Production Line Control Route Determination for Yield Improvement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Manufacturers face challenges in setting and adjusting control conditions for production lines due to reliance on experiential methods, which lack objective evaluation of control factors' impact on yield-related values, and fail to consider cost and burden on the production line, making it difficult to improve yield efficiently.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that determine a target adjustment route for a preset control condition set by establishing candidate adjustment routes using historical control condition sets, ensuring yield improvement and gradual adjustment of control factors while minimizing production line burden, by selecting routes with higher yield values and proper subset adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manufacturers rely on experiential methods to set control conditions, then the process is simple and quick, but the yield-related values cannot be improved efficiently and the method lacks objective evaluation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveyield improvement efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol condition decision complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/experiential decision-making process with an automated computer-based system that objectively evaluates control factors and determines adjustment routes, thereby improving yield efficiency without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the approach from subjective experiential parameters to objective data-driven parameters by analyzing historical control condition sets and yield-related values to determine optimal adjustment routes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If manufacturers apply optimal control condition sets from experimental methods, then the yield-related values can be maximized, but the control conditions cannot comply with on-site production line restrictions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveyield-related valueVSAvoidcontrol condition adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial adjustment by selecting only those control factors from the optimal control condition set that can be adjusted within on-site restrictions, rather than attempting to apply the complete optimal set, thus achieving adaptability while improving yield

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the control condition adjustment into multiple adjustable and non-adjustable factors, allowing the adaptable portion to be optimized while respecting on-site constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If too many control factors are adjusted at one time, then the yield improvement can be achieved quickly, but the burden on the production line increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveyield improvement speedVSAvoidproduction line burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control factors into adjustment sequences, adjusting one or a few factors at a time rather than all factors simultaneously, thereby reducing production line burden while achieving yield improvement through multiple sequential steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of control factors to determine the optimal adjustment sequence before implementation, identifying which factors should be adjusted first to minimize production line burden while achieving yield improvement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional technology decides control condition sets without considering adjustment cost and burden, then the decision process is simple, but the cost-effectiveness and practical applicability are poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol condition decision simplicityVSAvoidcost-effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple but ineffective conventional decision-making with an automated computer-based system that objectively evaluates both simplicity and cost-effectiveness, determining optimal adjustment routes that consider adjustment costs and production line burden

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10671055B2Apparatus and method for determining a target adjustment route for a preset control condition set of a production line

Publication Date: 2020.06.02 INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION INDUSTRY

AI summary

An apparatus and method for determining a target adjustment route for a preset control condition set of a production line are provided. The apparatus establishes at least one candidate adjustment route for the preset control condition set according to the historical control condition sets. Each candidate adjustment route includes at least one adjustment control condition set arranged in an adjustment order. Each adjustment control condition set is one of the historical control condition sets. Within the same candidate adjustment route, the historical yield related values corresponding to the adjustment control condition sets are all greater than the preset yield related value and increase in the adjustment order. Within the same candidate adjustment route, the numbers of the adjustment control condition(s) included in the adjustment sets increase in the adjustment order. The apparatus selects one of the candidate adjustment route(s) as the target adjustment route.