Relay Communication Network for Reliable Transport Carriage Interlocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In transport systems using wireless communication for interlock processing between overhead traveling carriages and semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses, communication failures occur due to radio wave reflections and skew issues, necessitating redundant communication methods to ensure reliable data transfer.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication method where multiple communication devices are connected to each other, allowing signals to be transmitted through alternative channels, including hardwire cables, to ensure redundancy and stability, and using time and radio wave strength information to optimize signal transmission and reduce collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used for interlock communication between overhead traveling carriage and optical communication terminal, then alignment of optical axes is not required and installation is simplified, but communication failures occur due to radio wave reflection and surrounding environment interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay communication device as an intermediary to transmit communication signals between the overhead traveling carriage and the optical communication terminal. When direct wireless communication fails due to radio wave reflection or environmental interference, the relay device receives the signal from one endpoint and retransmits it to the other, ensuring continuous and reliable interlock communication without requiring optical axis alignment.
2Reliability
If optical communication is used for interlock communication, then communication stability is high, but alignment of optical axes is required and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay communication device serves as a mediator that combines the advantages of both optical and wireless communication. It receives optical signals from the optical communication terminal with high stability, then retransmits them wirelessly to the overhead traveling carriage, eliminating the need for optical axis alignment at the moving carriage while maintaining communication stability through the relay's stable optical connection.
3Reliability
If redundant wireless communication channels are implemented to ensure reliability, then communication failure risk is reduced, but system complexity and number of communication devices increase
Solution Approach 1:
The relay communication device provides a single additional communication node that creates redundant communication paths. The overhead traveling carriage can communicate directly with the optical communication terminal, or through the relay device, creating two possible transmission paths. This single relay device suffices to provide redundancy without requiring multiple complex communication systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method of a transport system including of transport carriages each transporting a transported object, and communication devices connected one-to-one with loading ports onto which the transported objects are loaded. The communication devices are communicably connected to each other in advance. The communication method includes transmitting, from a specific transport carriage to the communication devices, a first signal having a specific communication as a final transmission destination, and receiving, in the specific communication device, the first signal from the specific transport carriage through a communication channel that passes through another communication device. The first signal is a signal communicated for the specific transport carriage to transfer the transported object to and from a specific loading port connected one-to-one with the specific communication device.