Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7711445?dq=552685
Timestamp: 2015-04-28 02:43:42
Document Index: 238304221

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 04', 'Application No. 200410033057', 'Application No. 200510091302', 'Application No. 094119126', 'Application No. 200510091302', 'Application No. 093101779', 'Application No. 093101779', 'Application No. 200510091302', 'Application No. 200410033057', 'Application No. 094119126', 'Application No. 200410033057']

Patent US7711445 - Systems and methods for transferring small lot size substrate carriers ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsIn a first aspect, a method of managing work in progress within a small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility is provided. The first method includes providing a small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility having (1) a plurality of processing tools; and (2) a high speed transport...http://www.google.com/patents/US7711445?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7711445 - Systems and methods for transferring small lot size substrate carriers between processing toolsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7711445 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/555,252Publication dateMay 4, 2010Filing dateOct 31, 2006Priority dateJan 27, 2003Fee statusPaidAlso published asCN1536615A, CN1536615B, EP1450393A2, EP1450393A3, US7221993, US20040193300, US20070059861Publication number11555252, 555252, US 7711445 B2, US 7711445B2, US-B2-7711445, US7711445 B2, US7711445B2InventorsMichael R. Rice, Eric A. Englhardt, Vinay Shah, Martin R. Elliott, Robert B. Lowrance, Jeffrey C. HudgensOriginal AssigneeApplied Materials, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (108), Non-Patent Citations (91), Referenced by (4), Classifications (18), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystems and methods for transferring small lot size substrate carriers between processing tools
Manufacturing of semiconductor devices typically involves performing a sequence of procedures with respect to a substrate such as a silicon substrate, a glass plate, etc. These steps may include polishing, deposition, etching, photolithography, heat treatment, and so forth. Usually a number of different processing steps may be performed in a single processing system or �tool� which includes a plurality of processing chambers. However, it is generally the case that other processes are required to be performed at other processing locations within a fabrication facility, and it is accordingly necessary that substrates be transported within the fabrication facility from one processing location to another. Depending on the type of semiconductor device to be manufactured, there may be a relatively large number of processing steps required, to be performed at many different processing locations within the fabrication facility.
As stated, for a fully operational fabrication facility, reducing WIP decreases capital and manufacturing costs. However, reduced WIP also may place a semiconductor device manufacturing facility as risk. For instance, when a processing tool within a fabrication line becomes non-operational (e.g., �goes down� due to equipment failure, for periodic maintenance or cleaning, etc.), WIP may provide sufficient substrate buffering to allow continued factory output until the non-operational tool becomes operational (e.g., is brought �back on line�). Insufficient WIP, on the other hand, may cause the manufacturing line to sit idle.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3845286Feb 5, 1973Oct 29, 1974IbmManufacturing control system for processing workpiecesUS3952388Jul 22, 1974Apr 27, 1976Toyoda Koki Kabushiki KaishaMachine tool apparatusUS4027246Mar 26, 1976May 31, 1977International Business Machines CorporationAutomated integrated circuit manufacturing systemUS4166527Aug 1, 1977Sep 4, 1979Stelron Cam CompanyDevice for picking up and placing articles on movable conveyors and assembly lines and to an endless construction and to an article pickup and deposit device thereforUS4401522Sep 29, 1980Aug 30, 1983Micro-Plate, Inc.Conveying objects continuously through plating tank or hangers, non-polarizingUS4534843Jan 28, 1983Aug 13, 1985Technic, Inc.Continuous stainless steel conveyor beltUS4540088Jun 20, 1983Sep 10, 1985Wheelabrator-Frye Inc.Component conveyor apparatusUS4544318Mar 23, 1983Oct 1, 1985Hitachi, Ltd.Manufacturing systemUS4650264Dec 10, 1984Mar 17, 1987Spacesaver CorporationControl system for vertical storage equipmentUS4775046Jan 17, 1986Oct 4, 1988Future Automation, Inc.Transport belt for production partsUS5048164Aug 8, 1990Sep 17, 1991Tokyo Electron Sagami LimitedVertical heat-treatment apparatus having boat transfer mechanismUS5110249Aug 14, 1989May 5, 1992Innotec Group, Inc.Transport system for inline vacuum processingUS5183378Mar 20, 1991Feb 2, 1993Tokyo Electron Sagami LimitedWafer counter having device for aligning wafersUS5256204Dec 13, 1991Oct 26, 1993United Microelectronics CorporationSingle semiconductor water transfer method and manufacturing systemUS5261935Feb 26, 1993Nov 16, 1993Tokyo Electron Sagami LimitedClean air apparatusUS5372471Oct 4, 1993Dec 13, 1994United Microelectronics CorporationSingle semiconductor wafer transfer method and manufacturing systemUS5382127Aug 3, 1993Jan 17, 1995International Business Machines CorporationPressurized interface apparatus for transferring a semiconductor wafer between a pressurized sealable transportable container and a processing equipmentUS5388945Aug 3, 1993Feb 14, 1995International Business Machines CorporationFully automated and computerized conveyor based manufacturing line architectures adapted to pressurized sealable transportable containersUS5390785Aug 3, 1993Feb 21, 1995International Business Machines CorporationPressurized sealable transportable containers for storing a semiconductor wafer in a protective gaseous environmentUS5411358Aug 3, 1993May 2, 1995International Business Machines CorporationDispatching apparatus with a gas supply distribution system for handling and storing pressurized sealable transportable containersUS5442561 *May 10, 1993Aug 15, 1995Nippon Telegraph And Telephone CorporationProduction management system and its application methodUS5544350Jul 5, 1994Aug 6, 1996Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.Ratio of running work in progressUS5603777Jun 6, 1995Feb 18, 1997Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.Providing surface treatment for plurality of substrates arranged with optimal spacing in each processing cassette without being governed by storage spacing in transport cassetteUS5612886May 12, 1995Mar 18, 1997Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.Method and system for dynamic dispatching in semiconductor manufacturing plantsUS5668056Mar 21, 1995Sep 16, 1997United Microelectronics CorporationSingle semiconductor wafer transfer method and manufacturing systemUS5696689Nov 27, 1995Dec 9, 1997Nippondenso Co., Ltd.Dispatch and conveyer control system for a production control system of a semiconductor substrateUS5751580Jul 26, 1996May 12, 1998Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Ltd.Fuzzy logic method and system for adjustment of priority rating of work in process in a production lineUS5762544Apr 24, 1996Jun 9, 1998Applied Materials, Inc.Carrier head design for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatusUS5811211Aug 1, 1996Sep 22, 1998Nikon CorporationPeripheral edge exposure methodUS5818716Oct 18, 1996Oct 6, 1998Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd.Dynamic lot dispatching required turn rate factory control system and method of operation thereofUS5825650Mar 11, 1997Oct 20, 1998Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Method for determining standard cycle time of a stage dynamicallyUS5827118Aug 28, 1996Oct 27, 1998Seh America, Inc.Clean storage unit air flow systemUS5829939Jun 24, 1996Nov 3, 1998Tokyo Electron Kabushiki KaishaTreatment apparatusUS5841677 *May 21, 1997Nov 24, 1998Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Method and apparatus for dispatching lots in a factoryUS5884392Mar 25, 1996Mar 23, 1999International Business Machines CorporationAutomatic assembler/disassembler apparatus adapted to pressurized sealable transportable containersUS5888042Jul 14, 1997Mar 30, 1999Nidek Co., Ltd.Semiconductor wafer transporterUS5971585Sep 9, 1997Oct 26, 1999International Business Machines CorporationBest can do matching of assets with demand in microelectronics manufacturingUS5975740 *May 28, 1996Nov 2, 1999Applied Materials, Inc.Apparatus, method and medium for enhancing the throughput of a wafer processing facility using a multi-slot cool down chamber and a priority transfer schemeUS5976199Feb 14, 1997Nov 2, 1999United Microelectronics Corp.Single semiconductor wafer transfer method and manufacturing systemUS5980183Apr 14, 1997Nov 9, 1999Asyst Technologies, Inc.Integrated intrabay buffer, delivery, and stocker systemUS6026561Dec 23, 1994Feb 22, 2000International Business Machines CorporationAutomatic assembler/disassembler apparatus adapted to pressurized sealable transportable containersUS6036426Jan 17, 1997Mar 14, 2000Creative Design CorporationWafer handling method and apparatusUS6048259Jan 12, 1999Apr 11, 2000Speedfam Company, LimitedWafer loading and unloading mechanism for loading robotUS6050768Mar 6, 1998Apr 18, 2000Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaAutomatic carrier control method in semiconductor wafer cassette transportation apparatusUS6053688Aug 25, 1997Apr 25, 2000Cheng; DavidMethod and apparatus for loading and unloading wafers from a wafer carrierUS6054181Aug 5, 1996Apr 25, 2000Tokyo Electron LimitedCoating substrates in coating section; transferring to interface section; supplying dehumidified air; loading substrates into boates; transferring boates to heat treatment zone; heat treating substratesUS6074443 *Jan 29, 1998Jun 13, 2000Applied Materials, Inc.Method and apparatus for scheduling wafer processing within a multiple chamber semiconductor wafer processing tool having a multiple blade robotUS6082948Sep 26, 1994Jul 4, 2000Applied Materials, Inc.Controlled environment enclosure and mechanical interfaceUS6128588Oct 1, 1997Oct 3, 2000Sony CorporationIntegrated wafer fab time standard (machine tact) databaseUS6183186Aug 29, 1997Feb 6, 2001Daitron, Inc.Wafer handling system and methodUS6196001Oct 12, 1999Mar 6, 2001Alliedsignal Inc.Environment controlled WIP cartUS6201998 *Jul 30, 1999Mar 13, 2001Applied Materials, Inc.Apparatus, method and medium for enhancing the throughput of a wafer processing facility using a multi-slot cool down chamber and a priority transfer schemeUS6224638Feb 10, 2000May 1, 2001Applied Materials, Inc.Method and apparatus for scheduling wafer processing within a multiple chamber semiconductor wafer processing tool having a multiple blade robotUS6235634May 20, 1998May 22, 2001Applied Komatsu Technology, Inc.Modular substrate processing systemUS6240335Dec 14, 1998May 29, 2001Palo Alto Technologies, Inc.Distributed control system architecture and method for a material transport systemUS6283692Dec 1, 1998Sep 4, 2001Applied Materials, Inc.Apparatus for storing and moving a cassetteUS6338005Aug 31, 1999Jan 8, 2002Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.Managing test material in an automated material handling systemUS6360132 *Jan 5, 2001Mar 19, 2002Applied Materials, Inc.Apparatus, method and medium for enhancing the throughput of a wafer processing facility using a multi-slot cool down chamber and a priority transfer schemeUS6415260Apr 21, 1999Jul 2, 2002Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., LtdDynamic capacity demand forecast systemUS6431181Apr 4, 2000Aug 13, 2002Ana Maria TorresHair coloring cap and method of useUS6431814May 22, 2000Aug 13, 2002Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.Integrated wafer stocker and sorter with integrity verification systemUS6439822Sep 22, 1999Aug 27, 2002Tokyo Electron LimitedSubstrate processing apparatus and substrate processing methodUS6449520 *Sep 5, 2001Sep 10, 2002Applied Materials, Inc.Apparatus, method and medium for enhancing the throughput of a wafer processing facility using a multi-slot cool down chamber and a priority transfer schemeUS6540466Jul 9, 1999Apr 1, 2003Applied Materials, Inc.Compact apparatus and method for storing and loading semiconductor wafer carriersUS6564113Jun 15, 2001May 13, 2003Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.Lot start agent that calculates virtual WIP time in a multi-product and multi-bottleneck manufacturing environmentUS6579052Jul 11, 1997Jun 17, 2003Asyst Technologies, Inc.SMIF pod storage, delivery and retrieval systemUS6587744Jun 20, 2000Jul 1, 2003Brooks Automation, Inc.Run-to-run controller for use in microelectronic fabricationUS6662076Feb 10, 1999Dec 9, 2003Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.Management of move requests from a factory system to an automated material handling systemUS6673638Jan 28, 2002Jan 6, 2004Kla-Tencor CorporationMethod and apparatus for the production of process sensitive lithographic featuresUS6684124Apr 29, 2002Jan 27, 2004Infineon Technologies AgMethod for controlling a processing device for a sequential processing of semiconductor wafersUS6763277Jul 16, 2001Jul 13, 2004Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.Method and apparatus for proactive dispatch system to improve line balancingUS6788985May 31, 2001Sep 7, 2004Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaElectronic commerce method for semiconductor products, electronic commerce thereof, production system, production method, production equipment design system, production equipment design method, and production equipment manufacturing methodUS6788996Mar 7, 2002Sep 7, 2004Renesas Technology Corp.Fabrication method of semiconductor integrated circuit deviceUS6839603May 8, 2001Jan 4, 2005Tokyo Electron LimitedSemiconductor manufacturing system and control method thereofUS6955197Aug 28, 2003Oct 18, 2005Applied Materials, Inc.Substrate carrier having door latching and substrate clamping mechanismsUS7077264Jan 26, 2004Jul 18, 2006Applied Material, Inc.Methods and apparatus for transporting substrate carriersUS7134874Nov 20, 2003Nov 14, 2006Align Technology, Inc.Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and applianceUS7137874Nov 21, 2000Nov 21, 2006Memc Electronic Materials, SpaSemiconductor wafer, polishing apparatus and methodUS7218983Nov 4, 2004May 15, 2007Applied Materials, Inc.Method and apparatus for integrating large and small lot electronic device fabrication facilitiesUS7221993Jan 26, 2004May 22, 2007Applied Materials, Inc.Systems and methods for transferring small lot size substrate carriers between processing toolsUS7234584Aug 28, 2003Jun 26, 2007Applied Materials, Inc.System for transporting substrate carriersUS7243003Aug 28, 2003Jul 10, 2007Applied Materials, Inc.Substrate carrier handler that unloads substrate carriers directly from a moving conveyorUS7258520Aug 28, 2003Aug 21, 2007Applied Materials, Inc.Methods and apparatus for using substrate carrier movement to actuate substrate carrier door opening/closingUS7433756Nov 12, 2004Oct 7, 2008Applied Materials, Inc.Calibration of high speed loader to substrate transport systemUS20010001839Jan 5, 2001May 24, 2001Applied Materials, Inc.Apparatus, method and medium for enhancing the throughput of a wafer processing facility using a multi-slot cool down chamber and a priority transfer schemeUS20010018623Jan 16, 2001Aug 30, 2001Nec CorporationMethod and system for management to manufacturing process for products nineUS20010051886May 31, 2001Dec 13, 2001Kunihiro MitsutakeElectronic commerce method for semiconductor products, electronic commerce thereof, production system, production method, production equipment design system, production equipment design method, and production equipment manufacturing methodUS20020055799 *Sep 5, 2001May 9, 2002Lin Zhihong J.Apparatus, method and medium for enhancing the throughput of a wafer processing facility using a multi-slot cool down chamber and a priority transfer schemeUS20020071744Jul 9, 1999Jun 13, 2002Robert Z. BachrachCompact apparatus and method for storing and loading semiconductor wafer carriersUS20020090282Jan 5, 2001Jul 11, 2002Applied Materials, Inc.Actuatable loadport systemUS20020094588Jan 16, 2001Jul 18, 2002United Microelectronics Corp.Method of control management of production lineUS20020114684Feb 21, 2002Aug 22, 2002Gyu-Chan JeongLoad port of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus having integrated kinematic coupling pins and sensors, and method of loading wafers using the sameUS20020116086Nov 19, 2001Aug 22, 2002Ronald HuberInstallation for processing wafersUS20020144654Apr 29, 2002Oct 10, 2002Jurgen ElgerInstallation for processing wafersUS20020155705Mar 7, 2002Oct 24, 2002Michiyuki ShimizuProcess control; dividing wafer; uniformity loadUS20020198623Jun 26, 2001Dec 26, 2002Applied Materials, Inc.Method and apparatus for providing distributed material management and flow control in an integrated circuit factoryUS20030010449Jul 16, 2001Jan 16, 2003Gramarossa Daniel J.Automatic wafer processing and plating systemUS20030045092Dec 28, 2001Mar 6, 2003Dong Suk ShinMethod of fabricating a semiconductor device having reduced contact resistanceUS20030045098Aug 31, 2001Mar 6, 2003Applied Materials, Inc.Method and apparatus for processing a waferUS20030108407Apr 4, 2002Jun 12, 2003Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInterbay transportation system and method of interbay transportationUS20030113190Jan 22, 2003Jun 19, 2003Applied Materials, Inc.Compact apparatus and method for storing and loading semiconductor wafer carriersUS20030153995 *May 8, 2001Aug 14, 2003Wataru KarasawaSemiconductor manufacturing system and control method thereofUS20030202866Apr 25, 2002Oct 30, 2003Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Method and apparatus for identifying a wafer cassetteUS20040049398Sep 10, 2002Mar 11, 2004International Business Machines CorporationMethod, system, and storage medium for resolving transport errors relating to automated material handling system transactionsUS20040062633Aug 28, 2003Apr 1, 2004Applied Materials, Inc.System for transporting substrate carriersUS20040081546Aug 28, 2003Apr 29, 2004Applied Materials, Inc.Method and apparatus for supplying substrates to a processing toolUS20040187342Mar 22, 2004Sep 30, 2004Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.Substrate treating method and apparatusUS20050040662Jan 26, 2004Feb 24, 2005Rice Michael R.Overhead transfer flange and support for suspending a substrate carrier* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1"300mm single-wafer handling", Apr. 2000, Solild State Technology, Product News, , p. 99.2"300mm single-wafer transport", Jul. 1999, Solid State Technology-semiconductor manufacturing and wafer fabrication, Semicon West '99 Product Spotlight, p. 5.3"Improved wafer isolation and additional flexibility", Jan. 3, 2002, Incam Solutions Company SWIF technology, pp. 1-2.4"SEMI standards compliance" and "Related SEMI standards", Jan. 3, 2002, Incam Solutions Related standards, p. 1.5"Single Wafer Lots Solution", Jan. 3, 2002, Incam Solutions References, p. 1.6"The Leading Company in Micro environment", Jan. 3, 2002, Incam Solutions Company, pp. 1-2.7"300mm single-wafer handling", Apr. 2000, Solild State Technology, Product News, <www.sold-state.com>, p. 99.8"300mm single-wafer transport", Jul. 1999, Solid State Technology�semiconductor manufacturing and wafer fabrication, Semicon West '99 Product Spotlight, p. 5.9Advisory Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Sep. 4, 2009.10Anon, "Coming of fab-wide automation", May 1998, European Semiconductor Design Production Assembly, vol. 20 No. 5, p. 21-22.11Anon, "Wafer level automation", Jan. 1995, European Semiconductor, vol. 17 No. 1, p. 2.12Apr. 27, 2005 Response to Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 10/764,620 mailed Dec. 27, 2004.13Aug. 14, 2008 Response to Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Mar. 14, 2008.14Aug. 4, 2009 Response to Final Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed May 4, 2009.15Berg, R. et al., "The formula: world class manufacturing for hybrid thin-film component production", 1992, IEEE/SEMI International Semiconductor Manufacturing Science Symposium, pp. 53-60.16Chen, J. C. et al., "Capacity planning for a twin fab", 1999 IEEE International Symposium on Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference Proceedings, p. 317-20.17Collins, D. W. et al., "Implementation of Minimum Inventory Variability Scheduling 1-Step Ahead Policy(R) in a large semiconductor manufacturing facility", 1997 IEEE 6th International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation Proceedings, pp. 497-504.18Collins, D. W. et al., "Investigation of minimum inventory variability scheduling policies in a large semiconductor manufacturing facility", Proceedings of the 1997 American Control Conference, vol. 3, p. 1924-8.19Dudde, R. et al., "Flexible data registration and automation in semiconductor production", 1997, Proceedings of the SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering, p. 171-81.20Dudde, R. et al., "Flexible data registration and automation in semiconductor production", 1997, Proceedings of the SPIE�The International Society for Optical Engineering, p. 171-81.21Ehteshami, B. et al., "Trade-offs in cycle time management: hot lots", May 1992, IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing, vol. 5 No. 2, p. 101-6.22Examination Report issued Jul. 21, 2008 by the European Patent office in relation to EP Application No. 04 250 420.9.23Final Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed May 4, 2009.24Final Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Sep. 21, 2007.25First Office Action issued by Chinese Patent Office dated Feb. 16, 2007 relating to CN Application No. 200410033057.8.26First Office Action issued by Chinese Patent Office dated Nov. 9, 2007 relating to CN Application No. 200510091302.5.27Fuller, L. F. et al., "Improving manufacturing performance at the Rochester Institute of Technology integrated circuit factory", IEEE/SEMI 1995 Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference and Workshop. Theme-Semiconductor Manufacturing: Economic Solutions for the 21st Century. ASMC '95 Proceedings, p. 350-5.28Fuller, L. F. et al., "Improving manufacturing performance at the Rochester Institute of Technology integrated circuit factory", IEEE/SEMI 1995 Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference and Workshop. Theme�Semiconductor Manufacturing: Economic Solutions for the 21st Century. ASMC '95 Proceedings, p. 350-5.29Garlid, Scott C., "From philosophy to reality. Interpreting the rules of JIT for IC manufacturing", 1989, SME Technical Paper (Series) MS. Publ by SME, p. 797.30Griessing, Juergen et al., "Assessing the feasibility of a 300-mm test and monitor wafer handeling and logistics system", Jul. 2000, Micro: The 300-mm Imperative, pp. 1-19.31Houmin, Yan et al., "Testing the robustness of two-boundary control policies in semiconductor manufacturing", May 1996, IEEE Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing, vol. 9 No. 2, p. 285-8.32Hughlett, E., "Incremental levels of automation in the compound semiconductor fab", Aug. 2001, Compound Semiconductor, vol. 7 No. 7, p. 69-73.33Iriuchijima, K. et al., "WIP allocation planning for semiconductor factories", 1998, Proceedings of the 37th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, vol. 3, p. 2716-21.34Jan. 16, 2007 Response to Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Aug. 14, 2006.35Jan. 22, 2008 Response to Final Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Sep. 21, 2007.36Juba, R. C. et al., "Production improvements using a forward scheduler", 1996, Seventeenth IEEE/CPMT International Electronics Manufacturing Technology Symposium 'Manufacturing Technologies-Present and Future', p. 205-9.37Juba, R. C. et al., "Production improvements using a forward scheduler", 1996, Seventeenth IEEE/CPMT International Electronics Manufacturing Technology Symposium �Manufacturing Technologies�Present and Future�, p. 205-9.38Jul. 2, 2007 Response to Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Apr. 2, 2007.39Jun. 2, 2006 Response to Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Dec. 2, 2005.40Labanowski, L., "Improving overall fabricator performance using the continuous improvement methodology", 1997 IEEE/SEMI Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference and Workshop. Theme-The Quest for Semiconductor Manufacturing Excellence: Leading the Charge into the 21st Century. ASMC Proceedings, p. 405-9.41Labanowski, L., "Improving overall fabricator performance using the continuous improvement methodology", 1997 IEEE/SEMI Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference and Workshop. Theme�The Quest for Semiconductor Manufacturing Excellence: Leading the Charge into the 21st Century. ASMC Proceedings, p. 405-9.42Leonovich, G. A. et al., "Integrated cost and productivity learning in CMOS semiconductor manufacturing", Jan.-Mar. 1995, IBM Journal of Research and Development, vol. 39 No. 1-2, p. 201-13.43Leonovich, G., "An approach for optimizing WIP/cycle time/output in a semiconductor fabricator", 1994, Sixteenth IEEE/CPMT International Electronics Manufacturing Technology Symposium. 'Low-Cost Manufacturing Technologies for Tomorrow's Global Economy'. Proceedings 1994 IEMT Symposium, vol. 1, p. 108-11.44Leonovich, G., "An approach for optimizing WIP/cycle time/output in a semiconductor fabricator", 1994, Sixteenth IEEE/CPMT International Electronics Manufacturing Technology Symposium. �Low-Cost Manufacturing Technologies for Tomorrow's Global Economy�. Proceedings 1994 IEMT Symposium, vol. 1, p. 108-11.45Lopez, M. J. et al., "Performance models of systems of multiple cluster tools", 1996, Nineteenth IEEE/CPMT International Electronics Manufacturing Technology Symposium. Proceedings 1996 IEMT Symposium, pp. 57-65.46Lou, S. et al., "Using simulation to test the robustness of various existing production control policies", 1991 Winter Simulation Conference Proceedings, IEEE, p. 261-9.47Lovell, A. M. et al., "Cell automation: integrating manufacturing with robotics", Dec. 1990, Solid State Technology, vol. 33 No. 12, p. 37-9.48Mar. 2, 2009 Response to Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Dec. 2, 2008.49Marcoux, P. et al., "Determining capacity loss from operational and technical deployment practices in a semiconductor manufacturing line", 1999 IEEE International Symposium on Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference Proceedings, p. 3-5.50Martin, D. P., "Capacity and cycle time-throughput understanding system (CAC-TUS) an analysis tool to determine the components of capacity and cycle time in a semiconductor manufacturing line", 1999, 10th Annual IEEE/SEMI. Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference and Workshop. ASMC 99 Proceedings, p. 127-31.51Martin, D. P., "Total operational efficiency (TOE): the determination of two capacity and cycle time components and their relationship to productivity improvements in a semiconductor manufacturing line", 1999, 10th Annual IEEE/SEMI. Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference and Workshop. ASMC 99 Proceedings, pp. 37-41.52May 15, 2006 Response to Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 10/764,620 mailed Dec. 13, 2005.53Nagesh, Sukhi et al., "Intelligent second-generation MES solutions for 300mm fabs", 2000, Solid State Technology, vol. 43 No. 6, pp. 133-134, 136, 138.54Naguib, H., "The implementation of total quality management in a semiconductor manufacturing operation", 1992, IEEE/SEMI International Semiconductor Manufacturing Science Symposium, p. 63-7.55Narayanan S. et al., "Object-oriented simulation to support operator decision making in semiconductor manufacturing", 1992 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, vol. 2, p. 1510-15.56Notice of Allowance of U.S. Appl. No. 10/764,620 mailed Aug. 4, 2006.57Notice of Allowance of U.S. Appl. No. 10/764,620 mailed Dec. 22, 2006.58Notice of Allowance of U.S. Appl. No. 10/764,620 mailed Jun. 6, 2006.59Notice of Allowance of U.S. Appl. No. 10/764,620 mailed May 26, 2005.60Office Action and Search Report issued by Taiwan Patent Office dated Nov. 20, 2008 relating to TW Application No. 094119126.61Office Action of China Application No. 200510091302.5 issued May 8, 2009.62Office Action of Taiwan Application No. 093101779 issued Feb. 26, 2009.63Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 10/764,620 mailed Dec. 13, 2005.64Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 10/764,620 mailed Dec. 27, 2004.65Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Apr. 2, 2007.66Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Aug. 14, 2006.67Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Dec. 2, 2005.68Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Dec. 2, 2008.69Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Jan. 19, 2010.70Office Action of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Mar. 14, 2008.71Padillo, J. M. et al., "A strategic domain: IE in the semiconductor industry", Mar. 1998, IIE Solutions, pp. 36-40, 42.72Pierce, Neal G. et al., "Dynamic dispatch and graphical monitoring system", IEEE International Symposium on Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference, Proceedings 1999, p. 65-68.73Prasad, K., "A generic computer simulation model to characterize photolithography manufacturing area in an IC FAB facility", Sep. 1991, IEEE Transactions on Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, vol. 14 No. 3, p. 483-7.74Preliminary Amendment of U.S. Appl. No. 11/148,956 mailed Nov. 24, 2009.75Przewlocki, H. et al., "DIASTEMOS-computerized system of IC manufacturing control and diagnostics", 1990, Elektronika, vol. 31 No. 11-12, pp. 38-40, Polish Language. (Abstract only).76Rose, D., "Productivity enhancement", 1992, IEEE/SEMI International Semiconductor Manufacturing Science Symposium, p. 68.77Rose, O., "WIP evolution of a semiconductor factory after a bottleneck workcenter breakdown", 1998 Winter Simulation Conference. Proceedings, vol. 2, pp. 997-1003.78Saito, K. et al., "A simulation study on periodical priority dispatching of WIP for product-mix fabrication", 13th Annual IEEE/SEMI Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference. Advancing the Science and Technology of Semiconductor Manufacturing. ASMC 2002, p. 33-7.79Sarin, S. C. et al., "Reduction of average cycle time at a wafer fabrication facility", 2001 GaAs MANTECH Conference. Digest of Papers, p. 241-6.80Schomig, A. K. et al., "Performance modelling of pull manufacturing systems with batch servers", Proceedings 1995 INRIA/IEEE Symposium on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation. ETFA'95, vol. 3, p. 175-83.81Search Report of Taiwan Application No. 093101779 dated Jul. 13, 2009.82Second Office Action issued by Chinese Patent Office dated Jul. 18, 2008 relating to CN Application No. 200510091302.5.83Second Office Action issued by Chinese Patent Office dated Oct. 12, 2007 relating to CN Application No. 200410033057.8.84Taiwan Search Report of Taiwan Patent Application No. 094119126 dated Sep. 1, 2009.85Third Office Action issued by Chinese Patent Office dated Aug. 1, 2008 relating to CN Application No. 200410033057.8.86Van Antwerp, K. et al., "Improving work-in-progress visibility with active product tags YASIC manufacture", Oct. 1999, Micro, vol. 17 No. 9, pp. 67-69, 72-73.87Wang, J. et al., "The improvement of automated material handling system traffic control", 2002 Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology Workshop, p. 271-4.88Wei Jie Lee, "Optimize WIP scale through simulation approach with WIP, turn-over rate and cycle time regression analysis in semiconductor fabrication", 2002 Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology Workshop, p. 299-301.89Wei Jun-Hu et al., "Optimization methodology in simulation-based scheduling for semiconductor manufacturing", Oct. 2000, Information and Control, vol. 29 No. 5, p. 425-30, Chinese language. (Abstract only).90Weiss, M., "New twists on 300 mm fab design and layout", Jul. 1999, Semiconductor International, vol. 22, No. 8, pp. 103-104, 106, 108.91Young Hoon Lee et al., "Push-pull production planning of the re-entrant process", 2003, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, vol. 22 No. 11-12, p. 922-31.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8196732 *Aug 2, 2010Jun 12, 2012Muratec Automation Co., Ltd.Buffered storage and transport device for tool utilizationUS8712569 *Jun 27, 2008Apr 29, 2014Globalfoundries Singapore Pte. Ltd.System for determining potential lot consolidation during manufacturingUS20090292388 *Dec 19, 2006Nov 26, 2009Tatsushi IimoriSemiconductor manufacturing systemUS20110031091 *Aug 2, 2010Feb 10, 2011Fatula Jr Joseph JohnBuffered storage and transport device for tool utilization* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification700/101, 700/112, 700/121, 700/111International ClassificationH01L21/02, H01L21/68, G05B19/418, H01L21/677, G06F19/00, H01L21/00Cooperative ClassificationH01L21/67276, H01L21/67769, H01L21/67727, H01L21/67778European ClassificationH01L21/677D10, H01L21/677A8, H01L21/677D4, H01L21/67S8ELegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionOct 11, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services