DATA COLLECTOR CONTROL SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC COMMUNICATION PORT SWITCH

• US 20080275578A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ProMOS Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ProMOS Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: CHANG, HONG MING, HU, JUI WEN, CHIOU, HUNG WEN
• Application Number:
  US12/175,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/79
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31244 Safety, reconnect network automatically if broken
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A data collector control system for semiconductor manufacturing comprises a data collector and a automatic communication port switch control circuit. The control system is placed between an equipment and an equipment automation programming (EAP) system. The data collector processes and transmits communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system while the data collector operates normally. The communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system are transmitted through the control circuit instead of the data collector while the data collector operates abnormally.

Claims

1. A data collector control system placed between an equipment and an equipment automation programming (EAP) system, comprising:

a data collector configured to manage and transmit communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system when the data collector operates normally; and

an automatic communication port switch control circuit configured to stop the transmission of the communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system through the data collector when the data collector operates abnormally, wherein the communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system are transmitted through the automatic communication port switch control circuit when the data collector operates abnormally.

2. The data collector control system of claim 1, wherein the data collector comprises a main board configured to perform a data collector program, and the data collector program is configured to manage the communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system.

3. The data collector control system of claim 2, wherein the automatic communication port switch control circuit comprises:

a first communication port serving as an interface connected to the equipment;

a second communication port serving as an interface connected to the EAP system; and

a switch control circuit configured to select a transmission path of the communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system based on whether the data collector operates normally or not.

4. The data collector control system of claim 3, wherein the automatic communication port switch control circuit further comprises:

an active IC connected between the data collector and the first communication port and serving as a transmission path of the communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system when the data collector operates normally; and

a passive IC connected between the first communication port and the second communication port and serving as a transmission path of the communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system when the data collector operates abnormally.

5. The data collector control system of claim 3, wherein the first communication port and the second communication port are serial ports.

6. The data collector control system of claim 4, wherein the active IC is placed between the first communication port and a first serial port of the main board, the second communication port is electrically connected to a second serial port of the main board, and the switch control circuit is connected to a third serial port of the main board.

7. The data collector control system of claim 6, wherein a control signal of different voltages is generated by the data collector program according to whether the data collector operates normally or not, and the control signal is transmitted to the switch control circuit through the third serial port for selecting the transmission path of the communication messages between the equipment and the EAP system.

8. The data collector control system of claim 4, wherein the switch control circuit comprises a half wave rectification circuit, a delay circuit, a first switching circuit and a second switching circuit, the half wave rectification circuit, the delay circuit, the second switching circuit and the first switching circuit are connected in sequence, the half wave rectification circuit is connected to the main board, and the first switching circuit is connected to the active IC or the passive IC.

9. The data collector control system of claim 8, wherein the first switching circuit is connected to the active IC if the data collector operates normally, and the first switching circuit is connected to the passive IC if the data collector operates abnormally.

10. The data collector control system of claim 8, wherein the first switching circuit and the second switching circuit are relays.

11. The data collector control system of claim 1, wherein the automatic communication port switch control circuit comprises a relay with two switches, the two switches switch simultaneously when the data collector powers off unexpectedly, thereby the equipment and the EAP system are connected through the relay.

12. The data collector control system of claim 1, wherein the automatic communication port switch control circuit comprises a first LED indicator and a second LED indicator configured to indicate whether the data collector operate normally or not.

13. The data collector control system of claim 12, wherein the first LED indicator turns on when the data collector operates normally, whereas the second LED indicator turns on when the data collector operates abnormally.

14. The data collector control system of claim 8, wherein the automatic communication port switch control circuit further comprises a status switch including a normal position and an abnormal position for manually selecting operation modes of the data collector.

15. The data collector control system of claim 14, wherein the first switching circuit is electrically connected to the passive IC when the status switch switches to the abnormal position.