Patent ID: 6060992
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A mobile work-in-process WIP parts tracking system, comprising:a plurality of containers each containing at least one part;at least one tag positioned on and respectively associated with each of said containers, each of said tags uniquely identifying the associated container;a storage facility having a plurality of storage locations each suitable for storing one of said containers therein;a transport system for transporting said containers into and out of said storage facility, said transport system including a mobile carrier for delivering said containers to and retrieving said containers from said storage locations;a tag reader on said carrier for reading said tags when carrier delivers said containers to said storage locations and when said carrier retrieves said containers from said storage locations; and,control means connected with said tag reader for continuously tracking the storage location of each of said containers, and for controlling said carrier to search each of said storage locations for the presence of one of said containers therein.