DEVICE FOR CUSTOMIZING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

The present invention relates to the field of customization of electronic components and in particular proposes a device for customizing electronic components for example having onboard a processor capable of running an application of the chip card type.

Presently, this type of electronic components is used for example in mass memory dongles or more particularly in terminals intended for executing machine-to-machine applications. These terminals equipped with such electronic components are integrated in specific pieces of equipment such as for example and in a non-limiting way:

- advertising display panels or boilers or further photocopiers in order to send a text message indicating the necessity of maintaining the equipment to the organization in charge of the maintenance of the piece of equipment;

- electricity, water or gas meters for sending a text message indicating the meter's reading to the organization in charge of the meter;

- vehicle equipment in order to send a text message in the case of an accident to a call centre.

Other applications of these electronic components may also be contemplated. These electronic components are soldered on electronic circuits of the terminals or the piece of equipment onboard which they are loaded and are intended to store in memory variable data such as for example data specific to a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network operator and

to the supported services, identifiers and optionally, one or more applications and include on one of their faces an identification number of each electronic component.

It is therefore necessary to program these variable data and to mark these electronic components by engraving before their placement in the terminal or the piece of equipment onboard which they are loaded. But the reduced size of these electronic components and consequently the dimension of the contact pads for programming these electronic components do not allow the use of standard customization devices. Presently, there exist devices for loading data for these types of electronic components. These data loading devices consist of a turret which brings the electronic components in order to load each electric data-loading station or each graphic data-loading station. But each data-loading station is of a large size and only a few data-loading devices may be applied. Therefore, loading of the data is longer and cost effectiveness is lower. Further, tracking of the data of an electronic component between the two data-loading stations is not carried out. Each data-loading station does certainly not manage the programming of variable data from one electronic component to another and therefore does not meet the needs of the client in terms of customization and sequentiality.

The object of the present invention is to find a remedy to one or more of the drawbacks of the prior art and to propose a device for customizing electronic components with which programming and marking of each electronic component and coincidence of the programming and marking data for a given electronic component may be easily ensured and at a low cost.

In order to achieve this object, the device for customizing electronic components is characterized in that it comprises:

- a programming system with a rotating plate with identification and tracking of the position of the rotating plate intended to receive on the top in imprints, a plurality of electronic components in order to program each of them with at least variable programming data;

- a system for distributing or conveying blank electronic components;

- a system for distributing or conveying customized electronic components;

- a marking system with a rotating plate intended to receive on the top another plurality of or at least two electronic components in order to engrave them with marking data ;

- a set of distinct manipulator arms intended to manipulate the electronic components between the different systems of the customization device; and

- a control unit for controlling the different elements forming the customization device, the control unit receiving position and tracking data of the rotating plate from the programming system and ensuring the tracking of the electronic components loaded on the marking system and on the programming system in the selected circulation direction and ensuring coincidence of the programming and marking data for each electronic component.

According to another particularity, the rotating plate of the programming system is of a substantially circular shape at the periphery of which is arranged a plurality of imprints including a plurality of connectors intended for receiving the contact pads of an electronic component for communication between the motherboard of the control unit and the microprocessor of each electronic component as soon as the electronic circuit of the electronic component is detected by the connector of the imprint in which the electronic component is positioned so that variable programming data are stored in the memory of the electronic component during the rotation of the rotating plate.

According to another particularity, the variable programming data are similar to those of a SIM card and integrate data specific to the operator of the GSM network and to the proposed service(s), identifiers and keys with which the customization operation as well as the access to the electronic component during its use, and possibly one or more applications, may be secured.

According to another particularity, the rotating plate of the programming system is rotatably mounted substantially at its centre on a distributor intended to transmit certain pieces of information, such as programming data, depending on the angular position of the electronic component on the rotating plate, provided by an angular position detection system between the motherboard of the control unit and the electronic card controlling several connectors together.

According to another particularity, rotation of the rotating table of the programming system is performed in the clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction and is controlled stepwise, one step being calculated by a complete rotation of the rotating plate divided by the number of connectors of the rotating plate of the programming system.

According to another particularity, the rotating plate of the marking system is of a substantially circular shape, with a diameter substantially less than that of the rotating plate of the programming system and includes at its periphery a plurality of imprints adapted to the shape of the electronic components, each imprint being intended to receive an electronic component either already programmed or blank.

According to another particularity, the rotation of the rotating plate of the marking system is controlled by the control unit of the programming system so that the rotating plate of the marking system is able to pivot stepwise in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction, one step being calculated by a complete rotation of the rotating plate of the marking system divided by the number of imprints on the rotating plate of the marking system.

According to another particularity, the marking system is a laser marking system including an enclosure, providing the seal, either fixed so that it is flush with the rotating plate of the marking system, or mobile so that it is lowered above the electronic component to be engraved and is lifted when the electronic component has been engraved; any other system allowing at least one datum to be engraved on one of the faces of the electronic component may also be contemplated.

According to another particularity, the marking datum(a) is(are) an identification number or a 2D barcode.

According to another particularity, the rotating plate of the programming system and the rotating plate of the marking system are respectively parallel to each other and substantially arranged in the same plane.

According to another particularity, the manipulator arms intended for picking and placing the electronic components consist of two pneumatic linear units with a vertical stroke and a horizontal stroke, at the end of the latter being attached a gripper of the claw type or of the suction cup type or any other system adapted for manipulating electronic components.

According to another particularity, the manipulator arms are equipped with a device for preventing the fall of electronic components.

According to another particularity, - a first manipulator arm is positioned between the system for distributing or conveying blank electronic components and the rotating plate of the programming system so as to grasp a blank electronic component of the system for distributing or conveying blank electronic components, in order to position it in an imprint of the rotating plate of the programming system; - a second manipulator arm is positioned between the rotating plate of the programming system and the rotating plate of the marking system so as to grasp a programmed electronic component after sufficient rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system in order to ensure programming and for positioning it in one of the empty imprints of the rotating plate of the marking system with view to its being marked; and

- a third manipulator arm is positioned in the alignment of the second manipulator arm between the system for distributing or conveying customized electronic components and the rotating plate of the marking system so as to grasp a customized electronic component from the rotating plate of the marking system in order to position it on the system for distributing or conveying customized electronic components.

According to another particularity,

- a first manipulator arm is positioned between the system for distributing or conveying blank electronic components and the rotating plate of the marking system so as to grasp a blank electronic component from the system for distributing or conveying blank electronic components, in order to position them in an imprint of the rotating plate of the marking system;

- a second manipulator arm is positioned in the alignment of the first manipulator arm between the rotating plate of the programming system and the rotating plate of the marking system so as to grasp an engraved electronic component after half-rotation of the rotating plate of the marking system in order to position it in an empty imprint of the rotating plate of the programming system with view to its being programmed; and

- a third manipulator arm is positioned between the system for distributing or conveying customized electronic components and the rotating plate of the programming system so as to grasp a customized electronic component from the rotating plate of the programming system in order to position it on the system for distributing or conveying customized electronic components.

According to another particularity, an optical recognition system is positioned at the exit of the marking system, before programming, in order to determine, according to a database stored in a memory of the control unit, the laser recognition which has been performed on the electronic component in order to program it with the corresponding programming data.

According to another particularity, the system for distributing blank or customized electronic components includes an actuator controlled by the control unit of the programming system and a rotating or translating plate on which are positioned the blank electronic components or the customized electronic components, respectively.

According to another particularity, the system for conveying blank electronic components includes an actuator controlled by the control unit of the programming system and a spool of alveolated strip including in each alveolus a blank electronic component, the spool feeding a belt conveyor adapted to the width of the alveolated strip of blank electronic components.

According to another particularity, with the control of the actuator, the alveolated strip of blank electronic components may be unwound from the spool and the alveolated strip of blank electronic components may be conveyed horizontally so that the first manipulator arm may easily grasp each blank electronic component from the alveolated strip of blank electronic components in order to position it either in an empty imprint of the rotating plate of the programming system with view to its being programmed, or in an empty imprint of the rotating plate of the marking system with view to its being marked, according to the selected circulation direction of the electronic components.

According to another particularity, the system for conveying customized electronic components includes an actuator controlled by the control unit of the programming system and a spool of empty alveolated strip, the spool feeding a belt conveyor adapted to the width of the empty alveoiated strip.

According to another particularity, with the control of the actuator, the empty alveolated strip may be unwound from the spool and the empty alveolated strip may be conveyed horizontally so that the third manipulator arm may easily grasp each customized electronic component either from the rotating plate of the programming system in order to position it in an alveolus of the alveolated strip after it has been programmed, or from the rotating plate of the marking system in order to position it in an alveolus of the alveolated strip after it has been marked, according to the selected circulation direction of the electronic components. According to another particularity, the spools are respectively positioned at one end of the belt conveyors, in the proximity of the other end are positioned the suitable manipulator arms intended to grasp and transfer each electronic component.

According to another particularity, a refuse bin intended to receive the electrically faulty electronic components is positioned under one of the manipulator arms positioned between the rotating plate of the programming system and one of the systems for distributing or conveying so that said

manipulator arm may grasp on the rotating plate of the programming system each electronic component detected during the programming as being electrically faulty in order to deposit it in the refuse bin.

According to another particularity, the arrival path of the blank electronic components and the exit path of the customized electronic components are not positioned in the alignment of the centre of the rotating plate of the programming system, one of the systems for distributing or conveying electronic components being substantially positioned tangentially to the rotating plate of the programming system and the other system for distributing or conveying electronic components being substantially positioned tangentially to the rotating plate of the marking system.

According to another particularity, the control unit of the customization device comprises at least one processing and control module associated with suitable software packages, a memory storing a database associating the angular position of each electronic component on the rotating plate of the programming system with the programming and marking data, a user interface consisting of a screen and of a keyboard.

According to another particularity, with the screen, it is possible to display for the operator the data specific to the programming of each electronic component, a programming failure of one of the electronic components of the rotating plate of the programming system and any other information required for using the customization device.

According to another particularity, with the keyboard, the user is able to enter for example specific information for the programming of the electronic components and for the software intended for the programming of the electronic components and any other information required for using the customization device.

Another object is achieved by proposing a use of the customization device according to the invention, characterized in that it consists of grasping a blank electronic component in order to either program it and then engrave it or engrave it and then program it, once it is customized, the electronic component being grasped in order to be positioned on a system for

distributing or conveying customized electronic components, the use allowing customization of the electronic components to be ensured continuously, while retaining the sequentiallity and coincidence of the electronic customization and marking information. According to another particularity, a blank electronic component is grasped by means of the first manipulator arm, from the system for distributing or conveying blank electronic components in order to be deposited in an empty imprint with an identified position, of the rotating plate of the programming system, after sufficient stepwise rotation of the rotating plate in order to ensure programming, and then said programmed electronic component is grasped, by means of the second manipulator arm, from its imprint in order to be deposited in an empty imprint of the rotating plate of the marking system, the rotation by one step of the rotating plate of the marking system allowing the programmed electronic component to be positioned so that it is marked with marking data coinciding with the electronic programming data of the electronic component, and then again a rotation by one step of the rotating plate of the marking system allowing a third manipulator arm to grasp the customized electronic component from the imprint in order to deposit it on the system for distributing or conveying customized electronic components.

According to another particularity, at each step of the rotating plate of the programming system and at each step of the rotating plate of the marking system, the control unit controls the first manipulator arm in order to deposit a blank electronic component in an empty imprint while another programmed electronic component is grasped by the second manipulator arm from its imprint in order to be deposited in an imprint of the rotating plate of the marking system and while a customized electronic component is grasped by the third manipulator arm from its imprint of the rotating plate of the marking system in order to be deposited on the system for distributing or conveying customized electronic components and while the control unit controls the programming of the other electronic components positioned on their respective imprint of the rotating plate of the programming system with the

data defined for each of them and transmitted by the motherboard to the respective connector, and controls the marking of an electronic component positioned in its imprint of the rotating plate of the marking system with the marking data coinciding with the electronic programming data of the electronic component.

According to another particularity, if an electronic component is detected as being electronically faulty by the motherboard, the control unit controls the rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system in a direction of rotation where the rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system will be minimum in order to position the electronically faulty electronic component so that it may be grasped by the first manipulator arm and discarded into the refuse bin, and then controls the first manipulator arm for picking a new blank electronic component and depositing it in the imprint of said discarded faulty component, and again controls the rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system in the direction of rotation where the rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system will be minimum so that it is again positioned for resuming the customization of the electronic components.

According to another particularity, a blank electronic component is grasped by means of the first manipulator arm from the system for distributing or conveying blank electronic components, in order to be deposited in an empty imprint of the rotating plate of the marking system, the rotation by one step of the rotating plate of the marking system allowing the blank electronic component to be positioned so that it is marked with the marking data transmitted by the motherboard to the marking system and then again a rotation by one step of the rotating plate allowing the marked electronic components to be positioned so that it is grasped by a second manipulator arm in order to be deposited in an empty imprint of the rotating plate of the programming system so that the engraved electronic component is programmed with programming data coinciding with the marking data optically recognized by the optical recognition system, and then once sufficient rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system for

programming is performed, the customized electronic component being grasped by means of the third manipulator arm in order to be deposited on the system for distributing or conveying customized electronic components.

According to another particularity, at each step of the rotating plate of the programming system and at each step of the rotating plate of the marking system, the control unit controls the first manipulator arm in order to deposit a blank electronic component in an empty imprint of the rotating plate of the marking system with view to its being marked, the second manipulator arm in order to deposit an engraved electronic component in an empty imprint of the rotating plate of the programming system while another customized electronic component is grasped from its imprint of the rotating plate of the programming system in order to be deposited on the system for distributing or conveying customized electronic components and the control unit controls the programming of the other engraved electronic components positioned in their respective imprint of the rotating plate of the programming system with programming data defined for each of them and transmitted by the motherboard to the respective connector depending on the optically recognized marking data, and controls the marking of an electronic component positioned in its imprint of the rotating plate of the marking system with the marking data of the electronic component.

According to another particularity, each engraved electronic component is analyzed by an optical recognition system at the exit of the marking system, the optical recognition system transmits the marking data engraved on the electronic component to the control unit in order to determine, depending on information provided by a database stored in the memory of the control unit, the customization data to be programmed in the corresponding electronic component.

According to another particularity, if an electronic component is detected as being electronically faulty by the motherboard, the control unit controls the rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system in a direction of rotation where the rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system will be minimum so as to position the electronically

faulty electronic component so that it may be grasped by the third manipulator arm and discarded in the refuse bin and then controls the rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system to be positioned so that the second manipulator arm may grasp a new engraved and optically analyzed electronic component for positioning it in the imprint of said discarded faulty component, and again controls the rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system in a direction of rotation where the rotation of the rotating plate of the programming system will be minimum so that it is repositioned in order to resume customization of the electronic components. The invention will be better understood and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent during the explanatory description which follows made with reference to the appended figures given as non-limiting examples wherein:

- Fig. 1 illustrates a top view of a device for customizing electronic components according to the invention and more particularly illustrates the path of the electronic components via the customization device according to the invention: Fig. 1a illustrates the path of the programmed and then engraved electronic components, Fig. 1b illustrates the path of the electronic components when a faulty electronic component is detected, Fig. 1c illustrates the replacement of the faulty electronic component and Fig. 1d illustrates the path of the programmed and then engraved electronic components when the faulty electronic component has been replaced ;

- Fig. 2 illustrates a global view of the device for customizing electronic components according to the invention; - Fig. 3 illustrates a zoomed-in global view of the device for customizing electronic components according to the invention;

- Fig. 4 illustrates an alternative device for customizing electronic components according to the invention; and

- Fig. 5 illustrates a diagram of the device for customizing electronic components according to the invention showing the connections between the different elements forming the customization device.

With reference to Figs. 1-5 cited earlier, the customization device (1 , 1') for electronic components (Ci) according to the invention comprises:

- a programming system (10, 10') with a rotating plate (100, 100') intended to receive on the top in imprints, the electronic components (Ci) in order to program them with at least variable programming data;

- a system for distributing or conveying (11 , 11') for blank electronic components (Ci);

- a system for distributing or conveying (12, 12') for customized electronic components (Ci); - a marking system (13, 13') with a rotating plate (130, 130') intended to receive on the top another plurality of or at least two electronic components (Ci) in order to engrave them with marking data; and

- a set of distinct manipulator arms (14a, 14b, 14c) or (14a ¹ , 14b ¹ , 14c') intended for manipulating the electronic components (Ci) between respectively the different systems (10, .11 , 12, 13) or (10', 11', 12', 13') respectively forming the customization device (1) or (1').

The numbers between brackets followed by " ' " refer to an alternative embodiment of the programming device noted as (1'), illustrated in Fig. 4, and in which the electronic components (Ci) follow a different circulation direction: the blank electronic components (Ci) are engraved via the marking system (13') and then programmed via the programming system (10'), the preferred embodiment of the invention conversely consisting of programming the blank electronic components (Ci) and then engraving them.

The programming system (10, 10') comprises a rotating plate (100, 100') of a substantially circular shape at the periphery of which is arranged a plurality of imprints (101, 101') each including a connector (called sockets).

Each imprint (101 , 101') includes a connector intended for receiving the contact pads of an electronic component (Ci) for communication between the motherboard (32) of a control unit (3) of the customization device (1 , 1') and the microprocessor of each electronic component (Ci). Communication between the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3) which receives from an angular position sensor positioned on the rotating plate (100, 100') of the

programming system (10, 10'), position and tracking data of the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') and the microprocessor of each electronic component (Ci) via these contact pads allows variable specific programming data similar to those of a SIM card to be programmed, such as data specific to the operator of the GSM network and to the proposed service(s), identifiers and keys with which the customization operation as well as the access to the electronic component (Ci) during its use ,and optionally one or more applications in the memory of the electronic components (Ci), may be secured, all along the rotation of the rotating plate (100, 100') or during sufficient rotation of the rotating plate (100, 100') for programming.

Indeed, the angular position sensor (not shown) or any other system allowing determination of the tracking and the position of the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system is provided on the programming system (10, 10') so as to transmit to the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3) information representative of the angular position of each electronic component (Ci) in the imprint (101 , 101') on the rotating plate (10, 10') as soon as the contact between the electronic circuit of the electronic component (Ci) and the connector associated with the imprint (101, 101') of the electronic component (Ci) is detected.

It should be noted that the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system is positioned on the top face of the programming system (10, 10') with a substantially parallelepipedal shape. Notably with reference to Fig. 5, the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system of a substantially circular shape is rotatably mounted substantially at its centre on a distributor (102, 102') intended to transmit certain pieces of information from the electronic card or coupler (103, 103') controlling several connectors together, to the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3) such as information stipulating the failure of the programming of at least one of the electronic components (Ci) and certain pieces of information from the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3) to the electronic card (103, 103') controlling several connectors such that the programming data may be

variable from one electronic component (Ci) to another and required for programming each electronic component (Ci). indeed, as illustrated in Fig. 5, a set of connectors is connected via at least one bus to an electronic card (103, 103') itself connected via at least one bus to the distributor (102, 102'), the distributor (102, 102') being connected to the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3). As soon as the electronic circuits of the electronic component (2) are detected by the connector of the imprint in which it is positioned, the angular sensor transmits position information of the electronic component (Ci) on the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system. Depending on this information, the control unit (3) transmits the programming data to the distributor (102, 102') which transmits them to the electronic card which itself transmits them to the corresponding connector. In the same time, the control unit (3) controls the actuation of the different systems (11 , 12, 13, 14a, 14b, 14c) or (11', 12', 13', 14a', 14b', 14c') respectively forming the customization device (1 , 1'). The programming data transmitted to the electronic card (103, 103') by the distributor (102, 102') are stored in memory in a database in the memory (33) of the control unit (3). With this database, it is possible to associate the position of the electronic component (Ci) on the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system, with these programming and marking data. Therefore, in the alternative embodiment, it is required that an optical recognition system (16) be positioned between the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') and the marking system (13'). In a non-limiting way, the rotation of the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') is controlled by the control unit (3):

- in the clockwise direction (direction j), for example as illustrated in Fig. 1b in the case when a faulty electronic component has been detected by the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3) in the preferred embodiment or as illustrated in Fig. 4 for the alternative embodiment of the customization device (1'); and respectively

- in the counterclockwise direction (direction i), for example as illustrated in Figs. 1a and 1d for the preferred embodiment of the

programming device (1) or in the case when a faulty electronic component has been detected by the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3) for the alternative embodiment.

Further, the rotation of the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') is controlled stepwise by the control unit (3), a step being calculated by a suitable software package of the control unit (3) by a complete rotation i.e. 360° of the rotating plate (100, 100') divided by the number of connectors of the rotating plate (100, 100').

In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1a-1d and 4 and in a non-limiting way, the rotating plate (100, 100') includes 36 imprints (101 , 101') intended to each receive an electronic component (Ci). In this exemplary embodiment, the control unit (3) manages the movement of rotation of the rotating plate (100, 100') in 10° steps. The rotation of the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system during which the programming of the electronic components (Ci) occurs, is sufficient, is less than 360° and, in the illustrated example, substantially equal to 340°.

The system for conveying (11 , 11') blank electronic components (Ci), standard with respect to known customization devices, includes an actuator (not shown) controlled by the control unit (3) of the programming system (10, 10') and a spool (110) of an alveolated strip (111 , 111') including in each alveolus a blank electronic component (Ci), the spool (110) feeding a belt conveyor (112, 112') adapted to the width of the alveolated strip (111 , 111') of blank electronic components (Ci). By controlling the actuator, it is possible to unwind the alveolated strip (111 , 111 ') of blank electronic components (Ci) from the spool (110) and to horizontally convey the alveolated strip (111 , 111') of blank electronic components (Ci) so that a first manipulator arm (14a, 14a') may easily grasp each blank electronic component from the alveolated strip (111) of blank electronic components (Ci) in order to position it in an empty imprint (101) of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system (10) in the case of the preferred embodiment and to position it in an empty imprint (131') of the rotating plate (13') of the marking system (13') in the alternative embodiment.

It should be noted that the system (11, 11') for conveying blank electronic components (Ci) may be replaced with a system (not shown) for distributing blank electronic components (Ci) including an actuator controlled by the control unit (3) of the programming system (10, 10') and a rotating or translating plate on which the blank electronic components (Ci) are positioned so that the first manipulator arm (14a, 14a') may easily grasp each blank electronic component from the plate in order to position it in an empty imprint (101) of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system (10) in the case of the preferred embodiment and to position it in an empty imprint (131') of the rotating plate (130') of the marking system (13') in the alternative embodiment.

Therefore, the first manipulator arm (14a) of the preferred embodiment of the invention is positioned between the system for distributing or conveying (11) blank electronic components (Ci) and the rotating plate (100) of the programming system (10). In the alternative embodiment, the first manipulator arm (14a ¹ ) is positioned between the system (11') for distributing or conveying blank electronic components (Ci) and the rotating plate (130') of the marking system (13').

It should be noted that the spool (110) of blank electronic components (Ci) of the system for conveying (11 , 11') is positioned at one end of the belt conveyor (112, 112') of the system for conveying (11 , 11'), the first manipulator arm (14a, 14a') intended for grasping and transferring a blank electronic component (Ci) being positioned in proximity to the other end.

The marking system (13, 13') consists of a rotating plate (130, 130') of a substantially circular shape, with a diameter substantially less than that of the rotating plate (10 0, 100') of the programming system (10, 10'). The rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') includes at its periphery a plurality of imprints (131 , 131') adapted to the shape of the electronic components (Ci). Each imprint (131 , 131') is intended to receive an electronic component (Ci) either already programmed during the rotation of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system (10) in the preferred embodiment or blank in the alternative embodiment. The rotation of the

rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') is controlled by the control unit (3) of the programming system (10, 10').

It should be noted that the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') and the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') are respectively parallel to each other and substantially positioned in a same plane.

Indeed, a supporting plate, referenced as (17) in Fig. 3, raised relatively to the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') provides support to the marking system (13, 13') and to the manipulator arms (14a, 14a', 14b, 14b', 14c, 14c') so that they are substantially positioned in the same plane as the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10').

Further, the rotation of the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') is controlled by the control unit (3) in the clockwise direction (direction k) as illustrated in Fig. 4 for the alternative embodiment or in the counterclockwise direction (direction I) as illustrated in Figs. 1a and 1d. The rotation of the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') is controlled stepwise by the control unit (3), a step being calculated by a complete rotation i.e. 360° of the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') divided by the number of imprints (131 , 131') of the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13').

In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1a-1d and 4 and in a non-limiting way, the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') includes four imprints (131, 131'). In this exemplary embodiment, the control unit of the marking system (13, 13') controls the movement of rotation of the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') in 90° steps.

In an exemplary embodiment and in a non-limiting way, the marking of the electronic components (Ci) is achieved with a laser. The laser marking system (13, 13') includes an enclosure (132, 132'), intended to provide the seal, either fixed so that it is positioned flush with the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') or mobile so that it is lowered above the electronic components (Ci) to be engraved and raised when the electronic

component (Ci) has been engraved, the lowering of the enclosure being notably provided in the case when the electronic components (Ci) are more bulky than the size of the imprints (131 , 131') of the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13'). The marking consists of engraving a datum, for example an identification number or a 2D barcode, for example of the Datamatrix type on one of the faces, for example the top face, of the electronic component (Ci). It should be noted that other marking methods may be contemplated. A second manipulator arm (14b, 14b') is positioned between the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') and the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13').

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the second manipulator arm (14b) is capable of grasping a programmed electronic component (Ci) after sufficient rotation (in the illustrated example 340°) of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system (10) for programming in order to position it in one of the empty imprints (131) of the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) with view of its being marked.

In the alternative embodiment of the invention, the second manipulator arm (14b') positioned in the alignment of the first manipulator arm (14a ¹ ) of the alternative embodiment, is capable of grasping an engraved electronic component (Ci) after a half-rotation, in the illustrated example 180°, of the rotating plate (130') of the marking system (13') in order to position it in an empty imprint (101') of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') with view to its being programmed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a third manipulator arm

(14c), positioned in the alignment of the second manipulator arm (14b) is positioned between the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) and the system (12) for distributing or conveying customized, i.e. programmed and engraved, electronic components (Ci) in order to grasp a customized electronic component (Ci) from the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) in order to position it either in an alveolus of another alveolated strip (121) of the system (12) for conveying customized electronic components

(Ci) or on the plate of the system for distributing customized electronic components (Ci).

In the alternative embodiment, the third manipulator arm (14c') is positioned between the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') and the system (12') for distributing or conveying customized electronic components (Ci) so as to grasp a customized electronic component (Ci) from the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') in order to position it either in an alveolus of another alveolated strip (121') of the system (12') for conveying customized electronic components (Ci) or on the plate o f the distribution system.

The other alveolated strip (121 , 121') is conveyed by the system (12, 12') for conveying customized electronic components (Ci), this system (12, 12') for conveying being standard with known customization devices. This system (12, 12') for conveying customized electronic components (Ci) includes an actuator (not shown) controlled by a control unit (3) and another spool (120) of alveolated strip (121 , 121') without any electronic component (Ci), the other spool (120) feeding a belt conveyor (122, 122') adapted to the width of the alveolated strip (121 , 121'). With the control of the actuator, it is possible to unwind the alveolated strip (121 , 121') without any electronic component (Ci) from the spool (120) and to horizontally convey the alveolated strip (121 , 121') so that the third manipulator arm (14c, 14c') may easily grasp a customized electronic component (Ci) in the case of a preferred embodiment, from the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) in order to position it in an empty alveolus of the alveolated strip (121) and, in the case of the alternative embodiment, from the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') in order to position it in an empty alveolus of the alveolated strip (121').

It should be noted that the spool (120) of the alveolated strip (121 , 121') is positioned at one end of the belt conveyor (122, 122'), the third manipulator arm (14c, 14c') being positioned in proximity to the other end.

Further, the alveolated strip (111 , 111 ') of blank electronic components (Ci) is different from the alveolated strip (121, 121') of customized electronic components (Ci).

It should be noted that the system (12, 12') for conveying customized electronic components (Ci) may be replaced with a system (not shown) for distributing customized electronic components (Ci) including an actuator controlled by the control unit (3) of the programming system (10, 10') and a rotating or translating plate on which are positioned customized electronic components (Ci) so that the third manipulator arm (14c, 14c') may easily grasp a customized electronic component (Ci), in the case of the preferred embodiment, from the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) in order to position it on the plate of the distribution system and in the case of the alternative embodiment, from the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') in order to position it on the plate of the distribution system. In a non-limiting way, the manipulator arms (14a, 14b, 14c, 14a', 14b',

14c') controlled by the control unit (3) and intended for picking up and placing the electronic components (Ci) consist of two pneumatic linear units, such as for example electric actuator cylinders, with a vertical stroke and a horizontal stroke. At the end of the latter, a gripper is attached, the gripper for example corresponding to a claw or a suction cup or any other systems suitable for manipulating electronic components (Ci). Further, the manipulator arms (14a, 14b, 14c, 14a', 14b', 14c') are equipped with a device for preventing the fall of electronic components (Ci). In an embodiment of the invention, the manipulator arms (14a, 14b, 14c, 14a', 14b', 14c') used are manipulator arms of the "pneumatic pick & place" type.

A refuse bin (15, 15') intended to receive electrically faulty electronic components (Cf) detected by the control unit (3) is positioned under the first manipulator arm (14a) in the preferred embodiment and under the third manipulator arm (14c ¹ ) in the alternative embodiment. The first manipulator arm (14a) of the preferred embodiment and the third manipulator arm (14c ¹ ) of the alternative embodiment may therefore also grasp each electronic component, detected during its programming as being electrically faulty (Cf),

from the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') in order to deposit it in the refuse bin (15, 15').

Further, the arrival path of the blank electronic components (Ci) and the exit path of the customized electronic components (Ci) are not positioned in the alignment of the centre of the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10'). Indeed, the system (11) for distributing or conveying blank electronic components (Ci) of the preferred embodiment and the system (12') for distributing or conveying customized electronic components (Ci) of the alternative embodiment are substantially positioned tangentially to the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10'). The system (12) for distributing or conveying customized electronic components (Ci) of the preferred embodiment and the system (11') for distributing or conveying blank electronic components (Ci) of the alternative embodiment are substantially positioned tangentially to the rotating plate (130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13') as illustrated in Figs. 1a-1d and 4.

The blank and customized electronic components (Ci) should always be positioned in the same direction in the respective alveolated strips (111 ,

111') and (121 , 121') of the conveyance systems (11 , 11', 12, 12'), this position being known by means of a corner of the electronic component (Ci) which has a slightly cut face. Therefore, a step prior to the use of the customization device (1) should be performed and consists of determining the number of rotations undergone by the electronic component (Ci) so that the position of the customized electronic components (Ci) in the alveolated strip (121 , 121') of the customized electronic components is identical with the position of the blank electronic components (Ci) in the alveolated strip (111 , 111 ') of the blank electronic components.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1a-1d, each electronic component (Ci) undergoes a rotation of about 360° (programming) and then a rotation of 180° (marking), the manipulator arms (14a, 14b, 14c) only performing a translation of the electronic components (Ci). Therefore the alveolated strip (111) is positioned on the belt conveyor (112) of the system (11) for conveying blank electronic components (Ci) so that the blank

electronic components (Ci) are oriented towards the programming system

(10) unlike the alveolated strip (121) of the system (12) for conveying the customized electronic components (Ci).

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, each electronic component (Ci) undergoes a rotation of about 180° (marking) and then a rotation of 360° (programming), the manipulator arms (14a ¹ , 14b', 14c') only performing a translation of the electronic components (Ci). Therefore, the alveolated strip (121') is positioned on the belt conveyor (122') of the system

(12 ^! ) for conveying the customized electronic components (Ci) so that the customized electronic components (Ci) are oriented towards the programming system (10') unlike the alveolated strip (111') of the system

(11') for conveying the blank electronic components (Ci).

In the alternative embodiment, the optical recognition system (16) is positioned at the exit of the marking system (13') before programming, which transmits to the control unit (3) the marking data engraved on the electronic component (Ci) in order to determine according to the database stored in the memory (33) of the control unit (3), the customization data to be programmed into the corresponding electronic component (Ci).

The control unit (3) of the customization device (1 , 1') comprises at least one processing and control module (not shown) associated with suitable software packages, a memory (33), a user interface consisting of a screen (30) and of a keyboard (31).

The memory contains all the customization data to be programmed and engraved and the database associating the programming and marking data of each electronic component according to the position of the electronic component on the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system, provided by the angular position sensor.

Depending on the data received by the angular position sensor of the programming system (10, 10') and optionally by the optical recognition system (16), the control unit (3) is able to control the movement of the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') and of the plate ( 130, 130') of the marking system (13, 13'), the movement of the

conveyance systems (11 , 11', 12, 12'), the movement of the manipulator arms (14a, 14b, 14c, 14a', 14b', 14c') and to ensure programming of the electronic components of the rotating plate by transmitting programming data associated with an electronic component to the connector corresponding to the imprint in which the electronic component is positioned via the corresponding distributor (102, 102') and the corresponding electronic card or coupler (103, 103') and to ensure marking of the electronic component (Ci).

Advantageously, the control unit (3) ensures the tracking of the electronic components loaded on the marking system (13, 13') and on the programming system (10, 10') in the selected circulation direction and ensures coincidence of the programming and marking data for each electronic component (Ci).

With the screen (30), it is possible to display for the operator, for example, the data specific to the programming of each electronic component (Ci), a programming failure of one of the electronic components of the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') and any other information required for using the customization device (1 , 1').

With the keyboard (31), the user may enter for example specific information for programming the electronic components (Ci) and for the software intended for programming the electronic components and any other information required for using the customization device (1 , 1 ').

It should be noted that each black square illustrated in Figs. 1a-1d and in Fig. 4 corresponds to an imprint or alveolus containing an electronic component (Ci), the white squares illustrating empty imprints or alveoli. It should also be noted that the contact pad of each electronic component (Ci) is always oriented towards the ground (downwards) in all the systems (10, 11 , 12, 13, 14) forming the customization device (1) of the preferred embodiment or in the systems (10', 11', 12', 13', 14') forming the customization device (1') of the alternative embodiment. Advantageously, customization of the electronic components (Ci) is carried out continuously and therefore with the customization device (1 , 1') according to the invention, it is possible to considerably improve the cost

effectiveness of the customization of the electronic components (Ci) while retaining the coincidence of the programming and marking data for each electronic component (Ci).

We shall now describe the use of the device (1 , 1') for customizing electronic components (Ci).

In a preferred method of use illustrated in Fig. 1a, the use of the device (1) for customizing electronic components (Ci) consists of grasping, by means of the first manipulator arm (14a), a blank electronic component (Ci) from the system (11) for distributing or conveying blank electronic components (Ci) in order to deposit it in an empty imprint (101) with an identified position, of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system (10), the position of the imprint being identified by the angular sensor of the programming system (10) which sends angular position information to the control unit (3) as soon as contact between the circuit of the electronic component (Ci) and the connector has been detected. And then, after sufficient stepwise rotation of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system in order to ensure programming (in the illustrated example, 340°), the use consists of grasping by means of the second manipulator arm (14b), a programmed electronic component (Ci) from its imprint (101) in order to deposit it in an empty imprint (131) of the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13), rotation by one step of the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) allowing the programmed electronic component (Ci) to be positioned so that it is marked with the marking data coinciding with the electronic programming data of the electronic component (Ci). And then again rotation by one step of the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) allows a third manipulator arm (14c) to grasp the customized (programmed and marked) electronic component (Ci) from the imprint (131) in order to either deposit it in an alveolus of an alveolated strip (121) conveyed by the system (12) for conveying customized electronic components (Ci) or on the plate of the system for distributing customized electronic components (Ci).

It should be noted that at each step of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system (10) and at each step of the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13), the control unit (3) controls the first manipulator arm (14a) in order to deposit a blank electronic component (Ci) in an empty imprint (101) while another programmed electronic component (Ci) is grasped by the second manipulator arm (14b) from its imprint (101) in order to be deposited in an imprint (131) of the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) and while a customized electronic component (Ci) is grasped by the third manipulator arm (14c) from its imprint (131) of the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) in order to be either deposited in an alveolus of an alveolated strip (121) conveyed by the system (12) for conveying customized electronic components (Ci) or on the plate o f the system for distributing customized electronic components (Ci). The control unit (3) also controls at each step, the programming of the other electronic components (Ci) positioned on their respective imprint (101) of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system (10) with the data defined for each of them and transmitted by the motherboard (32) to the respective connector, and controls the marking of an electronic component positioned in its imprint (131) of the rotating plate (130) of the marking system (13) with the marking data coinciding with the electronic programming data of the electronic component (Ci) via the database stored in the memory (33) of the control unit (3).

The control unit (3) of the customization device (1) is able to determine a programming failure of the electronic components (Ci) during the rotation of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system. In this case, if an electronic component is detected as being electronically faulty (Cf) by the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3), the control unit (3) controls the rotation of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system in a direction of rotation where the rotation of the rotating plate (100) will be minimum so as to position the electronically faulty electronic component (Cf) so that it may be grasped by the first manipulator arm (14a) controlled by the control unit (3) and positioned in proximity to the refuse bin (15) as illustrated in Fig. 1b. The

thereby grasped faulty electronic component (Cf) is discarded into the refuse bin (15) and then a new blank electronic component (C29N in the illustrated example) is grasped by the first manipulator arm (14a) and positioned in the imprint (101) of said faulty component (Cf) discarded as illustrated in Fig. 1c. The control unit (3) again controls the rotation of the rotating plate (100) of the programming system in a direction of rotation where the rotation of the rotating plate (100) will be minimum so that the rotating plate (100) is repositioned in order to resume customization of the electronic components as illustrated in Fig. 1d. In an alternative use, the use of the device (1') for customizing electronic components (Ci) consists of grasping by means of the first manipulator arm (14a ¹ ), a blank electronic component (Ci) from the system (11 ') for distributing or conveying blank electronic components (Ci) in order to deposit it in an empty imprint (131') of the rotating plate (130') of the marking system (13'), the rotation by one step of the turntable (130') of the marking system (13') allows the blank electronic component (Ci) to be positioned so that it is marked with the marking data transmitted by the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3) to the marking system (13'). And then again a rotation by one step of the rotating plate (130') of the marking system (13') allows the marked electronic component (Ci) to be positioned so that it is grasped by a second manipulator arm (14b') in order to be deposited in an empty imprint (101 ') of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10'). During the rotation, sufficient for programming, (340° in the illustrated example), of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10'), the electronic component (Ci) already marked and positioned in its imprint (101 ') is programmed with the programming data coinciding with the marking data optically recognized by the optical recognition system (16). Once the rotation (340° in the illustrated example) of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10'), sufficient for programming, is completed, a third manipulator arm (14c ¹ ) grasps the customized electronic component (Ci) in order to deposit it either in an alveolus of an alveolated strip (121') conveyed by the system (12') for conveying customized electronic component (Ci) or on

the plate of the system for distributing customized electronic components (Ci).

In this alternative use, it should be noted that at each step of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') and at each step of the rotating plate (130') of the marking system (13'), the control unit (3) controls the first manipulator arm (14a') in order to deposit a blank electronic component (Ci) in an empty imprint (131') of the rotating plate (130') of the marking system (13') with view to its being marked, the second manipulator arm (14b') in order to deposit an engraved electronic component (Ci) in an empty alveolus (101') of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') while another customized electronic component (Ci) is grasped from its imprint (101') of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') in order to be either deposited in an alveolus of an alveolated strip (121 ') conveyed by the system (12') for conveying customized electronic components (Ci) or on the plate of the system for distributing customized electronic components (Ci). The control unit (3) also controls during this period of time, the programming of the other engraved electronic components (Ci) positioned in their respective imprint (101 ') of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system with the programming data defined for each of them and transmitted by the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3) to the respective connector according to the marking data optically recognized by the optical recognition system (16) and controls the marking of an electronic component (Ci) positioned in its imprint (131') of the rotating plate (130') of the marking system (13') with the marking data of the electronic component (Ci).

In this alternative use, the engraved electronic component (Ci) is analyzed by the optical recognition system (16) at the exit of the marking system (13'), which transmits the marking data engraved on the electronic component (Ci) to the control unit (3) in order to determine, depending on information provided by the database stored in the memory of the control unit (3), the customization data to be programmed in the corresponding electronic component (Ci).

In this alternative use, if an electronic component is detected as being electronically faulty (Cf) by the motherboard (32) of the control unit (3), the control unit (3) controls the rotation of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') in a direction of rotation where the rotation of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system will be minimum in order to position the electronically faulty electronic component (Cf) so that it may be grasped by the third manipulator arm (14c') controlled by the control unit (3) and positioned in proximity to the refuse bin (15') as illustrated in Fig. 4. The thereby grasped faulty electronic component (Cf) is discarded into the refuse bin (15') and then the control unit (3) controls rotation of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system so that it is positioned in order that the second manipulator arm (14b ¹ ) may grasp a new engraved electronic component (Ci) for positioning it in the imprint (101') of said discarded faulty component (Cf). The control unit (3) again controls the rotation of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system (10') in a direction of rotation where the rotation of the rotating plate (100') of the programming system will be minimum so that the rotating plate (100') is repositioned in order to resume the angular position where it had stopped upon detection of the faulty electronic component (Cf). Advantageously, in the case when a faulty electronic component has been detected, the rotation of the rotating plate (100, 100') of the programming system (10, 10') is controlled in a direction of rotation where the rotation of the rotating plate (100, 100') will be minimum in order to improve the time for customizing electronic components and therefore the cost effectiveness of the customization of electronic components (Ci).

For reasons of application of the customization device (1 , 1'), one imprint (101 , 101 ') is left free between the first manipulator arm (14a) of the preferred embodiment or the third manipulator arm (14c') of the alternative embodiment and the second manipulator arm (14b, 14b') respectively. One of the advantages of the invention is that with the customization device (1 , 1') it is possible to continuously customize electronic components with variable data while retaining sequentiality and ensuring coincidence of

the programming data and of the marking data of each electronic component (Ci).

It should be obvious for one skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments under many other specific forms without departing from the field of application of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the present embodiment should be considered as an illustration, but may be modified within the field defined by the scope of the appended claims, and the invention should not be limited to the details given above.