Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for fault detection of a processing tool in an advanced process control (APC) framework

US6546508B1 · kind B1 · utility

39Cited by
18References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 29, 1999
Grant dateApr 8, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 29, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P90/02
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing fault detection in an Advanced Process Control (APC) framework. A first interface receives operational state data of a processing tool related to the manufacture of a processing piece. The state data is sent from the first interface to a fault detection unit. A fault detection unit determines if a fault condition exists with the processing tool based upon the state data. A predetermined action is performed on the processing tool in response to the presence of a fault condition. In accordance with one embodiment, the predetermined action is to shutdown the processing tool so as to prevent further production of faulty wafers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.