Method and system for using short ranged wireless enabled computers as a service tool

• US 20040034448A1
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASM International NV
• Original Assignee: ASM International NV
• Inventors: Siegers, Johan
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4184 characterised by fault tolerance, reliability of production system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32226 Computer assisted repair, maintenance of system components
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36159 Detachable or portable programming unit, display, pc, pda
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45057 Storage handling for disks or material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A handheld device for use in a wireless environment to operate an apparatus is provided. The handheld device sends a request to an apparatus controller to initiate a maintenance sequence. The handheld device receives information from the apparatus controller to control the operation of the maintenance sequence. The handheld device sends a maintenance command to the apparatus controller. The handheld device then receives information regarding the state of the apparatus after the maintenance command is executed.

Claims

1. A handheld device for use in a wireless environment to operate an apparatus provided with an apparatus controller, the handheld device operable to:

send a request to the apparatus controller to initiate a maintenance sequence;

receive information from the apparatus controller to control the operation of the maintenance sequence;

send a maintenance command to the apparatus controller; and

receive information from the apparatus controller regarding the state of the apparatus after the maintenance command is executed.

2. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the maintenance sequence comprises a robot teaching sequence.

3. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the wireless environment comprises the Bluetooth wireless standard.

4. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the handheld device is operative to run a browser program.

5. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the handheld device is operable to run a bytecode interpreter.

6. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a semiconductor furnace.

7. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein the handheld device is further operable to receive data from the apparatus regarding operational parameters.

8. The handheld device of claim 7, wherein the data is pushed to the handheld device.

9. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein a subset of the apparatus controller commands is provided on the handheld device.

10. A manufacturing apparatus comprising:

an apparatus controller operable to receive information from one or more sensors and send commands to one or more actuators;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the apparatus controller, the wireless transceiver operable to receive and transmit information wirelessly; and

wherein the wireless transceiver is operable to receive commands from a handheld device and send the commands to the apparatus controller, the apparatus controller operable to have the commands performed by the one or more actuators.

11. The manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the commands comprise robot teaching commands.

12. The manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the wireless environment comprises the Bluetooth wireless standard.

13. The manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the manufacturing apparatus is operable to send data to the handheld device regarding operating parameters.

14. The hand held computer of claim 12 wherein the data is pushed to the handheld device.

15. A system for performing maintenance on industrial equipment comprising:

a handheld device including;

a memory and processor for running a maintenance control program;

a first wireless transceiver coupled to the memory and processor of the handheld device for transmitting one or more maintenance commands; and

a process unit including;

a process-unit controller operable to receive information from one or more sensors and send commands to one or more actuators; and

a second wireless transceiver operable to receive wirelessly the one or more maintenance commands from the handheld device and send the commands to the process-unit controller for execution.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the wireless environment comprises the Bluetooth wireless standard.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the handheld device is operative to run a browser program.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the handheld device is operable to run a bytecode interpreter.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the process unit is a semiconductor furnace.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the handheld device is further operable to receive data from the process unit regarding operational parameters.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the data is pushed to the handheld device.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein a subset of the apparatus controller commands is provided on the handheld device.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the maintenance comprises a robot teaching sequence.

24. A method for performing maintenance on an industrial apparatus comprising:

receiving a request for control of the apparatus wirelessly from a handheld device;

sending information regarding the control of the apparatus to the handheld device;

receiving a maintenance command from the handheld device;

executing the maintenance command; and

sending an update to the handheld device regarding the status of the apparatus.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the maintenance comprises a robot teaching sequence.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of receiving information from the handheld device using the Bluetooth wireless standard

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of sending information further comprises sending a subset of an apparatus control instruction set to the handheld device.

28. A method for performing maintenance on an industrial apparatus comprising:

sending a request for control of the apparatus wirelessly from a handheld device;

receiving wirelessly on the handheld device information regarding the control of the apparatus;

sending a maintenance command wirelessly from the handheld device; and

receiving wirelessly on the handheld device an update at the handheld unit regarding the status of the apparatus.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the maintenance comprises a robot teaching sequence.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of sending information from the handheld device using the Bluetooth wireless standard

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of receiving information further comprises receiving a subset of an apparatus control instruction set to the handheld device.