Abstract:
The present invention discloses a process basic record inquiry system, and the process basic record inquiry system comprises: a basic record inquiry server (BRI Server) and basic record inquiry clients (BRI Clients). While the process basic record system of the present invention is applied, the scattered and enormous data in a basic record system can be filtered and integrated properly, so that a completed manufacturing process is presented to users, and the database connection expense can be effectively saved.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a basic record inquiry system, and more particularly, to a process basic record inquiry system of manufacturing execution system (MES) utilized in wafer fabs.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A manufacturing execution system (MES) is a real-time online computer system integrating all kinds of related information in the production process, and the MES comprises the functions of: data collection; tracing of work in process (WIP); material management; management of goods in stock; exception management; and quality management, etc. Since the IC production is featured in: complicated manufacturing steps; expensive processing equipments; numerous product varieties; and short product life, IC manufacturers strongly need a MES for managing a production site so as to meet the ever-changing requirements from clients and to face the competition and challenge of e-generation. A MES can help IC manufacturers to collect on-site data, and to convert the data into useful information for controlling and managing the production site, thereby reaching the goals of automatic management and maximum efficiency for factories. A commercialized Poseidom System is commonly provided to use.  
           [0003]    Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 depicts a structural diagram of known Poseidon System  10  which comprising subsystems of: a floor control  100 ; a basic record (BR)  110 ; a scheduling and bank control  120 ; a tool control system (TCS)  130 ; a central monitor  140 ; a report system  150 ; a transfer system  160 ; a statistical process control (SPC)  170 ; an engineering data analysis (EDA)  180 ; and an external interface  190 , wherein the transfer system  160  further comprises a reticle stocker  162 , an interbay transfer system  164  and an intrabay automated guided vehicle system  166 , and furthermore, the external interface comprises a corporation information system (CIS)  192 .  
           [0004]    Just as described above, BR is one of the Poseidon subsystems for defining some basic records, such as the wafer processing path, the processing machines used, the material amount consumed, and the processing pressure, etc., during the production process. Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 depicts an operational flow chart for a basic record subsystem, wherein a database server  200  has a work file  210 . Step  211  is performed in a basic record client computer  220  which is connected to the database server  200  for executing the function of file transfer protocol (FTP) and obtaining the work file  210 . Thereafter, step  212  is preformed for saving a new work file  230 , then connecting again to the database server  200  from the basic record client computer  220  for executing the function of FTP, and the new work file  230  can be transmitted back to the database server  200 . Following, step  213  is performed in a basic record client computer  220  for checking file consistence in data by utilizing the new work file  230  and other data sheets of the database server  200  (not shown). If it is determined that data is inconsistent, the database server  200  generated an error report (not shown), which is downloaded in and displayed on the basic record client computer  220  by connecting to the database server  200  for executing the function of FTP. If it is determined that data is consistent, the check-flag turns to “Y”, and subsequent uploading data is allowed by the system. And then in the step  214 , the database server  200  generates an updated file  240  by utilizing the data in the new work file  230  and the database server  200 . The nodes of an area control (AC) database  250 , an EDA server, or an sub area server (SAC) etc., can be connected to database server  200  for executing the function of FTP and downloading the updated file  240 , thereby updating the data in each node by utilizing the updated file  240 .  
           [0005]    The aforementioned BR subsystem of Poseidon does not have a completed inquiry system for users to understand the settings of BR subsystem with the required parameters and screens, and is very inconvenient for the users. Hence, it is necessary to seek a way to resolve this issue.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In consideration of the shortcomings of known Poseidon system mentioned in the aforementioned background of the invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a process basic record inquiry system for filtering and integrating the scattered and enormous data in BR, thereby showing a completed manufacturing process to users.  
           [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a process basic record inquiry system, and the basic record inquiry system is a three-tier structure having only one connection to the database, thereby effectively saving the database connection expense.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a process basic record inquiry system, so that users can change an inquiry program only by modifying a data module in a basic record inquiry server (BRI Server). Unless the formats of output reports are changed, the users do not have to modify any basic record inquiry client computer.  
           [0009]    In accordance with the aforementioned objects, the present invention provides a process basic record inquiry system connecting to an area controller database (AC Database). The process basic record inquiry system comprises: a basic record inquiry server (BRI Server) which has a plurality of data modules, and is connected to the AC Database; and a plurality of basic record inquiry clients (BRI Clients) connected to the BRI Server, wherein each of the BRI Client has a plurality of input tables and output reports, and these input tables are used for generating in these output reports by entering at least one inquiry item. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 depicts a structural diagram of known Poseidon System;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 depicts an operational flow chart for a known basic record subsystem of Poseidon System;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 depicts a structural diagram of a process basic record inquiry system of Poseidon System according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 depicts a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a basic record inquiry server, in which there is a classified diagram for classifying data modules and inquiry program in detail; and 
     
    
       [0015]    Table 1 is illustrated for a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein data in the input column of input table are provided by inquiry program BRI1010, and data in the output column of output report are resulted via searching.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    The present invention relates a process basic record inquiry system, and the process basic record inquiry system is a three-tier structure. Referring to FIG. 3, objects in the intermediate tier within the three-tier structure can participate in various application programs, and can be shared by every application program. The objects in the lowest tier only communicate with those in the intermediate tier, and do not directly talk to the database on the upmost tier, so that the upmost tier and the lowest tier are independent thereby enhancing the system flexibility and expandability. In other words, there is only one connection to the database of the upmost tier within the three-tier structure unlike common client-server structures having several connections to the database. The three-tier structure has the following advantages. First, various objects in the upmost tier do not affect the application programs in the lowest tier. For example, to execute the application programs in the lowest tier do not have to consider what database is used in the upmost tier. Secondly, the application programs in the lowest tier do not receive any impact from the complicated network devices in the upmost tier. Thirdly, the shortcomings of inconsistency, lacking reusability and flexibility, etc., due to the two-tier structure overly emphasizing the client or the server, are prevented.  
         [0017]    Please referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a structural diagram depicting a process basic record inquiry system of Poseidon system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the upmost tier is an AC database  300  (i.e. the AC database  250  shown in FIG. 2) having a data sheet  305  generated by the BR subsystem of known Poseidon system; and the intermediate tier is a BRI Server  310  having a plurality of data modules  320 , wherein the BRI Server  310  is connected to the AC database  300 ; and the lowest tier comprises a plurality of BRI Clients  330  connected to the BRI Server  310 , wherein users can enter inquiry items into the input tables  335  of BRI Client  330  resulting in the output reports  340  of various patterns and screens in accordance with the user requests, and wherein the output reports  340  are fabricated with, for example, Access software.  
         [0018]    Each aforementioned output report  340  in the BRI Server  310  has corresponded to a data module  320  in which an inquiry program  325  are stored, and the inquiry program  325  can be coded with, for example, a structural query language (SQL). For changing the inquiry program, users only need to modify the data module  320  in the BRI Server  310 . Unless the formats of reports  340  are changed, users do not have to modify every BRI Client  330 .  
         [0019]    Besides, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, output reports  340  are fabricated with Access software, and can be easily converted to Excel or HTML format, etc., so that users can apply the reports conveniently.  
         [0020]    Referring FIG. 4, FIG. 4 depicts a preferred embodiment of the present invention in BRI server, in which there is a diagram for classifying data modules and inquiry programs in detail. Data modules and inquiry programs in BRI server  310  illustrated in FIG. 4, are classified into 7 categories and 13 inquiry programs. The 7 categories are route  352 , product  354 , tool  356 , recipe  358 , specification  360 , measurement  362 , and other  364 , respectively. Each inquiry program is named according to the actual condition, such as BRI1010. The names of 13 inquiry programs shown in FIG. 4 are just those in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Table 1 shown below is illustrated as an example for a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein data in the input column of input table are provided by inquiry program BR1010, and data in the output column of output report are resulted via searching.  
                                             Tab. 1 Data in the input column of input table are provided       by Inquiry Program BRI1010, and data in the output column of       output report are resulted via searching                Input Column   Output Column                       Main Route   Route           Product   Operation           Department   Operation Description           Operation   Measurement ID               Working Area               Tool Group               Tool ID               Recipe ID               Measurement Item Count               Specification Check Item Name               Lower Hold Specification Limit               Upper Hold Specification Limit               Q Restriction Time               Q Restriction Target Operation               Connection Route ID               Input Operation                      
 
         [0021]    To summarize the above, the main advantage of the present invention is to provide a process basic record inquiry system, which is applied to filter and integrate the scattered and enormous data in the basic record, thereby presenting a completed manufacturing process to users.  
         [0022]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the basic record inquiry system is a three-tier structure with only one connection to database. The application of the basic record inquiry system of the present invention can effectively save the database connection expense.  
         [0023]    A further advantage of the present invention is that only the data modules in the BRI server need to be modified while the inquiry programs need changing. Unless the formats of reports are changed, users do not have to modify every single BRI Client.  
         [0024]    As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting the scope of the present invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.