Semiconductor UI Navigation Menu History Buffer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor manufacturing equipment control systems face issues with data loss during screen conversions and require users to repeatedly navigate through menus to access previously accessed screens, causing inconvenience and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A navigation menu system is implemented within the user interface to store and display accessed menus in a historical order, preventing data loss by automatically buffering corrected data during screen conversions and allowing easy access to previously used menus through a menu bar interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the user interface loads multiple operable menu screens into the initial main screen, then the user can access various menus, but data under creation are lost when conversion is made from one menu to another before completion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting when a user navigates away from a menu screen and automatically prompting to save any unsaved data before the transition occurs. This preventive measure ensures data is preserved before potential loss could occur during screen conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by providing visual indicators (such as asterisks or highlighted text) to show which data fields have been modified but not yet saved. This feedback allows users to understand their current state and take appropriate action before navigating to another menu.
2Ease of operation
If the screen is refreshed whenever the user selects a menu, then the user interface processes menu selections, but the screen is converted without storage of data under edit or correction
Solution Approach 1:
Before executing the screen refresh and conversion operation, the system performs a preliminary check to detect any modified data fields. When such fields are found, the system interrupts the automatic refresh process and presents a save prompt to the user, preventing data loss before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by implementing a protective mechanism that counteracts the potential harmful effect of automatic screen conversion. The anti-action manifests as an interruptible refresh process that can be halted and redirected to a data save operation based on detected user intent.
3Device complexity
If the user must select through several menu selection processes to re-access previously accessed menus, then the system maintains a hierarchical menu structure, but the user is inconvenienced by having to repeat the same process
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a simplified copy or representation of the navigation path to previously accessed menus. This copying manifests as a history stack or breadcrumb trail that mirrors the hierarchical structure but provides direct access points, allowing users to quickly return to previous menus without retracing the entire navigation path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the navigation process by breaking down the hierarchical menu structure into discrete, independently accessible segments. Each previously accessed menu becomes a separate segment in the navigation history, allowing users to jump directly to any segment without having to pass through intermediate menus.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system and method for controlling a semiconductor manufacturing equipment by means of a user interface. The control system connects at least one controller through a network to a plurality of semiconductor manufacturing equipments. The controller includes a superordinate controller such as a host for remote control and a subordinate controller such as a cluster tool controller. The controller includes a user interface application for controlling, monitoring and managing the semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The user interface application provides a navigation menu in one side region of a screen to display menus, accessed by a user, in the order of history. The navigation menu is provided in the type of menu bars corresponding to the menus accessed by the user. The navigation menu is configured to automatically store data corrected by the user, prior to conversion to another menu. The menus accessed by the user can be rapidly selected by means of the user interface, and the loss of the corrected data in the accessed menu can be prevented.