Patent ID: 7106433

Claim:
A measurement system cluster for measuring process parameters associated with wafers in a semiconductor fabrication process, comprising: first and second measurement systems having first and second measurement instruments, respectively, wherein the first and second measurement instruments are operative to measure at least one process parameter associated with a wafer; a wafer transfer system receiving a wafer processed in the fabrication process; and a measurement system selection logic component providing a measurement system selection to the wafer transfer system according to a measurement system selection criteria and wherein the measurement system selection criteria comprises at least one of capabilities requirements information associated with the wafer, measurement system capability information associated with the first and second measurement systems, measurement system availability information associated with the first and second measurement systems, anticipated need for the first and second measurement systems, and throughput information associated with the first and second measurement systems and wherein the wafer transfer system selectively provides the wafer to at least one of the first and second measurement systems according to the measurement system selection criteria for measurement therein of a process parameter.