Abstract:
Provided are a device and method for a programmable hand-held device for use in a semiconductor manufacturing environment. In one example, the device includes an interface, a processor, an input device, and a memory. The interface may establish a connection between the device and at least one of the process tools. The processor may process executable instructions. The input device may receive input instructions for programming a specific type of tool. The memory contains the executable instructions, which may be divided into multiple subsets of instructions, where each subset is adapted for communication with a specific type of tool. The instructions may include identifying the specific type of tool referenced by the input instructions, selecting the subset of instructions adapted for communication with the selected specific type of tool, and programming the selected specific type of tool via the interface using the subset of instructions and the input instructions.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method for remotely controlling semiconductor manufacturing equipment in a semiconductor manufacturing environment and, more specifically, to a method and system for two-way remote control of multiple types of such equipment using a hand held device. 
   BACKGROUND 
   In a semiconductor manufacturing business, such as a semiconductor foundry, information technology (IT) services provide cohesion to internal and external customers, as well as to technologies employed in making semiconductor devices. A semiconductor foundry may utilize processing equipment coupled to a network of computing devices, robotics, customers, and manufacturing equipment. The business operations of the semiconductor foundry may rely on electronic information exchanged among many different entities using the network. This information may be used to control manufacturing equipment, conduct product analysis, and for other business and engineering applications. 
   The amount of information and the relatively large number of tools and other pieces of equipment used to perform the manufacturing process in the semiconductor foundry may be difficult to maintain. For example, if a tool or piece of equipment is designed to permit the entry of control functions, diagnostic commands, or other data, it may be necessary for a user to attach a laptop computer or other relatively bulky device to the tool in order for such interaction to be achieved. Some tools enable a user to control tool functions through a remote hand held electronic device. However, such hand held devices are generally associated with a single tool, and may not permit the user to easily interact with various other tools using the same device. 
   Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method thereof that addresses the above discussed issues. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of one embodiment of an exemplary semiconductor manufacturing system having a two-way hand held remote control device. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of a more detailed example of the semiconductor manufacturing system of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic view of one embodiment of a two-way hand held remote control system. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method for using the two-way hand held remote control device of  FIG. 3  to control one of a plurality of different tools. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates exemplary physical implementations of the two-way hand held remote control device of  FIG. 3  in the manufacturing system of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic view of one embodiment of a graphical user interface (GUI) of the two-way hand held remote control device of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method for remotely controlling semiconductor manufacturing equipment in a semiconductor manufacturing environment and, more specifically, to a method and system for two-way remote control of multiple types of such equipment using a hand held device. It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the disclosure. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic view of one embodiment of a system  100  constructed according to aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. The system  100  includes a semiconductor fabrication environment  102 , a network  104 , one or more manufacturing entities  106 , and a two-way remote control device  108 . 
   In the present example, the fabrication environment  102  is a semiconductor foundry that includes multiple manufacturing facilities for the fabrication of a variety of different semiconductor products. For example, there may be at least one manufacturing facility for the front end fabrication of semiconductor products, while a second manufacturing facility may provide the back end fabrication for the packaging of the semiconductor products, and a third manufacturing facility may provide other services (e.g., testing, shipping, etc.) for the foundry. The foundry may further include other fabrication facilities interconnected through the network  104 . 
   The network  104  may include a plurality of interconnecting nodes (not shown) for the communication of manufacturing information. The information may include a plurality of messages for the control and extraction of information from the process tool(s)  106 . The network may include wired and/or wireless connections. The network  104  may further provide interconnectivity between manufacturing facilities of the semiconductor fabrication environment  102 . 
   The manufacturing entity  106  includes a plurality of manufacturing process tools, metrology tools, customer interfaces, manufacturing execution systems, and/or other entities associated with the semiconductor fabrication environment  102 . 
   The two-way remote communication device  108 , in one embodiment, may be a wired and/or wireless electronic control device. For example, the two-way remote communication device  108  may include a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a pager, or another portable electronic device. The two-way remote communication device  108  may communicate to the process tool  106  directly through a wired interface, or though a wireless interface such as infra-red communication, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, or BlueTooth®. The two-way remote communication device  108  may interact with the plurality of process tool(s)  106 , and execute functions of each process tool  106  through the network  104  of the semiconductor fabrication environment  102 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is a schematic of one embodiment of the semiconductor fabrication environment  102 . The semiconductor fabrication environment  102  includes a plurality of process tool(s)  202 -N, product loader(s)  232 , product lot(s)  236 , and communication node(s)  240 . 
   The process tool(s)  202 -N may include of a myriad of semiconductor manufacturing equipment for the formation of semiconductor devices. The process tool(s)  202 -N may include manufacturing equipment for lithography, etching, cleaning, thin film formation, packaging, and/or other manufacturing processes. The process tools  202 -N may include singular process platforms and/or clustered platforms, wherein a plurality of manufacturing processes may be grouped into one process tool  202 . 
   The product loaders  232  may include manufacturing equipment for the transferal of semiconductor substrates between product lots  236 . The product loaders  232  may include a plurality of mechanical handling devices to allow for the sorting and splitting of product lots  236 . The product loaders  232  may provide substrate randomization and/or substrate-to-slot position tracking within the product lots  236 . The product loaders  232  may also provide for tracking information of splits, merges, and other lot-to-lot transfers through the network  104 . The product loaders  232  may include of an enclosed environment wherein the ambient temperature, humidity, and/or the particle density may be controlled. For example, one or more of the product loaders  232  may be enclosed within a sub-Class  1  clean room environment comprising an air recirculation system, a plurality of high efficiency particle absorber (HEPA) and/or ultra low penetration (ULPA) filter(s). 
   The product lots  236  include a plurality of semiconductor substrates and/or semiconductor wafers. The diameter of the wafers may range between about 50 mm and about 600 mm. The wafers may also have a thickness ranging between about 6 mm and about 0.01 mm. The wafers may be included of silicon, strained silicon, silicon, germanium, diamond, gallium arsenide, and/or other semiconductor materials. The substrates may further include a plurality of partially and/or fully fabricated semiconductor devices. The product lots  236  may also include a sub-Class  1  clean room environment including a closed container for storing a plurality of wafers. 
   The plurality of communication nodes  240  include wired and/or wireless interconnection of the plurality of process tools  202 -N. The communication nodes  240  may include a plurality wireless routers for receiving, transmitting, and routing messages between the process tools  202 -N. The communication nodes  240  may also include wired and/or wireless remote controllers, such as computing devices, PDA, mobile phones, and/or other electronic devices. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , illustrated is a schematic view of one embodiment of a two-way remote control device (e.g., the device  108  of  FIG. 1 ) constructed according to aspects of the present disclosure. The two-way remote control device  108  includes a controller  302  that may interact with the process tools  202 -N, the network  104 , and a plurality of input/output (I/O) devices  320 - 340 . It is noted that some or all of the I/O devices  320 - 340  may be integrated with the two-way remote control device  108 . 
   The controller  302  includes one or more interconnected computing devices and memory storage devices that provide messaging and control instructions to the process tools  202 -N. For example, the controller  302  may include at least one central processing unit (CPU)  304 , an address latch  306 , an address encoder  308 , an interface  310 , a system memory storage  312 , a configuration memory storage  314 , and/or other components. 
   The CPU  304  may provide for processing of messaging and commands to the process tools  202 -N. The commands may provide for the operation of a mechanical motor, a sensor, and/or other components of the process tools  202 -N. The processing may provide computational functions for logical functions such as floating point operations, integer operations, and the processing of information from the address latch  306 , the address encoder  308 , and the interface  310 , as well as other components that be part of or connected to the controller  302 . The CPU  304  may provide other processing functions for the I/O device(s)  320 - 340 , and may further include instructions for communicating via the network  104 . 
   The address latch  306  and the address encoder  308  may include a plurality of hardware and/or software components adapted for the processing of instructions between the CPU  304  and the interface  310 . 
   The system memory storage  312  and the configuration memory storage  314  may provide for the storage of information from the CPU  304  and for the interface  310 . The configuration memory storage  314  may provide for the storage of a plurality of remote control configurations. The remote control configurations may include a plurality of instructions for simulating a plurality of different process tool(s)  202 -N, and/or a plurality of different controller(s)  302 . The configuration memory storage  314  may also include a plurality of instructions for translating the remote control configurations into the operational language of the controller  302 . For example, the configuration memory storage  314  may include one set of instructions for the configuration information of a thin film deposition and/or atomic layer deposition (ALD) process tool, a second set of instructions for the product loader  232 , a third set of instructions for a mobile phone, and a fourth set of instructions for a metrology process tool. Accordingly, because each tool may interact with a separate device and/or program for control and configuration purposes, the instructions may simulate various devices and/or programs as needed. Furthermore, the controller  302  may simulate functions associated with a plurality of different tools. For example, the controller  302  may simulate programs for indexer configuration (e.g., position parameters, movement velocity, etc.), calibration (e.g., wafer sensors, slots sensors, protrusion sensors), verification (e.g., self tests, auto cycles), and troubleshooting (e.g., motors, home, clear alarm, etc.) 
   It is understood that the system memory storage  312  and the configuration memory storage  314  may be a single memory. In other embodiments, the memories may be distributed via a network, and accessible to the controller  302  via a network. Accordingly, data and instructions used by the controller  302  may be located solely within the controller, may be distributed and accessible via a network, or may be stored on a combination of local and distributed storage devices (e.g., memories). In some examples, the controller  302  may search local storage for needed instructions and/or data before accessing a distributed storage device, while in other examples the controller  302  may access a distributed storage device without first searching local storage. It is understood that the controller  302  may be programmed with various permissions (e.g., passwords) needed to access distributed storage, or a user may be prompted to enter verification and/or authorization codes prior to the controller  302  gaining such access. 
   The interface  310  may include a plurality of hardware and/or software based instructions adapted for the communication with the process tool(s)  202 -N, the product loader(s)  232 , the network  104 , the I/O devices  320 - 340 , system memory storage  312 , the configuration memory storage  314 , the address encoder  308 , and other components of the controller  302 . The hardware portions of the interface  310  may include wired connections such as RS232, universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 1894, and/or other connections. Alternatively or additionally, the interface  310  may include wireless communication connections such as infra-red, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, BlueTooth®, and/or other wireless connections. Although shown as a single interface, it is understood that the interface  310  may be multiple interfaces.  291  Referring to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, a flow chart illustrates an exemplary method  400  that may be used to configure a hand-held device (e.g., the device  108  of  FIG. 1 ) for interaction with multiple process tools in a semiconductor processing environment. In step  402 , the method  400  defines, within the device  108 , at least two programs. The first program simulates a device able to communicate with one process tool and the second program simulates a device able to communicate with another process tool. Neither tool can communicate with the program used for the other tool. In step  404 , instructions may be entered into the device  108  to enable the device  108  to differentiate between the two tools. In step  404 , instructions may be entered into the device  108  to select either the first or second program. In step  406 , additional instructions may be entered into the device  108 . These instructions may include commands to send to one of the process tools based on whether the first or second program was selected. 
   In another embodiment, the method  400  may include establishing communication between the device  108  and one of the tools. The method  400  may then automatically detect whether the device  108  is communicating with the first or second tool. Once the detection occurs, the method may select the first or second program without needing user intervention. 
   In still another embodiment, the method  400  may enable the device  108  to access storage devices via a network to retrieve data and/or instructions. In some examples, such access may occur during execution of the first or second program. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , a system  500  illustrates two exemplary hand-held remote control devices  510 ,  520 , a product loader  232 , and a process tool  202 . For purposes of illustration, the hand-held remote control devices  510 ,  520  include a PDA and a mobile phone, respectively. The hand-held remote control devices  510 ,  520  may be connected either directly or indirectly via wireless and/or wireless messaging (denoted by reference numeral  550 ) to the product loader  232 , a container (not shown) for the product lot  236 , and/or the process tool  202 . 
   The PDA  510  may include a display  514  and a stylus  512  for selecting graphical objects on the display  514 . The graphical objects may include buttons for executing commands for controlling various components of the system  500 , for performing diagnostics, etc. 
   The mobile phone  520  may include a display  522 , a selector pad  524 , and selection buttons  526 ,  528 , and  530 . The display  522  may include graphical objects of commands. The graphical objects may include buttons for executing commands for controlling various components of the system  500 , for performing diagnostics, etc. The selector pad  524  provides for the selection and manipulation of the graphical objects within the display  522 . The selector pad  524  may also provide for manual control of mechanical robotic systems within the system  500 . For example, the selector pad  524  may allow an operator to move a wafer  540  to different locations between the container for the product lot  236  and the process tool  202 . The selection buttons  526 ,  528 , and  530  provide for the input of information and for the selection of the graphical object(s) selected by the selector pad  524 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , illustrated is a schematic view of an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI)  600  that may be present on a two-way remote control device (e.g., the device  108  of  FIG. 1 ). The GUI  600  may be included in the display  514  and  522  of the PDA  510  and the mobile phone  520 , respectively. The GUI  600  includes a template  620  and a plurality of graphical keys such as LOAD  602 , SAVE  604 , MOVE  606 , REMOVE  608 , CHECK  610 , SEND  612 , ADD NEW  614 , COPY  616 , and REPLACE  618 . 
   The LOAD key  602  provides for the insertion of information to the product loader  232  and/or the process tool  202 . The information may include process recipe parameters, process sequences, and/or other manufacturing related information. The SAVE  604  key provides for the activation of a storage event wherein the information within the controller  302  may be stored. 
   The MOVE  606  key and the REMOVE  608  key provide for the movement and/or removal of information, product lot  236 , wafer  540 , etc. The REMOVE  608  key may also provide for the deletion of information and graphical object(s) within the template  620 . 
   The CHECK  610  key and the SEND  612  key provide for the verification and transport of information associated with the product lot  236 , wafer  540 , etc. The CHECK  610  key may also provide for the verification of information with respect to other information associated with the product lot  236 , wafer  540 , etc. For example, the verification may include the retrieval of status information from the product loader  236 , wherein the status information may include wafer count, wafer position, and/or other information. The SEND  612  key may further include the execution of an operation to move product lot(s)  236  and/or wafer(s)  540  between product loader(s)  232  and/or the process tool(s)  202 -N. Alternatively, the SEND  612  key may include the operation of transporting information between product loader  232  and the process tool  202 . 
   The ADD NEW  614  key, the COPY  616  key, and the REPLACE  618  key provide for the entry, amendment, and duplication of information associated with the product lot  236  and wafer  540 . The ADD NEW  614  key may provide for the addition of graphical objects, process recipes, process sequences, process parameters, and/or other information associated with the product lot  236 , wafer  540 , product loader  232 , and/or the process tool  202 . The COPY  616  key and the REPLACE  618  key may provide for the duplication and insertion of graphical objects, process recipes, process sequences, process parameters, and/or other information associated with the product lot  236 , wafer  540 , product loader  232 , and/or the process tool  202 . 
   The template  620  may include multiple graphical objects adapted for the control of the product lot  236 , wafer  540 , product loader  232 , and/or the process tool  202 . The template  620  may include the display of information associated with work in progress (WIP), process tool  202  status, maintenance schedules, product specifications, equipment specifications, procedures, and/or other information. 
   Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that they may make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, various steps may be performed in a different order than that described, may be removed, or may be performed in parallel. Furthermore, additional steps may be added, and each step may be replaced by smaller or more detailed steps. In addition, multiple steps may be combined into a single step, and various functions may be combined or separated. Also, the various tools described above are for purposes of example only, and it is understood that the device  108  may be used to perform various functions with respect to a wide variety of tools in a semiconductor manufacturing environment. Accordingly, all such changes, substitutions and alterations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims.