IP Library Granted Patent US 7,908,024
Granted Patent B2
US 7,908,024 · App. 12/166,245 · Granted Mar 15, 2011

Method and system for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,908,024
App. No.
12/166,245
Granted
Mar 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber is disclosed. When a recipe error for one of chamber of a process tool is detected, only the chamber with the recipe error is terminated and other chambers are allowed to proceed with their recipe processes for preventing excursions.

Claims (28)

1. A system for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber, comprising:

a process tool, further comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein when the first and second chambers process a wafer lot using a process recipe, a process start message is sent;

an equipment automation program server, receiving the process start message from the process tool and monitoring and tracking processing states of the process tool; and

a fault detection and classification system, receiving the process start message from the equipment automation program server,

wherein, when a process error for the first chamber is generated, the process tool transmits the process error to the equipment automation program server;

when the process error is retrieved, the equipment automation program server generates an iFDC error command comprising an identification of the first chamber and transmits the iFDC error command to the process tool via the fault detection and classification system and the equipment automation program server; and

when the process tool receives the iFDC error command, changing an executing state of the first chamber using an automation program sending a command based on the identification of the first chamber to enable the first chamber to stop performing the process recipe of the first chamber.

2. The system for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second chamber proceeds with the process recipe thereof when the first chamber stops performing the process recipe thereof.

3. The system for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the process recipe performed by the first chamber is recovered according to a reactivation command and when the process error is excluded, the first chamber is enabled to re-perform the process recipe thereof.

4. The system for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the iFDC error command is in a field of any process data or a process message.

5. A method for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber, comprising:

when first and second chambers of a process tool processes a wafer lot using a process recipe, a process start message is sent using the process tool;

transmitting the process start message to an equipment automation program server and a fault detection and classification system respectively to enable the equipment automation program server to monitor and track processing states of the process tool;

when a process error for the first chamber is generated, the process tool transmitting the process error to the equipment automation program server;

when the process error is retrieved, the equipment automation program server generating an iFDC error command comprising an identification of the first chamber and transmitting the iFDC error command to the process tool via the fault detection and classification system and the equipment automation program server; and

when the process tool receives the iFDC error command, changing an executing state of the first chamber using an automation program sending a command based on the identification of the first chamber to enable the first chamber to stop performing the process recipe of the first chamber.

6. The method for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second chamber proceeds with the process recipe thereof when the first chamber stops performing the process recipe thereof.

7. The method for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the process recipe performed by the first chamber is recovered according to a reactivation command, and when the process error is excluded, the first chamber is enabled to re-perform the process recipe thereof.

8. The method for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the iFDC error command is in a field of any process data or a process message.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program providing a method for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber, comprising using a computer to perform the steps of:

when first and second chambers of a process tool processes a wafer lot using a process recipe, a process start message is sent using the process tool;

transmitting the process start message to an equipment automation program server and a fault detection and classification system respectively to enable the equipment automation program server to monitor and track processing states of the process tool;

when a process error for the first chamber is generated, the process tool transmits the process error to the equipment automation program server;

when the process error is retrieved, the equipment automation program server generates an iFDC error command comprising an identification of the first chamber and transmits the iFDC error command to the process tool via the fault detection and classification system and the equipment automation program server; and

when the process tool receives the iFDC error command, changing an executing state of the first chamber using an automation program sending a command based on the identification of the first chamber to enable the first chamber to stop performing the process recipe of the first chamber.

10. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the second chamber proceeds with the process recipe thereof when the first chamber stops performing the process recipe thereof.

11. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the process recipe performed by the first chamber is recovered according to a reactivation command, and when the process error is excluded, the first chamber is enabled to re-perform the process recipe thereof.

12. The computer-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the iFDC error command is in a field of any process data or process messages.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050695/0825 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2017
From: INOTERA MEMORIES, INC.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 041820/0815 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 3 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 041675/0105 →