Patent ID: 6694224
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: B25J,G05B,G06N,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for calculating a control schedule for a robot within a fabrication system, the method comprising:determining operating characteristics for steps in a fabrication process, the operating characteristics comprising: a robot movement matrix for movements between a plurality of processing stations, wherein the robot movement matrix indicates movement time for a robot between the processing stations based on whether or not the robot is currently loaded with a wafer; processing times for each of the processing stations; and for each of the processing stations, a time for the robot to load a wafer at the processing station and a time for the robot to unload a wafer at the processing station; identifying a plurality of control schedules each detailing a process for the robot to shuttle wafers between the processing stations; determining fitness for each of the control schedules using the operating characteristics; applying a genetic algorithm to select a chosen control schedule based on fitness for each of the control schedules; and operating the robot according to the chosen control schedule.