Patent · US Expired

Multi-tool control system, method and medium

US6640151B1 · kind B1 · utility

112Cited by
213References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1999
Grant dateOct 28, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67253
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system/method for interactively monitoring and adjusting product output from a module that includes two or more preparation tools. The output is a result of the coordinated effort of the two or more semiconductor preparation tools making up the module. The first of the tools is capable of implementing a first process on a semiconductor product and producing a first output. The second of the tools is configured to receive as input the first output from the first tool. The second tool is also capable of implementing a second process on the semiconductor product and producing a second output. A module control mechanism is capable of facilitating the exchange of information between the first tool and the second tool so that the module yields a desired semiconductor product output. Certain information can also be exchanged between the first and second tools. Other system/method embodiments for output/production control are also envisioned.

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