Methods and apparatus for integrating large and small lot electronic device fabrication facilities
US7603195B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In at least one aspect, the invention provides an electronic device fabrication facility (Fab) that uses small lot carriers that may be transparently integrated into an existing Fab that uses large lot carriers. A manufacturing execution system (MES) may interact with the inventive small lot Fab as if the small lot Fab is any other Fab component in an existing large lot Fab without requiring knowledge of how to control small lot Fab components (e.g., beyond specifying a processing recipe). A small lot Fab according to the present invention may encapsulate the small lot Fab's internal use of small lot components and present itself to a large lot Fab's MES as if the small lot Fab is a component that uses large lot carriers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.