Generic cell controlling method and apparatus for computer integrated manufacturing system

Apparatus for controlling manufacturing operations by a plurality of manufacturing tools, each of said manufacturing tools having a tool controller associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:

• means for accepting tool independent coordinating instructions for controlling manufacturing operations;
• generic controlling means, responsive to said tool independent coordinating instructions, for generating tool independent operational instructions for controlling at least one of said manufacturing tools;
• and
• at least one generic-to-tool translator associated with a respective at least one of said manufacturing tools, and responsive to said tool independent operational instructions, for generating tool dependent operational instructions and for providing said tool dependent operational instructions to the tool controller associated with the at least one manufacturing tool, to thereby cause said tool controller to control said tool and perform manufacturing operations;
• wherein said generic controlling means comprises:
• a database, having a plurality of entries for each of a corresponding plurality of tool independent coordinating instructions, each entry including parameters for the associated operational instruction and an indication of a sequence of steps for the associated operational instruction;
• a plurality of timers, each of which corresponds to one of said plurality of entries for each of a corresponding plurality of tool independent coordinating instructions;
• means for matching an accepted instruction to a corresponding database entry;
• means for detecting expiration of one of said plurality of timers;
• and
• means, responsive to said detecting means, for matching an expired one of said plurality of timers to a corresponding database entry, such that said generic controlling means generates tool independent operational instructions upon receipt of a tool independent coordinating instruction and upon expiration of a timer.

A computer integrated manufacturing system comprising:

• a factory controller;
• a plurality of manufacturing tool controllers;
• a like plurality of manufacturing tools, a respective one of which is responsive to a respective one of said manufacturing tool controllers, for performing manufacturing operations;
• and
• a plurality of generic cell controllers, hierarchically connected between said factory controller and said plurality of manufacturing tool controllers, each of said generic cell controllers comprising:
• means for accepting manufacturing commands;
• means, responsive to an accepted manufacturing command, for determining a sequence of steps to implement an accepted manufacturing command;
• a plurality of manufacturing instruction generating means, a respective one of which is responsive to a respective step in the sequence of steps, for generating manufacturing instructions for implementing the respective step;
• and
• means for accepting the manufacturing instructions generated by the plurality of manufacturing instruction generating means;
• wherein said sequential step determining means comprises:
• a database, having a plurality of entries for each of a corresponding plurality of manufacturing command, each entry including parameters for the associated manufacturing command and an indication of a sequence of steps for the associated manufacturing command;
• means for matching an accepted command to a corresponding database entry;
• and
• means for sequentially activating predetermined ones of said manufacturing instruction generating means, in a sequence determined by the corresponding database entry, and for providing the associated parameters from the corresponding database entry to the activated manufacturing instruction generating means;
• at least one of said manufacturing instruction generating means including means for modifying at least one of said plurality of entries in said database, such that modified manufacturing instructions, having at least one of a modified sequence and modified parameters from that which was originally stored in said database, are generated by said plurality of generic cell controllers in response to an accepted manufacturing command.

A method for controlling manufacturing operations by a plurality of manufacturing tools, each of said manufacturing tools having a tool controller associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

• accepting a command to perform a manufacturing operation on one of said manufacturing tools;
• determining a sequence of steps to implement the manufacturing operation;
• generating operational instructions for the tool controller associated with the one manufacturing tool, for each respective step in the sequence;
• and
• providing the generated operational instructions to the tool controller of the one manufacturing tool, such that the tool controller controls the one manufacturing tool to perform the manufacturing operation;
• wherein said determining step comprises the step of:
• matching an accepted command to an entry in a database, having a plurality of entries for each of a corresponding plurality of manufacturing operations, each entry including parameters for the associated manufacturing operation and an indication of a sequence of steps for the associated manufacturing operation;
• wherein said generating step comprises the step of generating the operational instructions, in a sequence determined by the corresponding database entry, using the associated parameters from the corresponding database entry;
• and
• wherein said matching step further comprises the step of providing an indication that an accepted command does not match any entry in said database;
• said method further comprising the step of effecting creation of a new database entry for the accepted command which does not match any entry in said database in response to an indication that an accepted command does not match any entry in said database, wherein said effecting step comprises the steps of:
• receiving a plurality of instructions corresponding to a plurality of manufacturing operations, each instruction including parameters for the associated manufacturing operation and an indication of a sequence of steps for the associated manufacturing operation;
• and
• storing the received instructions corresponding to a plurality of manufacturing operations as entries in said database.

A method for controlling manufacturing operations by a plurality of manufacturing tools, each of said manufacturing tools having a tool controller associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

• accepting tool independent coordinating instructions for controlling manufacturing operations;
• generating tool independent operational instructions for controlling at least one of said manufacturing tools, in response to said tool independent coordinating instructions;
• translating the tool independent operational instructions into tool dependent operational instructions;
• and
• providing the tool dependent operational instructions to the tool controller associated with the at least one manufacturing tool, to thereby cause said tool controller to control said tool and perform manufacturing operations;
• wherein said generating step comprises the step of:
• matching an accepted coordinating instruction to an entry in a database, having a plurality of entries for each of a corresponding plurality of tool independent coordinating instructions, each entry including parameters for the associated operational instruction and an indication of a sequence of steps for the associated operational instruction;
• providing a plurality of timers, each of which corresponds to one of said plurality of entries for each of a corresponding plurality of tool independent coordinating instructions;
• detecting expiration of one of said plurality of timers;
• and
• matching an expired one of said plurality of timers to a corresponding database entry, such that tool independent operational instructions are generated upon receipt of a coordinating instruction and expiration of a timer.