# US 12,117,814 B2 · Predictive process control for a manufacturing process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,117,814 B2 - Document ID: US12117814B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/357,560 - Filed: 2023-07-24 - Published: 2023-11-16 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-24 - Assignees: Nanotronics Imaging, Inc. - Applicants: Nanotronics Imaging, Inc. - Inventors: Matthew C. Putman; John B. Putman; Vadim Pinskiy; Damas Limoge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12117814B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/41875: {characterised by quality surveillance of production} - G05B 13/027: {using neural networks only} - G05B 2219/32193: Ann, neural base quality management - G05B 2219/32194: Quality prediction - G05B 2219/32195: Feedforward quality control - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## 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 ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for detecting unexpected activity in a manufacturing process executed in a manufacturing system comprising a plurality of process stations, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving a set of control values generated at a first process station of the plurality of process stations; projecting a final output value or intermediate output value for an article of manufacture undergoing the manufacturing process based on the set of control values; determining that the final output value of the intermediate output value is out of specification; based on the determining, identifying a key influencer in the set of control values that impacts the final output value or the intermediate output value; and based on the identifying, generating updated control inputs for a second process station downstream of the first process station to bring the article of manufacture within specification based on the identified key influencer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying the key influencer in the set of control values that impacts the final output value or the intermediate output value comprises: identifying one or more parameters that affect the final output value or the intermediate output value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising: ranking the one or more parameters based on their influence on the final output value or the intermediate output value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising: identifying a highest ranked parameter of the one or more parameters, wherein the highest ranked parameter is the identified key influencer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising: identifying a subset of the one or more parameters that exceed a threshold level of influence on the final output value or the intermediate output value, wherein the subset of the one or more parameters comprises the identified key influencer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: predicting one or more control inputs for controlling the key influencer to bring the article of manufacture within specification. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the updated control inputs are based on the predicted one or more control inputs. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: a processor; and a memory having programming instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, causes the system to perform operations comprising: receiving a set of control values generated at a first process station of a plurality of process stations; projecting a final output value or intermediate output value for an article of manufacture undergoing a manufacturing process based on the set of control values; determining that the final output value of the intermediate output value is out of specification; based on the determining, identifying a key influencer in the set of control values that impacts the final output value or the intermediate output value; and based on the identifying, generating updated control inputs for a second process station downstream of the first process station to bring the article of manufacture within specification based on the identified key influencer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein identifying the key influencer in the set of control values that impacts the final output value or the intermediate output value comprises: identifying one or more parameters that affect the final output value or the intermediate output value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising: ranking the one or more parameters based on their influence on the final output value or the intermediate output value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: identifying a highest ranked parameter of the one or more parameters, wherein the highest ranked parameter is the identified key influencer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: identifying a subset of the one or more parameters that exceed a threshold level of influence on the final output value or the intermediate output value, wherein the subset of the one or more parameters comprises the identified key influencer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: predicting one or more control inputs for controlling the key influencer to bring the article of manufacture within specification. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the updated control inputs are based on the predicted one or more control inputs. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions, which, when executed by a processor, causes a computing system to perform operations comprising: receiving a set of control values generated at a first process station of a plurality of process stations; projecting a final output value or intermediate output value for an article of manufacture undergoing a manufacturing process based on the set of control values; determining that the final output value of the intermediate output value is out of specification; based on the determining, identifying a key influencer in the set of control values that impacts the final output value or the intermediate output value; and based on the identifying, generating updated control inputs for a second process station downstream of the first process station to bring the article of manufacture within specification based on the identified key influencer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein identifying the key influencer in the set of control values that impacts the final output value or the intermediate output value comprises: identifying one or more parameters that affect the final output value or the intermediate output value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising: ranking the one or more parameters based on their influence on the final output value or the intermediate output value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising: identifying a highest ranked parameter of the one or more parameters, wherein the highest ranked parameter is the identified key influencer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising: identifying a subset of the one or more parameters that exceed a threshold level of influence on the final output value or the intermediate output value, wherein the subset of the one or more parameters comprises the identified key influencer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise: predicting one or more control inputs for controlling the key influencer to bring the article of manufacture within specification, wherein the updated control inputs are based on the predicted one or more control inputs.