Computer program for terminal device

Abstract

This computer program for a terminal device causes a computer of the terminal device to function as: a display control unit that, if a specific job has been designated by a user, causes a guidance screen for providing guidance regarding a plurality of types of components that are to be installed on a substrate in the specific job to be displayed on a display of the terminal device; and a checking unit that, if a specific feeder that accommodates components of a specific type from among the plurality of types of components for which guidance was provided by the guidance screen is selected by the user, checks whether it is correct to use the specific feeder selected by the user in the specific job designated by the user.

Description

Computer Program for Terminal Device

[0001] This specification relates to a terminal device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system for managing components mounted on a substrate. The components are housed in a feeder.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-235906

[0004] A user selects a feeder that houses components to be mounted on a substrate from among a plurality of feeders. This specification provides a technique for assisting the user in correctly selecting a feeder.

[0005] This specification discloses a computer program for a terminal device. The computer program causes a computer of the terminal device to function as the following respective parts: a display control unit that displays, on a display of the terminal device, a guidance screen for guiding a plurality of types of components to be mounted on a substrate in a specific job when the specific job is specified by a user; and a collation unit that collates whether it is correct to use the specific feeder selected by the user for the specific job specified by the user when a specific feeder that houses a specific type of component among the plurality of types of components guided by the guidance screen is selected by the user.

[0006] According to the above configuration, the user can view the guidance screen and know a plurality of types of components to be mounted on a substrate in a specific job to be performed next. Then, the user selects a specific feeder that houses a specific type of component among the plurality of types of components from among the plurality of feeders. In this case, it is collated whether it is correct to use the specific feeder for the specific job. It is possible to assist the user in correctly selecting a feeder.

[0007] It is a schematic diagram of the component management system 2. It is a block diagram of the component management system 2. It is a flowchart showing the processing of the support application. It is a diagram showing a guidance screen. It is a diagram showing the processing for generating the information displayed on the guidance screen.

[0008] The main features of the embodiments described below are listed below. Note that the technical elements described below are independent technical elements that exhibit technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing.

[0009] (Feature 1) The computer program may further cause the computer to function as a specification unit that identifies a feeder identifier that identifies a feeder to be mounted on a component mounting device that executes the specific job when the specific job is specified by the user, and the matching unit may verify whether it is correct to use the specific feeder for the specific job by confirming that the identifier that identifies the specific feeder selected by the user matches the feeder identifier.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the feeder identifier can be used to verify whether it is correct to use a particular feeder for a particular job.

[0011] (Feature 2) The identifying unit may identify the feeder identifier based on first information indicating a combination of the component mounting device and the specific job, and second information indicating a combination of the component mounting device and the feeder.

[0012] The first piece of information pre-specifies the component mounting equipment used for a specific job, and the second piece of information pre-determines the feeder compatible with the specified component mounting equipment. According to this configuration, a feeder identifier can be identified from the first and second pieces of information to identify the feeder compatible with the component mounting equipment used for a specific job.

[0013] (Feature 3) In addition to verifying whether it is correct to use the specific feeder selected by the user for the specific job, the verification unit may also verify whether it is correct to use the components contained in the specific feeder for the specific job.

[0014] With the above configuration, it is possible to perform verification on both the feeder and the parts.

[0015] (Feature 4) The terminal device is capable of communicating with a storage device that stores one or more feeders, and the computer program may further cause the computer to function as a receiving unit that receives a specific signal from the storage device indicating the specific feeder when the specific feeder is taken out from the storage device, and the verification unit may, when it receives the specific signal from the storage device, verify whether it is correct to use the specific feeder indicated by the specific signal for the specific job specified by the user.

[0016] With the above configuration, when a particular feeder is removed from the storage device, it is possible to automatically verify whether it is correct to use that particular feeder for a particular job.

[0017] (Feature 5) The guidance screen includes guidance images that guide each of the multiple types of parts, and the computer program may further verify whether it is correct to use the specific feeder selected by the user for the specific job specified by the user, and if it is confirmed that the specific feeder is the correct feeder, it may function as a modification unit that changes the display manner of the guidance images that guide the specific parts on the guidance screen.

[0018] With the above configuration, the user can see the guide image with its display format changed and know that the specific feeder they selected is the correct feeder.

[0019] (Configuration of component management system 2; Figures 1 and 2) The component management system 2 is a system for managing components mounted on a circuit board. The components are electronic components such as resistors. The components are mounted on the circuit board by a component mounting device 200. The component management system 2 comprises a terminal device 10 and a plurality of storage devices 100. The terminal device 10 is a laptop PC, tablet terminal, smartphone, desktop PC, etc. The storage device 100 is a shelf for storing a plurality of feeders 300 that hold components.

[0020] The job of mounting components onto a circuit board is performed by the component mounting device 200. Before starting the job, the user collects the feeders 300 to be used in the job from the storage device 100. The component mounting device 200 has multiple slots 202, and the feeders 300 collected by the user are connected to the slots 202. When the job starts, the components in the feeders 300 connected to the slots 202 are supplied into the component mounting device 200 and mounted onto the circuit board.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the storage device 100 includes an LED 102, a plurality of connectors 104, and a communication interface 106. Hereafter, "interface" will be referred to as "I / F". The LED 102 is located on the top of the storage device 100 (see Figure 1). The storage device 100 guides the user to the storage device 100 by lighting up the LED 102. The communication I / F 106 is an interface for communicating with an external device (for example, a terminal device 10).

[0022] Connector 104 mates with the connector of the feeder 300 stored in the storage device 100. The storage device 100 obtains a feeder ID that identifies the feeder 300 and a component ID that identifies the component contained in the feeder 300 from the feeder 300 via connector 104. The storage device 100 transmits each ID obtained from the feeder 300 via connector 104 to the terminal device 10 via communication I / F 106. As a result, the feeder 300 and component stored in the storage device 100 are managed by the terminal device 10.

[0023] The terminal device 10 comprises an operation unit 12, a display 14, a communication interface 16, and a control unit 30. The operation unit 12 receives user instructions. The operation unit 12 includes, for example, a touch panel for displaying software keys, hardware keys, or both. Hardware keys include, for example, buttons, switches, keyboards, mice, etc. The display 14 displays various information. The display 14 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, etc. The display 14 may or may not be a touch panel. The communication interface 16 is an interface for communicating with an external device (for example, a storage device 100).

[0024] The control unit 30 controls each part 12, etc. The control unit 30 includes a CPU 32 and a memory 34. The CPU 32 executes various processes according to the programs 40 and 42 in the memory 34. The memory 34 is either volatile memory or non-volatile memory.

[0025] The OS program 40 is a program that controls the basic operation of the terminal device 10. The support application 42 is an application program that assists the user in managing parts. The support application 42 is provided, for example, by the vendor of the storage device 100 and installed on the terminal device 10.

[0026] Memory 34 stores multiple job information entries 50 corresponding to multiple jobs, multiple feeder information entries 52 corresponding to multiple component mounting devices 200, and a feeder table 54. The job information entries 50 include a combination of the device name of the component mounting device 200 used in the corresponding job and component information indicating the components used in the corresponding job. Each of the multiple slots 202 of the component mounting device 200 is assigned a slot number. The component information includes a list of combinations of slot numbers and component IDs. In other words, the component information is information for specifying the components to be supplied from each slot 202 in the corresponding job. The job information is generated by the user and stored in memory 34.

[0027] The feeder information 52 is information indicating the feeders 300 available in the corresponding component mounting device 200. For example, the feeder information 52 is a combination of a device name and a list of feeder IDs, and this list includes the feeder IDs of the feeders 300 available in the corresponding component mounting device 200. In a modified example, the list of feeder IDs may be a combination of the feeder IDs of feeders 300 previously used in the component mounting device 200 and their usage results. The usage results indicate, for example, that past performance was good or that past performance was not good. The feeder information 52 identifies the feeders 300 available in the corresponding component mounting device 200.

[0028] The feeder table 54 shows the relationship between the feeder 300 and the parts. For each of the multiple feeders 300, the feeder table 54 stores a feeder ID that identifies the feeder 300 and a part ID that identifies the parts contained in the feeder 300, in association with each of them.

[0029] (Processing of support application 42; Figures 3 to 5) Referring to Figures 3 to 5, the processing that the CPU 32 executes according to the support application 42 will be explained. The processing in Figure 3 is started when the support application 42 is launched.

[0030] In S10, the CPU 32 monitors whether the user specifies one job information 50 from among multiple job information 50. If the user specifies one job information 50 (YES in S10), the CPU 32 proceeds to processing from S12 onwards. Hereafter, the job information 50 specified in S10 will be referred to as the "target job information 50".

[0031] In S12, the CPU 32 generates information to be displayed on the guidance screen 60 shown in Figure 4. The guidance screen 60 includes multiple slot images 62 and detailed information 64. The multiple slot images 62 correspond to a list of slot numbers included in the component information within the target job information 50. The detailed information 64 shows a combination of slot number, feeder ID, and component ID. For example, if the user specifies a slot image corresponding to slot number "8" among the multiple slot images 62, the guidance screen 60 displays the detailed information 64 corresponding to slot number "8". The detailed information 64 corresponding to slot number "8" includes, for example, slot number "8", feeder ID "f01", and component ID "p01". The feeder ID "f01" identifies the feeder 300 that should be connected to slot 202 of slot number "8" in the job indicated by the target job information 50. The component ID "p01" identifies the component that should be supplied from slot 202 of slot number "8" in the job indicated by the target job information 50. In the modified version, the guidance screen 60 may display not only the detailed information 64 corresponding to the slot image 62 specified by the user, but also the detailed information 64 corresponding to the slot image 62 not specified by the user. In other words, the guidance screen 60 may display all detailed information 64 by default.

[0032] Here, an example of how detailed information 64 is generated is shown in Figure 5. The CPU 32 selects part ID "p01" from all part IDs in the target job information 50. The CPU 32 identifies the lists of feeder IDs "f01", "f02", and "f03" stored in association with the selected part ID "p01" from the feeder table 54. These lists are lists of feeders 300 that contain the part identified by part ID "p01".

[0033] Furthermore, the CPU 32 selects the target feeder information 52 from among multiple feeder information 52 that includes the device name "Device1" in the target job information 50. The CPU 32 selects the feeder ID "f01" included in the target feeder information 52 from the feeder ID list identified from the feeder table 54. The selected feeder ID "f01" indicates a feeder 300 available in the component mounting device 200 corresponding to the target job information 50. Then, the CPU 32 generates detailed information 64 by combining the slot number "8" paired with component ID "p01" in the target job information 50, the selected feeder ID "f01", and component ID "p01". That is, the detailed information 64 includes a feeder ID that identifies a feeder 300 suitable for the component mounting device 200 used in the job indicated by the target job information 50. The CPU 32 generates detailed information 64 for all component IDs in the target job information 50.

[0034] In the modified version, the target feeder information 52 may include usage results for each of multiple feeder IDs. In this case, the CPU 32 may select a feeder ID from the list of feeder IDs identified from the feeder table 54 that corresponds to a usage result indicating good past performance.

[0035] Returning to Figure 3, the explanation continues. In S14, the CPU 32 displays the guidance screen 60 on the display 14. In S16, the CPU 32 monitors whether one of the multiple slot images 62 in the guidance screen 60 is selected by the user. If one slot image 62 is selected by the user (YES in S16), the CPU 32 proceeds to S18.

[0036] In S18, the CPU 32 selects from among the multiple storage devices 100 in the parts management system 2 the storage device 100 that will be used to light up the LED 102. Specifically, the CPU 32 selects from among the multiple storage devices 100 the storage device 100 that stores the feeder 300 that stores the part identified by the part ID included in the detailed information 64 corresponding to the slot image 62 specified in S16 (hereinafter referred to as the "target part"). Note that there may be more than one feeder 300 that stores the target part. Therefore, in S18, a storage device 100 different from the storage device 100 that stores the feeder 300 identified by the feeder ID included in the detailed information 64 may be selected.

[0037] In S20, the CPU 32 sends a lighting instruction to the storage device 100 to light up the LED 102. As a result, the LED 102 of the storage device 100 lights up. The user moves to the storage device 100 with the LED 102 lit and removes the feeder 300 containing the target parts from the storage device 100. When the feeder 300 is removed from the storage device 100, the storage device 100 sends a removal signal to the terminal device 10 to indicate that the feeder 300 has been removed. The removal signal includes a feeder ID that identifies the removed feeder 300 and a part ID that identifies the parts contained in the removed feeder 300.

[0038] In S22, the CPU 32 monitors for receiving a removal signal from the storage device 100 to be lit. If the CPU 32 receives a removal signal from the storage device 100 to be lit (YES in S22), the process proceeds to S24.

[0039] In S24, the CPU 32 determines whether the feeder ID included in the removal signal received in S22 matches the feeder ID included in the detailed information 64 corresponding to the slot image 62 specified in S16. If the CPU 32 determines that the feeder ID in the removal signal matches the feeder ID in the detailed information 64 (YES in S24), the process proceeds to S26.

[0040] In S26, the CPU 32 determines whether the component ID included in the removal signal received in S22 matches the component ID included in the detailed information 64 corresponding to the slot image 62 specified in S16. If the CPU 32 determines that the component ID in the removal signal matches the component ID in the detailed information 64 (YES in S26), the process proceeds to S28.

[0041] In S28, the CPU 32 changes the display mode of the slot image 62 specified in S16. Specifically, the CPU 32 changes the background color of the slot image 62 specified in S16. Note that the change in display mode is not limited to changing the background color; for example, it may also be a change in the size of the slot image 62, a change in the color of the characters within the slot image 62, or a change in the size of the characters. By looking at the slot image 62 with the changed display mode, the user can know that the feeder 300 removed from the storage device 100 to be lit is the correct feeder 300 indicated by the detailed information 64.

[0042] In the following step S30, the CPU 32 determines whether the background color of all slot images 62 in the guidance screen 60 has been changed. If the CPU 32 determines that the background color of all slot images 62 has been changed (YES in S30), it terminates the process shown in Figure 3. On the other hand, if the CPU 32 determines that the background color of all slot images 62 has not been changed (NO in S30), it returns to step S16.

[0043] Furthermore, if the CPU 32 determines that the feeder ID in the removal signal does not match the feeder ID in the detailed information 64 (NO in S24), or if it determines that the component ID in the removal signal does not match the component ID in the detailed information 64 (NO in S26), it skips the process in S28 and proceeds to S30.

[0044] (Effect of this embodiment) According to the configuration of this embodiment, the user can view the guidance screen 60 and know the multiple types of components to be mounted on the substrate for the job indicated by the job information 50 of the target specified by the user (that is, the job to be performed next). Then, the user removes the feeder 300 that accommodates the target component among the multiple types of components from the storage device 100 (S22 in FIG. 3). Then, through the determination in S24 as to whether the feeder ID matches, it is verified that it is correct to use the feeder 300 removed by the user for the job indicated by the job information 50 of the target specified by the user. It is possible to assist the user in correctly selecting the feeder 300.

[0045] For example, a comparative example in which the determination in S24 is not executed is assumed. In this comparative example, the user needs to confirm by another means whether the feeder 300 taken out from the storage device 100 matches the feeder 300 indicated by the detailed information 64. Another means is, for example, to connect the taken-out feeder 300 to another device and let the other device verify that the taken-out feeder 300 is correct. In contrast, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the verification of the feeder is executed by the terminal device 10 that displays the guidance screen 60, and the user does not need to use another means. The convenience of the user is improved.

[0046] Also, in this embodiment, in addition to the determination in S24 as to whether the feeder ID matches, a determination in S26 as to whether the component ID matches is also executed. It is possible to perform verification for both the feeder and the component.

[0047] Also, in this embodiment, the determination in S24 is executed triggered by receiving a removal signal from the storage device 100 to be lit. That is, when the feeder 300 is taken out from the storage device 100, it is possible to automatically execute the verification as to whether the taken-out feeder 300 is correct.

[0048] (Corresponding Relationships) The terminal device 10, the support application 42, and the CPU 32 are each an example of a "terminal device", a "computer program", and a "computer", respectively. The display 14 is an example of a "display". The storage device 100 is an example of a "storage device". The job indicated by the job information 50 specified by the user in S10 of FIG. 3 is an example of a "specific job". The feeder 300 removed from the storage device 100 is an example of a "specific feeder". The guidance screen 60 and the slot image 62 are each an example of a "guidance screen" and a "guidance image", respectively. The feeder ID is an example of a "feeder identifier". The job information 50 and the feeder information 52 are each an example of "first information" and "second information", respectively. The removal signal is an example of a "specific signal".

[0049] The processes S14 and S24 in FIG. 3 are each an example of a process realized by a "display control unit" and a "collation unit", respectively. The processes S12 and S28 are each an example of a process realized by a "specification unit" and a "change unit", respectively.

[0050] Points to note regarding the component mounting device described in the embodiment are described. The process of S12 in FIG. 3 may not be executed. In this case, for example, in the job information 50, not only the component ID but also the feeder ID may be determined in advance. In this modification example, the "specification unit" can be omitted.

[0051] The process of S26 in FIG. 3 may not be executed. In this modification example, "collating whether the components housed in the specific feeder are correctly used for the specific job" can be omitted.

[0052] The process of S28 in FIG. 3 may not be executed. In this modification example, the "change unit" can be omitted.

[0053] In the parts management system 2, the terminal device 10 does not need to receive a removal signal from the storage device 100. In this modified version, for example, the parts management system 2 includes a reader that can communicate with the terminal device 10. The reader is a device that reads a barcode on which a feeder ID is encoded. When the user removes the feeder 300 from the storage device 100, the user has the reader read the barcode on the feeder 300. The reader transmits the feeder ID read from the feeder 300 to the terminal device 10. In this modified version, the "predetermined signal" can be omitted.

[0054] Furthermore, the technical elements described herein or in the drawings demonstrate technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technologies illustrated herein or in the drawings achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one of these objectives constitutes technical usefulness in itself.

[0055] This specification also discloses a technical concept in which, in claim 5, "the computer program described in any one of claims 1 to 3" is changed to "the computer program described in any one of claims 1 to 4," and a technical concept in which, in claim 6, "the computer program described in any one of claims 1 to 3" is changed to "the computer program described in any one of claims 1 to 5."

[0056] 2: Parts management system 10: Terminal device 12: Operation unit 14: Display 16: Communication interface 30: Control unit 32: CPU 34: Memory 40: OS program 42: Support application 50: Job information 52: Feeder information 54: Feeder table 60: Guidance screen 62: Slot image 64: Detailed information 100: Storage device 102: LED 104: Connector 106: Communication interface 200: Parts mounting device 202: Slot 300: Feeder

Claims

1. A computer program for a terminal device, wherein the computer program causes the computer of the terminal device to function as follows: a display control unit that, when a specific job is specified by a user, displays a guidance screen on the display of the terminal device that guides the user through a plurality of types of components to be mounted on a circuit board in the specific job; and a verification unit that, when a specific feeder containing a specific type of component among the plurality of types of components guided by the guidance screen is selected by the user, verifies whether it is correct to use the specific feeder selected by the user for the specific job specified by the user.

2. The computer program further causes the computer to function as an identification unit that identifies a feeder identifier that identifies a feeder to be mounted on a component mounting device that executes the specific job when the specific job is specified by the user, and the matching unit verifies whether it is correct to use the specific feeder for the specific job by confirming that the identifier that identifies the specific feeder selected by the user matches the feeder identifier.

3. The computer program according to claim 2, wherein the identifying unit identifies the feeder identifier based on first information indicating a combination of the component mounting device and the specific job, and second information indicating a combination of the component mounting device and the feeder.

4. The computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the verification unit verifies whether it is correct to use the specific feeder selected by the user for the specific job, and also verifies whether it is correct to use the components contained in the specific feeder for the specific job.

5. The computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the terminal device is capable of communicating with a storage device that stores one or more feeders, the computer program further causes the computer to function as a receiving unit that receives a specific signal from the storage device indicating the specific feeder when the specific feeder is taken out from the storage device, and the verification unit, when it receives the specific signal from the storage device, verifies whether it is correct to use the specific feeder indicated by the specific signal for the specific job specified by the user.

6. The computer program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guidance screen includes guidance images that guide each of the plurality of types of parts, and the computer program further causes the computer to function as a modification unit that checks whether it is correct to use the specific feeder selected by the user for the specific job specified by the user, and if it is confirmed that the specific feeder is the correct feeder, modifies the display manner of the guidance images that guide the specific parts on the guidance screen.

Images