Patent ID: 7058627
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: G03F,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus including at least one processor and at least one memory, the processor being operative to execute at least one program out of the memory for managing data corresponding to a plurality of reticles in a semiconductor manufacturing system, comprising: a central reticle database configured and arranged to store data associated with the plurality of reticles; a reticle management controller communicably coupled to the central reticle database, the reticle management controller configured and arranged to store data in the central reticle database, and to retrieve data from the central reticle database; and at least one stocker including a stocker database, a stocker controller communicably coupled to the stocker database and communicably coupled to the reticle management controller, and a plurality of storage locations configured and arranged to store the plurality of reticles, the stocker controller being configured and arranged to store data corresponding to the plurality of reticles stored within the plurality of storage locations within the stocker database, wherein the data associated with the plurality of reticles stored in the central reticle database includes first and second data, each of the first and second data including a plurality of data portions, each portion of the first data being associated with a respective reticle stored in the at least one stocker, and each portion of the second data corresponding to at least one predetermined data constant associated with the plurality of reticles stored in the at least one stocker, wherein the reticle management controller is configured and arranged to retrieve at least a portion of the data corresponding to the plurality of reticles stored within the stocker database, and to store the retrieved data portion within the central reticle database, wherein the reticle management controller is further configured and arranged to manipulate and to maintain the plurality of reticles based on one or more portions of the first data associated with the respective reticles stored in the at least one stocker, and one or more portions of the second data corresponding to the predetermined data constants associated with the plurality of reticles stored in the at least one stocker, wherein the portions of the first data corresponding to each of the plurality of reticles stored in the central reticle database includes a plurality of reticle identifying data, wherein the plurality of reticle identifying data includes an attribute identifying the reticle, and an attribute identifying the location of the reticle, and wherein the plurality of reticle identifying data further includes: an attribute identifying a reticle carrier housing the reticle; an attribute identifying a date and time the reticle was entered into use; and an attribute identifying a user identifier who created the reticle.