IP Library Granted Patent US 11,156,992
Granted Patent B2
US 11,156,992 · App. 16/663,245 · Granted Oct 26, 2021

Predictive process control for a manufacturing process

Inventors: Matthew C. Putman (Brooklyn, NY); John B. Putman (Celebration, FL); Vadim Pinskiy (Wayne, NJ); Damas Limoge (Brooklyn, NY)
Assignee: Nanotronics Imaging, Inc.
G05B19/41875G05B13/027G05B2219/32193G05B2219/32194G05B2219/32195
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,156,992
App. No.
16/663,245
Granted
Oct 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the disclosed technology encompass the use of a deep-learning controller for monitoring and improving a manufacturing process. In some aspects, a method of the disclosed technology includes steps for: receiving control values associated with a process station in a manufacturing process, predicting an expected value for an article of manufacture output from the process station, and determining if the deep-learning controller can control the manufacturing process based on the expected value. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Claims (54)

1. A computer-implemented method for training a deep-learning controller to control a manufacturing process executed in a manufacturing system comprising a plurality of process stations, comprising:

receiving, by the deep-learning controller, a first set of control values associated with a first process station of the plurality of process stations, wherein the first set of control values are attributes of the first process station;

predicting, by the deep-learning controller, an expected final output for an article of manufacture, based on the first set of control values;

receiving, by the deep-learning controller, a second set of control values associated with a second process station of the plurality of process stations, wherein the second set of control values are attributes of the second process station;

predicting, by the deep-learning controller, an updated expected final output for the article of manufacture, based on the second set of control values;

determining if the deep-learning controller can control the manufacturing process based on the expected final output and the updated expected final output by:

receiving, by the deep-learning controller, an actual value associated with the article of manufacture following processing in the manufacturing system,

comparing the expected final output with the actual value, and

determining that the expected final output is within a threshold confidence level of the actual value,

comparing the updated expected final output with the actual value, and

determining that the updated expected final output is within the threshold confidence level of the actual value; and

based on the determining, assuming control of the manufacturing process by the deep-learning controller.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

indicating that the deep-learning controller is ready to take control of the manufacturing process.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein

if the expected final output is not within the threshold confidence level of the actual value, determining that the deep-learning controller cannot control the manufacturing process.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the expected final output is based on two or more physical attributes of the article of manufacture.

5. A system for training a deep-learning controller to control a manufacturing process executed in a manufacturing system comprising a plurality of process stations comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by the deep-learning controller, a first set of control values associated with a first process station of the plurality of process stations, wherein the first set of control values are attributes of the first process station;

predicting, by the deep-learning controller, an expected final output for an article of manufacture, based on the first set of control values;

receiving, by the deep-learning controller, a second set of control values associated with a second process station of the plurality of process stations, wherein the second set of control values are attributes of the second process station;

predicting, by the deep-learning controller, an updated expected final output for the article of manufacture, based on the second set of control values;

determining if the deep-learning controller can control the manufacturing process based on the expected final output and the updated expected final output by:

receiving, by the deep-learning controller, an actual value associated with the article of manufacture following processing in the manufacturing system,

comparing the expected final output with the actual value, and

determining that the expected final output is within a threshold confidence level of the actual value,

comparing the updated expected final output with the actual value, and

determining that the updated expected final output is within the threshold confidence level of the actual value; and

based on the determining, assuming control of the manufacturing process by the deep-learning controller.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:

indicating that the deep-learning controller is ready to take control of the manufacturing process.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein

if the expected final output is not within the threshold confidence level of the actual value, determining that the deep-learning controller cannot control the manufacturing process.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first set of control values are received from one or more process controllers associated with the first process station.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the expected final output is based on two or more physical attributes of the article of manufacture.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for training a deep-learning controller to control a manufacturing process executed in a manufacturing system comprising a plurality of process stations, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by the deep-learning controller, a first set of control values associated with a first process station of the plurality of process stations, wherein the first set of control values are attributes of the first process station;

predicting, by the deep-learning controller, an expected final output for an article of manufacture, based on the first set of control values;

receiving, by the deep-learning controller, a second set of control values associated with a second process station of the plurality of process stations, wherein the second set of control values are attributes of the second process station;

predicting, by the deep-learning controller, an updated expected final output for the article of manufacture, based on the second set of control values;

determining if the deep-learning controller can control the manufacturing process based on the expected final output and the updated expected final output by:

receiving, by the deep-learning controller, an actual value associated with the article of manufacture following processing in the manufacturing system,

comparing the expected final output with the actual value, and

determining that the expected final output is within a threshold confidence level of the actual value,

comparing the updated expected final output with the actual value, and

determining that the updated expected final output is within the threshold confidence level of the actual value; and

based on the determining, assuming control of the manufacturing process by the deep-learning controller.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:

indicating that the deep-learning controller is ready to take control of the manufacturing process.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein

if the expected final output is not within the threshold confidence level of the actual value, determining that the deep-learning controller cannot control the manufacturing process.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the first set of control values are received from one or more process controllers associated with the first process station.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2023
From: NANOTRONICS IMAGING, INC.; NANOTRONICS HEALTH LLC; CUBEFABS INC.
To: ORBIMED ROYALTY & CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES IV, LP
Reel/Frame 065726/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2019
From: PUTMAN, MATTHEW C.; PUTMAN, JOHN B.; PINSKIY, VADIM; LIMOGE, DAMAS
To: NANOTRONICS IMAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051060/0170 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16519102 · Jul 23, 2019
Provisional Application 62865859 · Jun 24, 2019
Related Publication 20200401120A1 · Dec 24, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,449,792