General purpose data communications protocol converter

A method of data communication protocol conversion to interface manufacturing process equipment with a host computer controlling said process equipment, comprising the steps of:

• processing by a controller first messages received from said host computer and process equipment for forming second messages sent to said process equipment and host computer, and
• in response to the preceding step, providing a parallel input/output interface to numerous units of said process equipment for checking and activating operation signals supplied to and from said process equipment to check and set process parameters of said process equipment, and sending an error message to said host computer in response to a predetermined condition,
• wherein data communication protocol of said host computer differs from data communication protocols of said process equipment.

An apparatus for protocol conversion between a host data processor means and manufacturing equipment comprising:

• message processing means responsive to said host data processor and said manufacturing equipment for converting a first message of a first protocol received from said host data processing means and said manufacturing equipment into a second message of a second protocol to be sent to said host data processor and said manufacturing equipment, and
• data acquisition means providing a parallel digital input/output interface to said manufacturing equipment and responsive to said message processing means for checking and activating status signals supplied to and from said manufacturing means to check and set modes of operation of said manufacturing means.