy harvester configured to capture kinetic energy during movement or vibration of the RFID reader module as it moves with the pick-and-place head. Reference numbers used: 1 RFID reader module 2 Docking module 3 Upper body 4 Lower body 5 nozzle interface 6 Energy storage 7 Module charging interface 8 Data connection 9 RFID readers 10 dock bodies 11 Dock charging interface 12 Placement head 13 Feeding device 14 RFID tags 15 recording 16 socket 17 female nozzle holders

Claims

[1] An RFID reader module for querying an RFID tag, which is arranged in a placement machine, wherein the placement machine has a placement head with a nozzle interface, wherein the RFID reader module has: a reader module interface which is set up for a releasable and repeatable intervention with the nozzle interface, a reader module data connection for outputting data to the placement machine, an RFID reader for receiving data from the RFID tag and sending the received data to the data connection, and a power source for the RFID reader, comprising an energy storage device for at least temporary storage of electrical energy. [2] The RFID reader module according to claim 1, wherein the reader module data link comprises a wireless data transmitter or transceiver. [3] The RFID reader module according to claim 2, wherein the wireless data transmitter or transceiver has a Bluetooth device. [4] The RFID reader module according to any preceding claim, wherein the energy storage device comprises a rechargeable battery. [5] The RFID reader module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power source comprises an energy harvester. [6] The RFID reader module according to claim 5, wherein the energy harvester is configured to harvest kinetic energy during a movement or vibration of the RFID reader module. [7] The RFID reader module according to one of claims 5 and 6, wherein the energy storage device comprises a capacitor. [8] An RFID system for use in a pick-and-place machine, comprising: the RFID reader module according to any preceding claim, and a docking module, wherein the docking module can be arranged in the placement machine and has a dock for receiving and storing the RFID reader module. [9] The RFID system according to claim 8, wherein the dock is open at its upper extension to allow the RFID reader module to be placed in the dock by means of a placement head of the placement machine. [10] The RFID system according to one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the docking module has a charging interface for supplying electrical energy to the energy storage device. [11] The RFID system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the docking module has a data receiver for receiving data from the reader module data connection. [12] A placement machine comprising a placement head with a nozzle interface which is configured for a releasable and repeatable engagement with a nozzle, and the RFID system according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the reader module interface is configured for a releasable and repeatable engagement with the nozzle interface.

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