Process controller for balancing usage of tool sets
First Claim
1. A method of controlling processing for a tool set within a manufacturing line, said method including the steps ofretrieving tool and process usage data and tool-specific data based on a chosen tool and process history of said chosen tool, and said process history being based on at least a period of reliability of said chosen tool,calculating a production parameter from said tool and process usage data,comparing said production parameter to a limit included in said tool-specific data including said process history of said chosen tool, andselectively permitting or preventing use of said chosen tool in accordance with a result of said comparing step,wherein said process history of said tool and process data are limited in accordance with a matching product.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system monitors usage of a tool in a tool set and warns an operator and/or prevents usage of a tool chosen by an operator, subject to possible override by the operator, if permitted, in order to balance usage among tools of the tool set and verify operational conditions of tools of the tool set through usage. The system and method are entirely transparent to the operator and the operator is permitted full flexibility of tool choice unless tool usage becomes unbalanced. The system and method preferably limits usage based on length of consecutive usage and percentage of product processed by each tool. Use of new, modified or repaired tools is also prevented until the tool is certified for a particular process and defined to the system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of controlling processing for a tool set within a manufacturing line, said method including the steps of
retrieving tool and process usage data and tool-specific data based on a chosen tool and process history of said chosen tool, and said process history being based on at least a period of reliability of said chosen tool, calculating a production parameter from said tool and process usage data, comparing said production parameter to a limit included in said tool-specific data including said process history of said chosen tool, and selectively permitting or preventing use of said chosen tool in accordance with a result of said comparing step, wherein said process history of said tool and process data are limited in accordance with a matching product.
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16. A method of controlling processing for a tool set within a manufacturing line, said method including the steps of
retrieving tool and process usage data and tool-specific data based on a chosen tool and process history of said chosen tool, and said process history being based on at least a period of reliability of said chosen tool, calculating a production parameter from said tool and process usage data, wherein said production parameter includes traversing said process history of said tool and process data in reverse chronological order until a usage of a different tool is found, comparing said production parameter to a limit included in said tool-specific data including said process history of said chosen tool, and selectively permitting or preventing use of said chosen tool in accordance with a result of said comparing step.
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17. A method of controlling processing for a tool set within a manufacturing line, said method including the steps of
retrieving tool and process usage data and tool-specific data based on a chosen tool and process history of said chosen tool, and said process history being based on at least a period of reliability of said chosen tool, calculating a production parameter from said tool and process usage data, comparing said production parameter to a limit included in said tool-specific data including said process history of said chosen tool, selectively permitting or preventing use of said chosen tool in accordance with a result of said comparing step, and counting consecutive lots of product processed by the tool.
Specification