Controlling device for monitoring the spatial or mechanical delimitation of producer goods or materials in the production cycle by using of transponder technology

• US 20050177272A1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brooks Automation Ltd. (United Kingdom) (Azenta, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brooks Automation Ltd. (United Kingdom) (Azenta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Buchmann, Harald
• Application Number:
  US10/509,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20050177272A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/225
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67294 using identification means, e.g. labels on substrates or labels on containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/6735 Closed carriers

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring access in manufacturing plants that comprises the following steps: defining access-controlled areas in a manufacturing plant into which defined objects should not enter; applying a transponder to a container, whereby the transponder carries an item of information regarding the contents of the container; providing base stations in the access-controlled areas and using the base stations to detect when a container approaches an access-controlled area into which the contents of the container should not enter, and; indicating the prohibited approach of a container. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method.

Claims

1. Method for access control in factories, having the following steps:

definition of access-controlled areas in a factory into which defined objects are not intended to enter,

attachment of a transponder to a container, the transponder carrying information with respect to the contents of the container,

provision of base stations in the access-controlled areas and,

detection by the base station if a container is approaching an access-controlled area into which the contents of the container are not intended to enter, and

indication of the non-permitted approach of a container.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that

the access-controlled area is a machine to which containers are supplied.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the following steps:

detection of an identification signal of a base station by a transponder attached to a container,

on the basis of the identification signal, detection by a transponder that the associated container is approaching a non-permitted area, and

indication of a warning signal on the container.

4. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised by the following steps:

detection of an activation signal of a base station by a transponder attached to a container,

transmission of an identification from the activated transponder to the base station, and

emission of a warning signal at the base station if the identification indicates a container which is non-permitted for the area associated with the base station.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that

the transponder and/or the base station determine the distance between them by means of the strength of a transmitted signal.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that

different measures are adopted dependent upon the determined distance.

7. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that

respectively different frequencies are used for the signal transmission from the base station to the transponder or vice versa.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that,

the base station actualises data stored in the transponder in a wireless manner.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that

data stored in the transponder are indicated directly on the associated container.

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that

the transponder has at least two antennae which are orientated orthogonally relative to each other, that antenna which detected the highest signal strength during a previous reception of a signal being used for a transmission.

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that

an active transponder with passive emergency operation properties is used.

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that

the container is a FOUP.

13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that

the base stations are connected to a central control system which implements the processing of the transponder data and the localisation of the containers.

14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that

the transponder is connected via the base stations to the central control system and is suitable for transmitting data to the central control system and for indicating data, received from the central control system, on the container by means of a display.

15. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that,

due to the operating elements attached to the container, read-out, display and transmission processes can be started.

16. Device for implementation of a method according to one of the preceding claims, having the following components:

transponder attached to the containers,

base stations which are able to transmit signals to the transponder and to receive signals from the transponder, and

a central control system which networks with the base stations and is suitable for processing the data received from the base stations.

17. Use of a method according to one of the claims 1 to 12 for controlling the movement of containers in semiconductor production.