Non-Product Wafer Allocation Control for Automated Fab Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In semiconductor production, the manual management of non-product wafers is becoming increasingly difficult due to the rise in their usage, leading to inefficiencies in recording, managing, and distributing these wafers.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a monitoring module, a statistics module, and a control module is introduced to automate the management and control of non-product wafers. The monitoring module tracks the state of the wafers, the statistics module collects usage information, and the control module receives production instructions to manage the wafers based on their state and usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual management methods are used for non-product wafers, then the system complexity is low, but the productivity and accuracy of wafer management deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewafer management efficiencyVSAvoidmanagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical management operations with an automated electronic control system. The control system automatically assigns non-product wafers to processing equipment based on real-time equipment status and wafer characteristics, eliminating manual recording, tracking, and distribution operations while significantly improving management efficiency and accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system enables self-service by automatically monitoring equipment states, selecting appropriate wafers, and directing them to suitable processing equipment without human intervention. The system autonomously manages the entire wafer allocation process, reducing the need for manual operations and improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If the usage of non-product wafers increases, then the need for wafer management rises, but the difficulty of manual recording and distribution increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of non-product wafersVSAvoidease of wafer distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual tracking and distribution operations with automated electronic monitoring and control. The system automatically tracks each wafer's location, status, and processing history, and directs distribution based on real-time requirements, making the management of large wafer quantities as easy as managing small quantities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously monitors equipment status, wafer characteristics, and processing requirements, using this feedback information to dynamically optimize wafer allocation. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures efficient management of increasing wafer quantities by automatically adjusting distribution strategies based on current system state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12242258B2System and method for controlling non-product wafer, storage medium and electronic device

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 CHANGXIN MEMORY TECH INC

AI summary

A system for controlling the non-product wafer includes the following: a monitoring module, configured to monitor the state of the non-product wafer; a statistics module, configured to obtain usage information of the non-product wafer; and a control module, configured to receive a production instruction and control the non-product wafer according to the state and the usage information of the non-product wafer. The disclosure implements the purpose of automatic control and management of the non-product wafer.