PCB Soldering Coordinate Mapping From Gerber Data
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soldering apparatuses require significant labor from operators to input coordinate values for soldering target positions, making the process labor-intensive and prone to human error.
Innovation Solution
A soldering apparatus and method that utilize gerber data to derive system coordinates for physical features on a substrate, allowing the computer to control the motor for autonomous soldering, reducing the need for manual input of coordinate values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual input of coordinate values is used for soldering target positions, then the soldering apparatus can perform soldering at specified positions, but the operator labor and time required for inputting coordinate values increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses Gerber data (a digital copy/representation of the PCB design) to automatically extract coordinate information for soldering targets. Instead of manual input, the system copies coordinate data from the existing Gerber files that already contain the PCB layout information, thereby eliminating time-consuming manual coordinate entry while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordinate information for soldering targets is prepared in advance within the Gerber data files during the PCB design phase. When the soldering apparatus needs to perform soldering, the coordinates are already pre-calculated and stored in the Gerber data, eliminating the need for real-time manual input and allowing direct automated processing.
2Reliability
If manual input of coordinate values is used for soldering target positions, then the soldering process can be performed, but the process becomes labor-intensive and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The soldering apparatus automatically extracts coordinate information from Gerber data without requiring manual operator input. The system serves itself by reading the PCB layout information from the Gerber files and automatically calculating the soldering target positions, thereby eliminating human error and reducing operator workload while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of coordinate input with an automated computer-based system that processes Gerber data. This substitution eliminates human involvement in coordinate entry, removing the source of human error and significantly reducing operator workload while improving reliability through automated precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Gerber data for a substrate includes coordinates for physical features on the substrate. The coordinates are relative to a substrate origin point on the substrate. The gerber data allows a user to specify any of the physical features as soldering targets of a soldering apparatus that includes a motor for moving a soldering iron according to coordinates relative to a system origin point of the soldering apparatus. When the substrate is placed on the soldering apparatus, its substrate origin point differs from the system origin point of the soldering apparatus. The user may input coordinates for the substrate origin point, which are used by the soldering apparatus to derive coordinates, usable by soldering apparatus, from coordinates in the gerber data. In this way, it is possible to reduce the workload of the user when programming the soldering apparatus to perform a soldering process.