Patent Publication Number: US-2020285256-A1

Title: Fluid supply line and motion analysis system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a technique for precisely monitoring an entire fluid supply line having a plurality of fluid control devices. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Fluid control devices such as an automatic valve are used in a fluid supply line that supplies a process fluid used in a semiconductor manufacturing process. 
     In recent years, with the advancement of semiconductor manufacturing processes such as atomic layer deposition (ALD), there has been more demand than ever for a fluid supply line capable of finely controlling a process fluid. In order to meet the demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes, for example, fluid control devices that can monitor the state of valves more precisely have been proposed. 
     In this regard, Patent Literature 1 proposes a valve that includes a body in which a first flow passage and a second flow passage are formed; and a valve element that allows or disallows communication between the first flow passage and the second flow passage. The body has: a base part that has a first surface located on the valve element side and a second surface located on the side opposite to the first surface; a first coupling part that has a third surface forming a step from the second surface; and a second coupling part that has a fourth surface forming a step from the first surface. The first flow passage has a first-first flow passage and a first-second flow passage. The first-first flow passage has a first-first port opened to the third surface. The first-second flow passage has a first-third port communicating with a first-second port of the first-first flow passage and opened to the valve element. The first-second flow passage has a first-fourth port opened to the fourth surface. The first flow passage and the second flow passage are capable of communication with each other via the first-third port. The first coupling part is coupled to a part of a body of another valve corresponding to the second coupling part. The first-first flow passage communicates with a flow passage of a body of another valve corresponding to the first-second flow passage different from the first-first flow passage. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent Literature 1: JP 2016-223533 A 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, in a fluid supply line constituted by a plurality of fluid control devices, each fluid control device is affected by opening and closing operations of other fluid control devices, changes in flow rate, and the like. Accordingly, the demand for recent advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes cannot be satisfied by singly controlling or monitoring each fluid control device. 
     In addition, when electrical wirings and air tubes become more complex due to the increased functionality of fluid control devices, the complicated electrical wirings may cause noise and delays in the transmission speed of instruction signals, and the increase in the inner volume of the air tube may decrease the opening and closing speeds of the fluid control devices or cause errors in the opening and closing speeds of the fluid control devices. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to precisely monitor the entire fluid supply line constituted by a plurality of fluid control devices. Another object of the present invention is to improve the accuracy of the fluid supply line by suppressing variations in operations of the fluid control devices. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In order to achieve the above object, a fluid supply line according to one aspect of the present invention is a fluid supply line that is formed from a plurality of fluid control devices communicating with each other in a fluid-tight manner. The fluid supply line includes: a first connection means that connects between a mechanism outside the fluid supply line and a predetermined fluid control device on the fluid supply line; and a second connection means that branches from the first connection means on the fluid supply line and is connected to another fluid control device. 
     The first connection means and the second connection means may be driving pressure supply paths for supplying a driving fluid used for driving the fluid control device from the mechanism outside the fluid supply line. 
     The first connection means and the second connection means may be electric wiring that enable communication between the mechanism outside the fluid supply line and the fluid control device. 
     A plurality of the fluid supply lines may be arranged in parallel to form a gas unit, and the first connection means may branch in the vicinity of the gas unit for each of the plurality of fluid supply lines and be connected to each of predetermined fluid control devices on the plurality of fluid supply lines. 
     The predetermined fluid control device is a flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device. The flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device may be provided with at least a fluid passage for small flow rate and a fluid passage for large flow rate as fluid passages to a flow rate detection unit of a flow rate control device. The flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device may flow a fluid in a small flow rate range to the flow rate detection unit through the fluid passage for small flow rate and switch a detection level of the flow rate control unit to a detection level suited for detection of the small flow rate range according to presence or absence of supply of a driving pressure, and may flow a fluid in a large flow rate range to the flow rate detection unit through the fluid passage for large flow rate and switch the detection level of the flow rate control unit to a detection level suited to detection of the flow rate in the large flow rate range according to presence or absence of supply of the driving pressure, thereby to perform a flow rate control while switching between the fluid in the large flow rate range and the fluid in the small flow rate range. 
     Further, the driving pressure supplied to the flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device may be supplied to another fluid control device through the flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device. 
     Further, the predetermined fluid control device is a differential pressure-type flow rate control device. The differential pressure-type flow rate control device may include: a control valve unit that includes a valve drive unit; an orifice that is provided downstream of the control valve; a detector of a fluid pressure upstream of the orifice; a detector of a fluid pressure downstream of the orifice; a detector of a fluid temperature upstream of the orifice; a control arithmetic circuit that includes a flow rate comparison circuit configured to calculate a fluid flow rate using detected pressures and a detected temperature from the detectors and calculate a difference between the calculated flow rates and a preset flow rate. 
     The plurality of fluid control devices may be provided with an operation information acquisition mechanism that acquires operation information of the fluid control devices. 
     The fluid supply line is communicable with an information processing device outside the line. The predetermined fluid control device may have a transmission means that aggregates the operation information of the other fluid control devices constituting the same line and transmits the aggregated operation information to the information processing device. 
     A motion analysis system according to another aspect of the present invention is a motion analysis system having the fluid supply line. The information processing device analyzes operations or states of the fluid control devices from an operation of the entire line based on the aggregated operation information. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to precisely monitor the entire fluid supply line constituted by a plurality of fluid control devices. It is also possible to improve the control accuracy of the fluid supply line by suppressing variations in operations of the fluid control devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a gas unit constituted by a fluid supply line according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the gas unit constituted by the fluid supply line according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the gas unit constituted by the fluid supply line according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an internal structure of a valve constituting the fluid supply line according to the present embodiment including a magnetic sensor:  FIG. 4( a )  is an overall view; and  FIG. 4( b )  is a partially enlarged view. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing a cable wiring structure in the gas unit constituted by the fluid supply line according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing a connection structure of a driving pressure supply path in the gas unit constituted by the fluid supply line according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing a connection structure of a driving pressure supply path in a gas unit constituted by a fluid supply line according to a modification example of the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a configuration diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a flow rate control device configuring the fluid supply line according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is an external perspective view of a gas unit constituted by a fluid supply line according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing a cable wiring structure in the gas unit constituted by the fluid supply line according to the other embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing a connection structure of a driving pressure supply path in the gas unit constituted by the fluid supply line according to the other embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a valve suitably used in the fluid supply line according to the present embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a fluid supply line and a motion analysis system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a gas unit  1  includes three fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  according to the present embodiment. 
     Each of the “fluid supply lines (L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 )” here is one of constituent units of the gas unit, and is formed from a route through which a process fluid flows and a group of fluid control devices disposed on the route. In addition, the fluid supply line is a minimum constituent unit that can control a process fluid and independently process an object to be processed. The gas unit is usually configured by arranging the plurality of fluid supply lines in parallel. In addition, the term “outside the line” appearing in the following description refers to parts or mechanisms that do not constitute the fluid supply lines. The mechanisms outside the line include a power supply decrease that supplies electric power necessary for driving the fluid supply lines, a driving pressure supply source that supplies a driving pressure, a device communicable with the fluid supply lines, and others. 
     Each of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  is formed by causing a plurality of fluid control devices to communicate with one another in a fluid-tight manner. The fluid control devices include valves (V 11  to V 14 , V 21  to V 24 , and V 31  to V 34 ) and flow rate control devices (F 1  to F 3 ). In the following description, the valves (V 11  to V 14 , V 21  to V 24 , and V 31  to V 34 ) may be collectively called valve V, and the flow rate control devices (F 1  to F 3 ) may be collectively called flow rate control device F. 
     The flow rate control device F is a device that controls the flow rate of the fluid in each of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 . 
     The flow rate control device F can be constituted by, for example, a flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device. The flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device is a device that can automatically switch and select a flow rate control region by operating a switching valve. 
     The flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device has, for example, a fluid passage for small flow rate and a fluid passage for large flow rate as fluid passages to a flow rate detection unit of the flow rate control device. The flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device flows a fluid in a small flow rate range to the flow rate detection unit through the fluid passage for small flow rate and switches a detection level of the flow rate control unit to a detection level suited for detection of the small flow rate range, and flows a fluid in a large flow rate range to the flow rate detection unit through the fluid passage for large flow rate and switches the detection level of the flow rate control unit to a detection level suited for detection of the flow rate in the large flow rate range, thereby to perform a flow rate control while switching between the fluid in the large flow rate range and the fluid in the small flow rate range. 
     In the flow rate control device F configured as the flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device, the control for switching and selection of the flow rate control region can be executed according to whether a driving pressure is supplied to a drive unit of the flow rate control device F. 
     The driving pressure supplied to the flow rate control device F can be supplied to other fluid control devices such as the valve V connected to the flow rate control device F through the flow rate control device F once supplied. 
     In the flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device, a pressure-type flow rate control device is configured such that the flow rate of a fluid flowing through an orifice is calculated as Qc=KP 1  (K represents a proportionality constant) or as Qc=KP 2   m (P 1 −P 2 ) n  (K represents a proportionality constant, and m and n represent constants) using an orifice upstream pressure P 1  and/or an orifice downstream pressure P 2 . In the pressure-type flow rate control device, fluid passages between a downstream side of a control valve and a fluid supply pipe line can be set to at least two or more parallel fluid passages, and orifices different in fluid flow rate characteristics can be interposed in the parallel fluid passages. In this case, the flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device flows the fluid in the small flow rate range to one orifice for the flow rate control of the fluid in the small flow rate range, and flows the fluid in the large flow rate range to at least the other orifice for the flow rate control of the fluid in the large flow rate range. 
     In addition, the flow rate ranges can be set in three stages. In this case, three types of orifices, that is, an orifice for large flow rate, an orifice for medium flow rate, and an orifice for small flow rate, are set such that a first switching valve, a second switching valve, and the large flow rate orifice are interposed in series in one fluid passage, the small flow rate orifice and the medium flow rate orifice are interposed in the other fluid passage, and a passage where both the switching valves communicates with each other and a passage where the small flow rate orifice and the medium flow rate orifice are allowed to communicate with each other. 
     According to the flow rate range variable-type flow rate control device, it is possible to maintain a high control accuracy while expanding the flow rate control range. 
     In another example, the flow rate control device F can be configured by a differential pressure control-type flow rate control device. The differential pressure control-type flow rate control device is a device that uses a flow rate calculation formula derived from Bernoulli&#39;s theorem as a basis and calculates a fluid flow rate by adding various corrections to the flow rate calculation formula. 
     The differential pressure-type flow rate control device includes a control valve unit having a valve drive unit, an orifice provided downstream of the control valve, a detector of a fluid pressure P 1  upstream of the orifice, and a detector of a fluid pressure P 2  downstream of the orifice, and a detector of a fluid temperature T upstream of the orifice. The differential pressure-type flow rate control device uses the detected pressures and the detected temperature from the detectors by a built-in control arithmetic circuit to calculate a fluid flow rate Q as Q=C 1 ·P 1 /√T·((P 2 /P 1 )m−(P 2 /P 1 )n) 1/2  (where C 1  represents a proportional constant, and m and n represent constants), and calculate the difference between the calculated flow rate and a preset flow rate. 
     According to the differential pressure-type flow rate control device, it is possible to use the device in an in-line form without being restricted by the mounting posture and perform high-accuracy flow rate measurement or flow rate control in real time such that the control flow rate is hardly affected by fluctuations in pressure. 
     The flow rate control device F includes an operation information acquisition mechanism that acquires operation information of the flow rate control device F and an information processing module that is capable of aggregating operation information of the valves V forming the same line, monitoring the valves V, and controlling the valves V. 
     The processes and others executable by the flow rate control device F will be described later in detail. For example, the operation information acquisition mechanism can be constituted by various sensors built in the flow rate control device F, arithmetic devices that perform a flow rate control, information processing modules that processes information from the sensors and the arithmetic devices. For the valves V constituting the same fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , the operation information of the valves V can be aggregated in the flow rate control device F by causing the valves V to supply a driving pressure from a mechanism outside the line via the flow rate control device F or making the valves V communicable. As a result, the operation information of the entire line is formed by combining the operation information of the valves V and the operation information of the flow rate control device F. 
     The valves V are valves used in a gas line of a fluid control device such as diaphragm valves. 
     The valves V are provided with a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a limit switch, or a magnetic sensor at predetermined places as an operation information acquisition mechanism that acquires the operation information of the valves V. The valves V further has an information processing module built therein that processes data detected by the pressure sensor, temperature sensor, limit switch, or magnetic sensor, or the like. 
     The mounting position of the operation information acquisition mechanism is not limited, and the operation information acquisition mechanism may be mounted outside the valves V, such as on the driving pressure supply path or on the electric wiring in view of its function. 
     The pressure sensor includes, for example, a pressure-sensitive element that detects a pressure change in a predetermined space, a conversion element that converts a detected value of pressure detected by the pressure-sensitive element into an electrical signal, and the like, and detects changes in pressure in a sealed internal space. 
     The temperature sensor is, for example, a sensor that measures the temperature of a fluid, and is installed in the vicinity of the flow passage to measure the temperature of the place, so that the temperature of the installation place can be regarded as the temperature of the fluid flowing through the flow passage. 
     The limit switch is fixed near the piston, for example, and the switch is switched according to the vertical movement of the piston. This makes it possible to detect the number of times of opening and closing the valves V, the frequency of opening and closing, the opening and closing speed, and the like. 
     The magnetic sensor can measure not only the open and close states of the valves V but also the opening degree by sensing a change in the distance between the magnetic sensor and the magnet attached at a predetermined position. 
     More specifically, as shown in the example of  FIG. 4 , a magnetic sensor S is attached to an inner side of a pressing adapter  52  that presses a peripheral edge of a diaphragm  51  and is opposed to a stem  53 . A magnet M is attached in the vicinity of the pressing adapter  52  of the stem  53  that slides according to the opening and closing operations of the valve V. 
     The magnetic sensor S has a planar coil, an oscillation circuit, and an integration circuit, and the oscillation frequency changes according to a change in the distance from the magnet M located at the opposing position. Converting this frequency by the integration circuit and obtaining the integrated value makes it possible to measure not only the open and close states of the valves V but also the opening degree at the time of opening the valve V. 
     The information acquired by the information acquisition mechanism in the valves V can be aggregated in the flow rate control devices F that constitute the same fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , and can be transmitted to a predetermined information processing device provided outside the line together with the operation information of the flow rate control devices F. 
     The gas unit  1  is connected to a mechanism outside the line including a driving pressure supply source that supplies a driving pressure, an electric power supply source that supplies electric power, a communication device that performs communication, and the like. 
     The fluid control device constituting the gas unit  1  includes: a first connection means that directly connects the mechanism outside the line and a predetermined fluid control device; and a second connection means that connects the mechanism outside the line and another fluid control device by branching from the first connection means or via the fluid control device to which the first connection means connects. Specifically, in the case of the fluid supply line L 1 , with reference to  FIG. 5  which will be described later in detail, for the supply of electric power from the outside of the line and the communication with the outside of the line, a main cable  10  and an extension cable constitute the first connection means, and sub cables  111 ,  112 ,  113 , and  114  constitute the second connection means. In addition, with reference to  FIG. 6  described later in detail, for the supply of a driving pressure from the outside of the line, a main tube  20 , an extension tube  21 , and a sub tube  214  constitute the first connection means, and extension tubes  211 ,  212 , and  213  and sub tubes  215 ,  216 ,  217 , and  218  constitute the second connection means. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the supply of electric power and the communication with the outside of the line are enabled by the main cable  10  that connects the mechanism outside the line and the gas unit  1 . 
     The main cable  10  is branched into an extension cable  11  and a branch cable  101  by a branch connector C 1  provided in the vicinity of the gas unit  1 , and the branch cable  101  is branched into an extension cable  12  and a branch cable  102  by a branch connector C 2 , and the branch cable  102  is connected to an extension cable  13  via a branch connector C 3 . 
     Here, the position where the branch connector C 1  is provided is in “the vicinity of the gas unit  1 ” in order to shorten the lengths of the branch cables  101  and  102  and the extension cables  11 ,  12 , and  13  as much as possible. Therefore, “the vicinity of the gas unit  1 ” as the position where the branch connector C 1  is provided refers to at least a position closer to flow rate control devices F 1 , F 2 , and F 3  on a route that links the mechanism outside the line with the flow rate control devices F 1 , F 2 , and F 3  to which the main cable  10  is connected through the extension cables  11 ,  12 ,  13 . More preferably, “the vicinity of the gas unit  1 ” refers to the position where the branch connector C 1  is provided when the extension cables  11 ,  12 , and  13  and the branch cables  101  and  102  connected to the flow rate control devices F 1 , F 2 , and F 3  are set to the minimum lengths necessary for connecting each device and the like. 
     As for the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , the extension cable  11  is connected to the flow rate control device F 1  in the fluid supply line L 1 . The sub cables  111  and  112  are led out from the flow rate control device F 1  to which the extension cable  11  is connected, the sub cable  111  is connected to the valve V 11 , and the sub cable  112  is connected to the valve V 12 . 
     The sub cable  113  is led out from the valve V 12  to which the sub cable  112  is connected, and the sub cable  113  is connected to the valve V 13 . The sub cable  114  is led out from the valve V 13  to which the sub cable  113  is connected, and the sub cable  114  is connected to the valve V 14 . 
     The fluid supply line L 2  is also connected to a mechanism outside the line by the same configuration as the fluid supply line L 1 . 
     Specifically, the extension cable  12  is connected to the flow rate control device F 2 . Sub cables  121  and  122  are led out from the flow rate control device F 2  to which the extension cable  12  is connected. The sub cable  121  is connected to a valve V 21 , and the sub cable  122  is connected to a valve V 22 . 
     A sub cable  123  is led out from the valve V 22  to which the sub cable  122  is connected, and a sub cable  123  is connected to a valve V 23 . A sub cable  124  is led out from the valve V 23  to which the sub cable  123  is connected, and the sub cable  124  is connected to a valve V 24 . 
     The fluid supply line L 3  is also connected to a mechanism outside the line by the same configuration as the fluid supply line L 1 . 
     Specifically, the extension cable  13  is connected to the flow rate control device F 3 . Sub cables  131  and  132  are led out from the flow rate control device F 3  to which the extension cable  13  is connected. The sub cable  131  is connected to a valve V 31 , and the sub cable  132  is connected to a valve V 32 . 
     A sub cable  133  is led out from the valve V 32  to which the sub cable  132  is connected, and a sub cable  133  is connected to a valve V 33 . A sub cable  134  is led out from the valve V 33  to which the sub cable  133  is connected, and the sub cable  134  is connected to a valve V 34 . 
     As for the fluid supply line L 1 , the extension cable  11  is connected to the flow rate control device F 1 , and the sub cables  111  and  112  are led out from the flow rate control device F 1 , but the extension cable  11  and the sub cables  111  and  112  are connected together in the flow rate control device F 1 . The connection can be made via the information processing module provided in the flow rate control device F 1  or by branching the extension cable  11 . 
     In the valves V 12  and V 13  as well, the sub cable  112  is connected to the sub cable  113 , and the sub cable  113  is connected to the sub cable  114 . The connection of the sub cables  112 ,  113 , and  114  can also be made via the information processing modules provided in the valves V 12  and V 13  or by branching the sub cables  112  and  113 . 
     In any of the connections, it is only necessary that the mechanism outside the line and the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14  are communicably connected via the flow rate control device F 1  and are supplied with electric power. 
     The same applies to the connections in the other fluid supply lines L 2  and L 3 , and the valves V 21 , V 22 , V 23 , and V 24  are connected to a mechanism outside the line via the flow rate control device F 2  by the main cable  10 , the extension cable  12 , and the sub cables  121 ,  122 ,  123 , and  124 . The valves V 31 , V 32 , V 33 , and V 34  are connected to a mechanism outside the line via the flow rate control device F 3  by the main cable  10 , the extension cable  13 , and the sub cables  131 ,  132 ,  133 , and  134 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the driving pressure is supplied from a mechanism outside the line to the gas unit  1  through the main tube  20 . 
     The main tube  20  branches into the extension tubes  21 ,  22 , and  23  for supplying the driving pressure to each of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  by a branch joint J 1  provided in the vicinity of the gas unit  1 . 
     As for each of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , in the fluid supply line L 1 , the extension tube  21  is branched by a joint J 11  into the extension tube  211  and the sub tube  214 . The sub tube  214  is connected to the flow rate control device F 1 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the flow rate control device F 1 . 
     The extension tube  211  is further branched by a joint J 111  into the extension tube  212  and the sub tube  215 . The sub tube  215  is connected to the valve V 11 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 11 . 
     Similarly, the extension tube  212  is further branched by a joint J 112  into the extension tube  213  and the sub tube  216 . The sub tube  216  is connected to the valve V 12 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 12 . 
     The extension tube  213  is further branched by a joint J 113  into the sub tube  217  and the sub tube  218 . The sub tube  217  is connected to the valve V 13 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 13 . The sub tube  218  is connected to the valve V 14 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 14 . 
     The driving pressure is also supplied to the fluid supply line L 2  by the same configuration as that of the fluid supply line L 1 . 
     Specifically, the extension tube  22  is further branched by a joint J 12  into the extension tube  221  and the sub tube  224 . The sub tube  224  is connected to the flow rate control device F 2 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the flow rate control device F 2 . 
     The extension tube  221  is further branched by a joint J 121  into the extension tube  222  and the sub tube  225 . The sub tube  225  is connected to the valve V 21 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 21 . 
     Similarly, the extension tube  222  is further branched by a joint J 122  into the extension tube  223  and the sub tube  226 . The sub tube  226  is connected to the valve V 22 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 22 . 
     The extension tube  223  is further branched by a joint J 123  into the sub tube  227  and the sub tube  228 . The sub tube  227  is connected to the valve V 23 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 23 . The sub tube  228  is connected to the valve V 24 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 24 . 
     The driving pressure is also supplied to the fluid supply line L 3  by the same configuration as that of the fluid supply line L 1 . 
     Specifically, the extension tube  23  is further branched by a joint J 13  into the extension tube  231  and the sub tube  234 . The sub tube  234  is connected to the flow rate control device F 3 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the flow rate control device F 3 . 
     The extension tube  231  is further branched by a joint J 131  into the extension tube  232  and the sub tube  235 . The sub tube  235  is connected to the valve V 31 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 31 . 
     Similarly, the extension tube  232  is further branched by a joint J 132  into the extension tube  233  and the sub tube  236 . The sub tube  236  is connected to the valve V 32 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 32 . 
     The extension tube  233  is further branched by a joint J 133  into the sub tube  237  and the sub tube  238 . The sub tube  237  is connected to the valve V 33 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 33 . The sub tube  238  is connected to the valve V 34 , thereby supplying the driving pressure to the valve V 34 . 
     As for the fluid supply line L 1 , the flow rate control device F 1  and the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14  are all connected to the extension tube  21  and the main tube  20  beyond via the joints J 11 , J 111 , J 112 , and J 113 , the extension tubes  211 ,  212 , and  213 , and the sub tubes  214 ,  215 ,  216 ,  217 , and  218 . However, the fluid supply line L 1  is not limited to this configuration but may be configured as illustrated in  FIG. 7  such that the extension tube  21  and the flow rate control device F 1  are connected and the driving pressure is supplied from the flow rate control device F 1  to the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14 . In this case, the flow rate control device F 1  may be provided with a mechanism for distributing the driving pressure supplied from the main tube  20  to the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14 , or the main tube drawn into the flow rate control device F 1  may be branched in the flow rate control device F 1 . 
     The same can be applied to the fluid supply lines L 2  and L 3 . 
     According to this configuration of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , it is possible to simplify cables for power supply and communication, thereby to reduce noise and suppress a delay in the transmission rate of instruction signals. In addition, since the inner volume of the tube supplying the driving pressure can be reduced, it is possible to maintain the opening and closing speed of each fluid control device such as the valve V and the flow rate control device F, and prevent the occurrence of an error in the opening and closing speed of each fluid control device. As a result, it is also possible to improve the control accuracy of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  by suppressing variations in operations of the fluid control devices. 
     Further, in the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , the flow rate control device F can be configured as shown in  FIG. 8 , for example.  FIG. 8  shows a structure of the flow rate control device F 1  constituting the fluid supply line L 1 , but the same applies to the flow rate control devices F 2  and F 3  constituting the other fluid supply lines L 2  and L 3 . 
     In this example, a daisy chain is formed in the fluid supply line L 1  with the flow rate control device F 1  as a master and the plurality of valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14  as slaves. In this case, the use of the state of the daisy chain makes it possible to construct a system that analyzes the operations of not only individual valves V and flow rate control devices F but also the entire line as one device. 
     First, referring to the internal configuration of the flow rate control device F 1 , the sensor constitutes an operation information acquisition mechanism that acquires operation information of the flow rate control device F 1 , which is formed by combining one or more pressure sensors, temperature sensors, or magnetic sensors as described above. The arithmetic device is a device that performs the flow rate control in the flow rate control device F 1 . Further, a valve FV is supplied with the driving pressure from a driving pressure supply source G and supplies the driving pressure to valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14 . 
     The information processing module is connected to a sensor and an arithmetic device to collect operation information of the flow rate control device F 1 , and executes predetermined information processing on the collected operation information. The information processing module is further communicably connected to the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14  constituting the fluid supply line L 1  to collect the operation information of the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14 , and can positively issue predetermined instruction signals to control the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14 . 
     Configuring the flow rate control device F 1  in this way makes it possible to individually identify the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14  constituting the same line and diagnose the presence or absence of an abnormality, and analyze the operations of the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14  as viewed from the entire line. 
     Specifically, to diagnose the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14  in the flow rate control device F 1 , for example, pressure measuring means is provided upstream and downstream of the flow rate control device F 1  or the valves V, thereby to measure the pressures at predetermined positions while controlling as appropriate the opening and closing of the valves V. From the measurement values of the pressures, it is possible to diagnose whether the valves V are abnormal, by detecting the pressure that would not be detected with a predetermined valve V closed or not detecting the pressure that would be detected with a predetermined valve V opened. It is possible to diagnose a failure in the valves V such as a sheet leak by comparing the pressure drop characteristic at a predetermined position according to the switching of the open and close states of the valves V with the pressure drop characteristic in a normal state. The measurement values obtained by the pressure measuring means are preferably collected in the information processing modules of the flow rate control devices F. 
     In addition to the diagnosis of presence or absence of an abnormality and the analysis of the operations by the flow rate control devices F, the flow rate control devices F can transmit the collected operation information of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  to an external information processing device via the main cable  10  so that the information processing device can diagnose the presence or absence of an abnormality and analyze the operations. According to this configuration as well, the operations of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  can be analyzed based on the operation information acquired from the gas unit  1 . Note that the external information processing device may constitute a part of the mechanism outside the line, or may be a device communicably connected to the mechanism outside the line. The external information processing device can be configured by a server computer or the like. 
     Accordingly, in the gas unit  1  in which a large number of fluid control devices are densely integrated, it is possible to individually identify the valves V and diagnose the operation states of the valves V without removing from the line. In addition, since each valve V is connected to a mechanism outside the line via the flow rate control device F for each of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , the flow rate control device F including a plurality of valves V and the information processing device communicable with the flow rate control device F can monitor the operation state of each valve V based on the operations of the plurality of valves V as a whole. As a result, it is possible not only to analyze the operation information of each valve V and flow rate control device F but also to accurately monitor the entire line. 
     Note that the analysis of the operations of the entire line contributes to precise monitoring of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  because, for the plurality of valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14  constituting the fluid supply line L 1 , even when the valves V 13  and V 14  perform opening and closing operations and the remaining valves V 11  and V 12  perform no opening and closing operations, the valves V 11  and V 12  are affected by the opening and closing operations of the valves V 13  and V 14 . 
     In addition, based on the operation information of the entire fluid supply line L 1 , the flow rate control device F 1  connected to the valves V 11 , V 12 , V 13 , and V 14  can ascertain that the valves V 11  and V 12  perform no opening and closing operations in a certain time zone, whereas the valves V 13  and V 14  perform opening and closing operations in that time zone, and can precisely analyze the states of the valves V 11  and V 12  that would not be detected from the individual operations of the valves V 11  and V 12 . 
     Also, the analysis result of the operation information of the entire line can be used for, for example, performing data mining to determine whether the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  are abnormal or to predict an abnormality in the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 . Specifically, it is possible to grasp the operation times of the valves V and the flow rate control devices F in the entire line, the number of times that a predetermined valve V actually opened and closed, and the time during which the valve V was affected by the opening and closing operations of the other valves V, and others. Therefore, it is possible to determine the maintenance or part replacement timing based on the operation time of the entire line, or to detect an abnormality by comparing the opening and closing speeds of the valves V on the same line. 
     The fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  described above can also constitute a gas unit  2  shown in  FIGS. 9 to 11 . 
     Unlike the gas unit  1 , the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  constituting the gas unit  2  are separately connected to mechanisms outside the line. 
     That is, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the gas unit  2 , the supply of power, and communication with the outside of the line are allowed by a main cable  10   a  connecting the mechanism outside the line and the fluid supply line L 1 , a main cable  10   b  connecting the mechanism outside the line and the fluid supply line L 2 , and a main cable  10   c  connecting the mechanism outside the line and the fluid supply line L 3 . 
     In each of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , the connection from the flow rate control devices F to the valves V is the same as that of the gas unit  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the driving pressure is supplied from the mechanism outside the line to the gas unit  2  through the main tubes  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c  respectively for the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 . 
     In each of the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 , connections from the joints J 11 , J 12 , and J 13  to the flow rate control devices F and the valves V are the same as those of the gas unit  1 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a valve V suitably used in the fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3  according to the present embodiment. 
     The valve V includes a valve body  3  and a driving pressure control device  4  coupled to the valve body  3 . 
     The valve body  3  is a valve used in a gas line of a fluid control device, such as a diaphragm valve, and includes at least a driving pressure introduction port  3   a  for introducing a driving pressure supplied from the outside to inside. 
     The driving pressure control device  4  is connected to the driving pressure introduction port  3   a  of the valve body  3 , and supplies the driving pressure supplied from a driving pressure supply source G outside the line to the valve body  3 . 
     The driving pressure control device  4  includes driving pressure introduction paths  431 ,  432 , and  433  as introduction paths for introducing driving pressure from the driving pressure supply source G outside the line to the valve body  3 . The driving pressure introduction path  431  is connected to the driving pressure supply source G outside the line. The driving pressure introduction path  432  couples the driving pressure introduction path  431  and the driving pressure introduction path  433  via an automatic valve  411  and an automatic valve  412 . The driving pressure introduction path  433  is connected to the driving pressure introduction port  3   a  of the valve body  3 . 
     The driving pressure control device  4  includes a normally closed (N.C.) automatic valve  411  that opens and closes the driving pressure introduction path  431  and a normally opened (N.O.) automatic valve  412  that opens and closes the driving pressure introduction path  433  in conjunction with the automatic valve  411  and opens and closes an exhaust passage  44  that discharges the driving pressure from the driving pressure introduction path  433  to the outside A of the device. 
     The automatic valves  411  and  412  are opened and closed by valve drive units  421  and  422 , respectively. The valve drive units  421  and  422  receive an instruction signal for instructing an operation together with the supply of power from a power supply source E and an instruction signal transmission source Q via a wiring  45 , and execute the operation based on the instruction signal. 
     Both the automatic valves  411  and  412  can be constituted by various valves such as a normal solenoid valve, an air-operated solenoid valve, or an electric valve. 
     In the driving pressure control device  4 , the automatic valves  411  and  412 , the valve drive units  421  and  422 , the driving pressure introduction paths  431 ,  432 , and  433 , and others are covered with a hollow cap-shaped casing  40 , and the casing  40  is put on the valve body  3  in such a manner as to be integrated with the valve body  3 . 
     The valve body  3  and the casing  40  can be appropriately integrated by means such as screwing or bonding with an adhesive. 
     In the thus configured driving pressure control device  4 , the driving pressure supplied from the driving pressure supply source G outside the line is always automatically supplied to the automatic valve  411  via the driving pressure introduction path  431  regardless of the open and close states of the automatic valves  411  and  412 . 
     The opening and closing operations of the driving pressure control device  4  will be described. First, when the automatic valve  411  is opened by the valve drive unit  421 , the driving pressure supplied to the automatic valve  411  is led to the automatic valve  412  through the driving pressure introduction path  432 . The automatic valve  412  is interlocked with the automatic valve  411 . The automatic valve  412  opens along with the opening of the automatic valve  411  to close the exhaust passage  44  so that the driving pressure is supplied to the valve body  3  through the driving pressure introduction path  433 . 
     On the other hand, when the automatic valve  411  is closed by the valve drive unit  421 , the driving pressure supplied from the driving pressure supply source G is blocked by the automatic valve  411 . Further, when the automatic valve  412  interlocked with the automatic valve  411  is opened, the exhaust passage  44  is opened to discharge the driving pressure in the valve body  3 . 
     According to this valve V, the driving pressure control device  4  and the valve body  3  are integrally coupled, which makes it possible to simplify the wiring connected to the valve V. 
     In addition, the driving pressure is always supplied up to the automatic valve  411  of the driving pressure control device  4  that is integrally connected to the valve body  3 , which makes it possible to maintain the driving pressure in a state at a constant high level near the driving pressure introduction port  3   a  of the valve body  3 . As a result, the valve body  3  is less susceptible to changes in the driving pressure when opening and closing, the opening and closing speed can be kept constant, and the accuracy of control of the material gas can be improved. 
     The valve V described above is structured such that the driving pressure control device  4  is coupled to the valve body  3 . However, the present invention is not limited to this structure but there may be provided a space for incorporating the driving pressure control device  4  in the valve body  3  so that the driving pressure control device  4  can be contained in the space. 
     In the present embodiment, each of the gas units  1  and  2  is configured by the three fluid supply lines L 1 , L 2 , and L 3 . However, the application of the present invention is not limited by the number of lines. 
     In addition, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art will be able to change and add various configurations, means, or functions without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1 ,  2  Gas unit 
           10 ,  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  Main cable 
           101 ,  102  Branch cable 
           11 ,  12 ,  13  Extension cable 
           111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114  Sub cable 
           121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  Sub cable 
           131 ,  132 ,  133 ,  134  Sub cable 
           20 ,  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  Main tube 
           21 ,  22 ,  23  Extension tube 
           211 ,  212 ,  213  Extension tube 
           214 ,  215 ,  216 ,  217 ,  218  Sub tube 
           221 ,  222 ,  223  Extension tube 
           224 ,  225 ,  226 ,  227 ,  228  Sub tube 
           231 ,  232 ,  233  Extension tube 
           234 ,  235 ,  236 ,  327 ,  238  Sub tube 
         L 1 , L 2 , L 3  Fluid supply line 
         C 1 , C 2 , C 3  Branch connector 
         F (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ) Flow rate control device 
         J 1  Branch joint 
         J 11 , J 111 , J 112 , J 113  Joint 
         J 12 , J 121 , J 122 , J 123  Joint 
         J 13 , J 131 , J 132 , J 133  Joint 
         V (V 11  to V 14 , V 21  to  24 , V 31  to  34 ) Valve