Patent ID: 7783455
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: processing at least two wafers, each wafer being processed in a different one of at least two process tools at different locations in at least one manufacturing bay, each process tool configured to perform the same target process operation that is selected so that the process results are expected to be the same for each of said at least two wafers; determining whether said process tools produce different process results on said at least two wafers when performing the target process operation; acquiring support facility data using a plurality of sensors located in said at least one manufacturing bay in response to determining that said at least two process tools produced different results on said at least two wafers when performing the same target process operation; and performing fault detection analysis using a controller to determine a cause for said at least two process tools producing said different process results, said fault detection analysis including analyzing said acquired support facility data.