The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 24, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 29, 1994
Robert P. Lyons, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Jeffrey E. Shaya, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Mark C. Pinkowski, Livonia, MI (US);
Kelsey-Hayes Company, Livonia, MI (US);
Abstract
Method and apparatus are provided in a manufacturing area wherein a semiconductor having nonvolatile memory space is automatically programmed, tested, marked and mounted at a predetermined position on a circuit board to obtain a programmed electronic control unit (ECU). These functions are performed automatically based on programs downloaded from a common controller such as the appropriately programmed personal computer. A handler conveys the semiconductors loaded in micro tubes to a programming head of a memory programmer for programming and testing the semiconductors. Then the handler conveys the programmed semiconductors to a marker, such as a laser etcher, to mark a surface of the semiconductor with indicia related to a particular ABS system in which the semiconductor is to be used. Then the marked semiconductors are conveyed in a tube adapted to be loaded in an automatic mounting device such as a robot under the control of a robot controller. The robot automatically mounts the marked semiconductors at predetermined positions on circuit boards which are supported on a table which may comprise an X-Y table. Finally, each semiconductor mounted on its respective circuit board is tested by a programmable tester to ensure the proper functioning of the semiconductor on its circuit board.