Communication device and method for controlling communication device

• US 10,068,788 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2014
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Tanimoto, Yoshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Ly D
• Application Number:
  US15/031,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20160276192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 700121
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31276 Transport a lot to stations, each with different types of manufacturing equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33136 Com: communication, inter processor communication, either local or network
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45031 Manufacturing semiconductor wafers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67276 Production flow monitoring, e.g. for increasing throughput program-control systems per se G05B19/00, e.g. total factory control G05B19/418
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67715 Changing the direction of the conveying path
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67733 Overhead conveying
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A communication device includes a communicator that performs communication via a network, IO ports that connect with a manufacturing apparatus, a packet monitor that monitors, via the communicator, packet data communicated to and from the manufacturing apparatus via the network, an IO monitor that monitors states of the IO ports, and a controller configured or programmed to transmit monitoring information to a transportation apparatus via the communicator, the transportation apparatus transporting a processing target, and the monitoring information being obtained through the monitoring performed by the packet monitor and the IO monitor.

Claims

1. A communication device to be connected with a manufacturing apparatus, the communication device comprising:

a communicator that performs communication via a network;

at least one IO port that connects with the manufacturing apparatus;

a packet monitor that monitors, via the communicator, packet data communicated to and from the manufacturing apparatus via the network;

an IO monitor that monitors a state of the at least one IO port; and

a controller configured or programmed to transmit monitoring information to a transportation apparatus via the communicator;

wherein

the transportation apparatus is an apparatus that transports a processing target to and/or from the manufacturing apparatus; and

the monitoring information is obtained through the monitoring performed by the packet monitor and the IO monitor.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communicator includes:

a first communication port to be connected with the manufacturing apparatus;

a second communication port to be connected with an external apparatus;

a third communication port to be connected with the transportation apparatus; and

a relay that relays packet data between the first communication port and the second communication port; and

the packet monitor monitors the packet data relayed by the relay between the manufacturing apparatus and the external apparatus.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one IO port is connected to a loading port which carries in and out the processing target of the manufacturing apparatus;

and

the IO monitor monitors a state of the loading port.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured or programmed to convert first identification information included in the monitoring information obtained through the monitoring performed by the packet monitor, to second identification information, and transmit monitoring information including the second identification information to the transportation apparatus, the first identification information being information allowing the manufacturing apparatus to identify the loading port, and the second identification information being information allowing the transportation apparatus to identify the loading port.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured or programmed to determine whether or not the monitoring information obtained through the monitoring performed by the packet monitor includes a predetermined command, and transmit the monitoring information to the transportation apparatus when the monitoring information includes the predetermined command.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the transportation apparatus includes:

a transportation vehicle that transports the processing target to the manufacturing apparatus; and

a transportation controller that is configured or programmed to control a plurality of the transportation vehicles;

wherein

the controller is configured or programmed to transmit the monitoring information to at least one of the transportation vehicle and the transportation controller.

7. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein

the transportation controller is configured or programmed to assign, to one of the plurality of the transportation vehicles, transportation of the processing target to the manufacturing apparatus, and transmit third identification information to the manufacturing apparatus for identifying the transportation vehicle to which the transportation of the processing target is assigned;

and

the controller is configured or programmed to transmit the monitoring information to the transportation vehicle identified by the third identification information.

8. A method for controlling a communication device including a communicator that performs communication via a network, and at least one IO port that connects with a manufacturing apparatus, the method comprising:

monitoring, via the communicator, packet data communicated to and from the manufacturing apparatus via the network;

monitoring a state of the at least one IO port; and

transmitting monitoring information to a transportation apparatus via the communicator, the transportation apparatus being an apparatus that transports a processing target to and/or from the manufacturing apparatus, the monitoring information being obtained through the monitoring of packet data and the monitoring of a state of the at least one IO port.