Automated Electrical Component Mounting With Coordinate Data Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automated assembly of electrical components is hindered by the lack of structured data for electrical connections and handling locations, leading to inefficient manual data entry and unstructured information processing in existing systems.

Innovation Solution

A method where a control device of an assembly device receives component-specific information in a uniform data structure, including positions, orientations, and types of electrical connections and handling locations, allowing for conversion into a machine coordinate system to facilitate automated gripping, assembly, and electrical connection processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automated assembly is implemented without structured component data, then automation capability is improved, but assembly precision and reliability deteriorate due to lack of accurate position and orientation information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation capabilityVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by requiring component data (position, orientation, electrical connections) to be prepared and stored in a database before the automated assembly process begins. This pre-processing of information enables the automated system to accurately locate and assemble components without real-time human intervention while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a database as an intermediary between the component specifications and the automated assembly system. The database stores structured data about component positions, orientations, and electrical connections, serving as a mediator that translates design information into actionable instructions for the automated assembly device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If manual data entry is used for component information, then data availability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming manual processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata availabilityVSAvoidassembly productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the system to automatically retrieve and process component data from the database without requiring manual data entry during assembly operations. The automated assembly system serves itself by querying the database for position, orientation, and connection information, eliminating repetitive manual data input while maintaining data availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If unstructured information is processed, then ease of data collection is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for manual processing and interpretation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection easeVSAvoidprocessing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming unstructured component information into structured data with specific parameters (position coordinates, orientation angles, connection types) stored in the database. This standardization of data parameters simplifies automated processing while maintaining the ease of collecting raw component information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3843954B1Fully automated mounting and contacting of electrical components
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3843954B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3843954B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3843954B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to the fully automated assembly and contacting of electrical components, wherein, before a fed component (1) is gripped, a control device of a mounting device for mounting and contacting electrical components (1) is provided with information (I) associated with the component (1) in question, said information comprising, in relation to a component coordinate system of the component (1) in question, the position (P), orientation (O) and a relevant length (l) of electrical connections (10) of the component (1) in question and the position (P) and type of handling of the handling locations (7) of the component (1) in question. A position (P') and an orientation (O') of the component (1) in question in relation to a machine coordinate system are known to the control device (4). Using the position (P') and the orientation (O') of the component (1) in question in the machine coordinate system, the control device converts the positions (P) and orientations (O) defined by the information (I) associated with the component (1) in question into the machine coordinate system and takes said positions and orientations into account when gripping and assembling the component (1) in question.