Patent ID: 7117057
Filing Date: 2006-10-03
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A system for the monitoring of production yield of a manufacturing line comprising: at least one product measurement and test device for measuring yield determining parameters of product fabricated on said manufacturing line at completion of process steps executed within said manufacturing line; a test database in communication with said product measurement and test device to receive and retain said measured yield determining parameters; a statistical calculator in communication with said test database to receive said measured yield determining parameters and calculating from said measured yield determining parameters yield production statistics indicating an amount of said product being fabricated on said manufacturing line; a yield warning device in communication with said statistical calculator to receive said production yield statistics and to provide a yield warning alert indication that said manufacturing line is not fabricating product with a sufficient yield; and a yield information interface in communication with said statistical calculator to provide a compilation of said production yield statistics for each process step, wherein the statistical calculator executes the steps of: determining if a grouping of said yield determining parameters have a normal statistical distribution; if said grouping of the yield determining parameters have a normal statistical distribution, determining a normal mean and normal variance for said grouping of the yield determining parameters; and if said grouping of yield-determining parameters do not have a normal distribution determining a median for said grouping of the yield determining parameters.