Patent ID: 6138054
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: G05B,H01J,H01L

Abstract:
In combination:a semiconductor processing system having a high voltage area in which high voltage operations are performed by a plurality of control elements, and a low voltage operator control area physically separate from the high voltage area wherein the high voltage operations are monitored and controlled; andapparatus for controlling the operation of said semiconductor processing system, including(1) first controller located in the high voltage area for producing a first set of control signals controlling said high voltage operations, and a first set of status signals related to the status of said high voltage operations,(2) a second controller located in said operator control area for producing a second set of control signals related to the control of said high voltage operations, and a second set of signals representing said status of said high voltage operations and,(3) a fiber optic communication link communicatively interconnecting said first and second controllers, said fiber optic communication link providing high voltage isolation between said first and second controllers and operative to deliver said first set of control signals and said first set of status signals from said first controller to said second controller, and for delivering said second set of control signals from said second controller to said first controller.