US5443534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Providing electronic components for circuity assembly
Assignee: VLT Corp
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Filing: 1992-09-21
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Granted: 1995-08-22
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Expires: 2012-09-21
Abstract
Abstract Electronic components are provided for connection in electronic circuits being manufactured on a production line. A supply of component blanks is provided, and each of the electronic components is formed by removing material from one of the blanks. The electronic component is delivered for connection in a corresponding one of the electronic circuits. The steps of forming and delivering the electronic component are coordinated with the manufacture of the corresponding electronic circuit. Another aspect features high-volume, high-mix manufacture of electronic circuits on a production line, where the mix requires a number M of different component values within a range of values R, and N (smaller than M) different supplies of component blanks are provided, each supply suitable for making components having values within a subrange S of range R. In another aspect, operating parameters of a laser are determined automatically for use in trimming resistor blanks belonging to a common batch of blanks. In another aspect, each circuit includes an alterable component having a parameter value which can be altered and the alterable component is open-loop trimmed.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrizio Vinciarelli
- 👤 Hubert R. Zeller, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:59
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/08; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/351; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49004; Y10T29/49082; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49133; Y10T29/49135; Y10T29/49137; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53174; Y10T29/53178
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for providing an electronic component for connection in a corresponding one of a plurality of electronic circuits being manufactured on a production line, comprising providing a supply of component blanks, making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of another component to be included in the corresponding one of the electronic circuits, and a parameter of a portion of the corresponding one of the electronic circuits, determining from the measured parameter an an appropriate value for the electronic component, forming said electronic component by removing material from one of said blanks to cause the blank to have the appropriate value, and delivering said electronic component for connection in the corresponding one of said electronic circuits.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for providing an electronic component for connection in a corresponding one of a plurality of electronic circuits being manufactured on a production line, comprising providing a supply of component blanks, making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of another component to be included in the corresponding one of the electronic circuits, and a parameter of a portion of the corresponding one of the electronic circuits, determining from the measured parameter an an appropriate value for the electronic component, forming said electronic component by removing material from one of said blanks to cause the blank to have the appropriate value, and delivering said electronic component for connection in the corresponding one of said electronic circuits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing N different supplies of blanks, and forming greater than N different electronic components from said blanks, N being a number greater than zero.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of providing comprises providing N different supplies of resistor blanks, each supply being suitable for forming resistors having resistances within a particular range, and said step of forming comprises laser trimming said resistor blanks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3 wherein all of the resistors required for said electronic circuits are formed by said laser trimming.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 wherein some of said resistors have values which do not differ among said electronic circuits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing comprises providing a supply of resistor blanks and said step of forming comprises laser trimming one of said resistor blanks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the measured parameter comprises a value of resistance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the measured parameter comprises a voltage level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the measured parameter comprises a value of capacitance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for providing an electronic component for connection in a corresponding one of a plurality of electronic circuits being manufactured on a production line, comprising a supply of component blanks, means for making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of another component to be included in the corresponding one of the electronic circuits, and a parameter of a portion of the corresponding one of the electronic circuits, means for determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value for the electronic component, means for forming said electronic component by removing material from one of said blanks to cause the blank to have the appropriate value, and means for delivering said electronic component for connection in the corresponding one of said electronic circuits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for providing an electronic component for connection in a corresponding one of a plurality of electronic circuits being manufactured on a production line, comprising a supply of component blanks, means for making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of another component to be included in the corresponding one of the electronic circuits, and a parameter of a portion of the corresponding one of the electronic circuits, means for determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value for the electronic component, means for forming said electronic component by removing material from one of said blanks to cause the blank to have the appropriate value, and means for delivering said electronic component for connection in the corresponding one of said electronic circuits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising N different supplies of component blanks wherein N is a number greater than zero.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a robot for mounting said electronic on said corresponding electronic circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for forming comprises a laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the measured parameter comprises a value of resistance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the measured parameter comprises a voltage level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the measured parameter comprises a value of capacitance.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for high-rolaids, high-mix manufacture of electronic circuits on a production line, wherein the mix requires a number M of different component values within a range of values R, M being a number greater than one, comprising providing N different supplies of component blanks, N being a number greater than zero and less than M, each supply suitable for making trimmed components having values within a subrange S of range R, making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of a component to be included in each of the circuits, and a parameter of a portion of each of the circuits, determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value in the subrange S for each of the trimmed components, forming each of said trimmed components by selecting a component blank from one of said supplies and trimming said component blank to the appropriate value, and delivering each of said trimmed components for connection in a corresponding one of said electronic circuits.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for high-rolaids, high-mix manufacture of electronic circuits on a production line, wherein the mix requires a number M of different component values within a range of values R, M being a number greater than one, comprising providing N different supplies of component blanks, N being a number greater than zero and less than M, each supply suitable for making trimmed components having values within a subrange S of range R, making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of a component to be included in each of the circuits, and a parameter of a portion of each of the circuits, determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value in the subrange S for each of the trimmed components, forming each of said trimmed components by selecting a component blank from one of said supplies and trimming said component blank to the appropriate value, and delivering each of said trimmed components for connection in a corresponding one of said electronic circuits.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said step of providing comprises providing N different supplies of resistor blanks and said step of forming comprises laser trimming one of said resistor blanks.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for high-volume, high-mix manufacture of electronic circuits on a production line, wherein the mix requires a number M of different component values within a range of values R, M being a number greater than one, comprising means for providing N different supplies of component blanks, N being a number greater than zero and less than M, each supply suitable for making trimmed components having values within a subrange S of range R, means for making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of a component to be included in each of the circuits, and a parameter of a portion of each of the circuits, means for determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value in the subrange s for each of the trimmed components, means for forming each of said trimmed components by selecting a component blank from one of said supplies and trimming said component blank to the appropriate value, and means for delivering each of said trimmed components for connection in a corresponding one of said electronic circuits.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for high-volume, high-mix manufacture of electronic circuits on a production line, wherein the mix requires a number M of different component values within a range of values R, M being a number greater than one, comprising means for providing N different supplies of component blanks, N being a number greater than zero and less than M, each supply suitable for making trimmed components having values within a subrange S of range R, means for making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of a component to be included in each of the circuits, and a parameter of a portion of each of the circuits, means for determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value in the subrange s for each of the trimmed components, means for forming each of said trimmed components by selecting a component blank from one of said supplies and trimming said component blank to the appropriate value, and means for delivering each of said trimmed components for connection in a corresponding one of said electronic circuits.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of manufacturing electronic circuits on a production line, each circuit including an alterable component having a parameter value which can be altered, said method comprising providing a supply of the alterable components, and for each electronic circuit on the production line, making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of another component to be included in the circuit, and a parameter of a portion of the circuit, determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value for the alterable component, selecting an alterable component from the supply, removing material from the alterable component to cause it to have the appropriate value, and connecting the alterable component from which the material has been removed into the circuit.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of manufacturing electronic circuits on a production line, each circuit including an alterable component having a parameter value which can be altered, said method comprising providing a supply of the alterable components, and for each electronic circuit on the production line, making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of another component to be included in the circuit, and a parameter of a portion of the circuit, determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value for the alterable component, selecting an alterable component from the supply, removing material from the alterable component to cause it to have the appropriate value, and connecting the alterable component from which the material has been removed into the circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising after removing material from the alterable component, measuring the actual value of the alterable component, and determining an appropriate value for another component to be connected in the circuit based on the actual value of the alterable component.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the removing is done by laser trimming.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the alterable component comprises a resistor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said electronic circuits comprise power converters.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the electronic circuits being fabricated on the production line include identical circuits.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the electronic circuits being fabricated on the production line include different circuits.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of manufacturing power converters moving along an automated production line, each converter including a trimmable resistor, said method comprising providing a supply of the trimmable resistors at a station along the production line, and for each converter that approaches the station on the production line: making a measurement of a parameter of another component to be included in the converter, determining from the measured parameter an appropriate resistance for the trimmable resistor, selecting a trimmable resistor from the supply, laser trimming the trimable resistor to the appropriate resistance, and connecting the trimmed resistor into the converter.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of manufacturing power converters moving along an automated production line, each converter including a trimmable resistor, said method comprising providing a supply of the trimmable resistors at a station along the production line, and for each converter that approaches the station on the production line: making a measurement of a parameter of another component to be included in the converter, determining from the measured parameter an appropriate resistance for the trimmable resistor, selecting a trimmable resistor from the supply, laser trimming the trimable resistor to the appropriate resistance, and connecting the trimmed resistor into the converter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-08-21 | 1999-02-20 | 1999-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-21 | 2003-02-20 | 2003-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-21 | 2007-02-20 | 2007-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |