TWI803158B - Electronic device for conducting communications through secs/gem protocol and use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses an electronic device, which is applied in a production equipment or an inspection equipment that is disposed in an automated production line for producing semiconductor produced or PCB. The electronic device comprises a microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a plurality of computer-readable files and at least one link program. Said computer-readable file includes a machine response message edited by a format of SML, and the machine response message comprises a common content and a plurality of code names. In case of a MES system sending a SECS command to a specific equipment according to a collection event, the microprocessor accesses a corresponding computer-readable file from the memory, then executes said link program so as to line said plurality of code names to a plurality of strings, and consequently replies the machine response message to the MES system through SECS/GEM protocol. The plurality of strings comprises: command codes, a plurality of response sentences and at least one equipment parameter.

Description

Electronic device capable of realizing SECS/GEM communication protocol and its application

The invention relates to the technical field of smart factories, especially an electronic device capable of implementing SECS/GEM communication protocol and its application.

As known, the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is also called the factory operation control system, which is usually combined with the Enterprise Resource Planning System (Enterprise Resource Planning, ERP) and/or the Advanced Planning and Scheduling System (Advanced Planning and Scheduling System, APS) can be used together to help enterprises realize the automatic production of any kind of product. At present, the MES system integrates the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology to realize the tracking and control of the raw materials and machine status of the Work in Process (WIP), thereby realizing the smart factory.

In the existing MES system, machine controllers such as programmable logic controller (Programmable logic controller, PLC) or computer (Personal computer) are indispensable devices. Figure 1 shows a simple architecture diagram of a known MES system. As shown in Figure 1, the MES system 1a includes: a central control device 11a, at least one SECS/GEM gateway device 12a, at least one machine controller device 13a such as PLC or PC, and at least one Stand 3a. It should be known that, based on the protection of the machine and the avoidance of improper operation of the machine, equipment manufacturers usually design the control system of the machine as a closed type. Therefore, the central control device 11a cannot directly link information to each machine 3a, but must pass through a machine controller device 13a such as PLC or PC. However, according to the definition of the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), the communication between the machine 3a and the central control device 11a is realized through the SECS/GEM protocol. To explain in more detail, SECS is SEMI Equipment Communication Standard, and GEM is a generic model for machine communication and control, so it is called Generic Equipment Model.

Therefore, when the machine controller device 13a such as the old-fashioned PLC or PC does not have a SECS/GEM communication interface, a SECS/GEM gateway 12a must be used to connect the central control device 11a and the machine such as the PLC or PC. The controller devices 13a can communicate with each other through the SECS/GEM protocol, so as to link/control the machine 3a through the machine controller device 13a such as PLC or PC.

Of course, with the advancement of technology, new devices such as PLCs or PCs also have SECS/GEM communication interfaces. Figure 2 shows a simple structure diagram of another MES system including devices such as PLC or PC with built-in SECS/GEM communication interface. As shown in Figure 2, the MES system 2a includes: a central control device 21a, at least one machine controller device 23a such as PLC or PC, and at least one machine platform 3a, wherein the machine controller device such as PLC or PC 23a has a built-in SECS/GEM communication interface, so that the central control device 21a can directly communicate with the machine controller device 23a such as the PLC or PC by using the SECS/GEM protocol, so that the machine controller device 13a such as the PLC or PC can Information link/control machine 3a.

To further illustrate, collection events (Collection events) is a key feature of the SECS/GEM communication protocol. For example, a machine unlock check event means that the MES system 2a tries to unlock the machine 3a according to the schedule information of equipment operators in the database of the advanced planning and scheduling system. After the machine unlock check event is triggered, the central control device 21a of the MES system 2a will issue a machine unlock check to the designated machine 3a through the machine controller device 23a such as a PLC or PC with a built-in SECS/GEM communication interface. After receiving the unlock check of the machine 3a, the machine 3a will reply a message to the central control device 21a to confirm receipt of the command, and then perform the unlock check. After completing the unlock check, regardless of whether the employee number has the authority to unlock the machine, the machine 3a will reply a corresponding message to the central control device 21a through the device 23a such as PLC or PC.

In more detail, each collection event sent by the machine 3a will contain a machine number corresponding to it for identification. For the manufacturing plant, the machines 3a used in different production lines are bound to be different. Therefore, machine controllers 23a such as PLC or PC with built-in SECS/GEM communication interface are sold (as shown in Figure 2) or The supplier who sells the SECS/GEM gateway 12a will, according to the requirements put forward by the manufacturer, pre-edit the corresponding The machine reply content of various collection events (Collection events) of machine 3a. Of course, the reply content of the machine usually includes all the parameters of the advanced planning and scheduling system, such as event number, report number, machine number, production or testing parameters, production or testing quantity, production or testing batch number, alarm number, alarm status , equipment status, raw material number, operator number, etc.

It is conceivable that when the machine 3a and/or the operator replaces, increases, or decreases, the machine reply content of each collection event must be correspondingly changed. Although the manufacturing plant has IT personnel, however, it needs to be connected to PLC or PC with built-in SECS/GEM communication interface The machine controller device 23a or the SECS/GEM gateway 12a checks the program code of the machine reply content of each collection event, and then finds the corresponding place to perform the replacement, addition, or reduction of the program code. For these IT personnel Nor is it easy. In this case, the manufacturer will usually send the machine controller device 23a such as PLC or PC with built-in SECS/GEM communication interface or the SECS/GEM gateway 12a back to the supplier, and ask the supplier to help complete the execution of the code After the replacement, increase, or reduction, the machine controller device 23a such as PLC or PC or the SECS/GEM gateway 12a is sent back.

From the above description, it can be known that the conventional machine controller device 23a such as PLC or PC or the SECS/GEM gateway 12a with built-in SECS/GEM communication interface obviously still needs to be improved. In view of this, the inventor of this case researches and invents to the utmost, and finally develops and completes an electronic device of the present invention.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an electronic device, which is applied to be integrated in an MES system, coupled between a central control device and a machine control device coupled to at least one machine, so that the central control The device can use the SECS/GEM protocol to link the at least one machine through the information of the machine control device.

The present invention will include all parameters of the advanced planning and scheduling system, such as event number, report number, machine number, production or testing parameters, production or testing quantity, production or testing batch number, alarm number, alarm status, equipment status, raw material Number, operator number, etc., and the reply text string (string), etc. are represented by codes, and the computer-readable file (such as: txt file) containing the machine reply message is edited in SML format, so that it corresponds to a collection event (collection event) a machine reply message contains a common part and a plurality of said codes. At the same time, the present invention uses a programming language (such as: C# language) to link the plurality of said codes in the reply message of the machine with the plurality of said strings respectively. According to this design, if there is a need to increase/decrease collection events, suppliers and/or manufacturers only need to add/delete computer-readable files, which is very convenient. On the other hand, if it is necessary to change the reply text corresponding to the collection event, the supplier and/or manufacturer can also make changes in the editor of the programming language.

To achieve the above object, the present invention proposes an embodiment of the electronic device, which is used to be coupled between a central control device and a machine control device coupled to at least one machine, so that the central control device can utilize SECS /GEM protocol to link the at least one machine through the machine control device information; the electronic device includes: a microprocessor; a first communication interface coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor passes through the The first communication interface communicates with the central control device; a second communication interface is coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor communicates with the machine control device through the second communication interface; and a storage unit stores There are a plurality of computer-readable files and at least one link program written in a programming language, wherein each of the computer-readable files contains a machine reply message edited in SML format, and the machine reply message includes a common part and a plurality of advanced planning and scheduling system parameter codes; and a user interface coupled to the microprocessor; wherein, when a collection event (collection event) of the machine occurs, the machine control device passes through the second A communication interface of the machine on which the collection event will occur Advanced planning and scheduling system parameters such as machine identification code and an operator identification code are sent to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor accesses a corresponding computer-readable file from the storage unit according to the collection event, Then execute the linking program to link the plurality of codes of the machine reply message with the plurality of strings respectively, so as to reply the advanced planning arrangement of the machine conforming to the SECS/GEM protocol through the first communication interface The process system parameter message is sent to the central control device; wherein, the plurality of strings include: a command code, a plurality of reply sentences, at least one equipment parameter, and the equipment parameter is selected from all parameters of the advanced planning and scheduling system , including event number, report number, machine number, production or inspection parameters, production or inspection quantity, production or inspection batch number, alarm number, alarm status, equipment status, raw material number, operator number, etc.

In one embodiment, the electronic device is selected from desktop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, all-in-one (All-In-One) computers, industrial computers, servers, cloud servers, man-machine Any one of the group consisting of interface and machine controller.

In one embodiment, the computer readable file is any file selected from the group consisting of txt file, sml file, int file, doc file, docx file, xls file, and xlsx file.

In one embodiment, the programming language is selected from the group consisting of C language, C++ language, C# language, Visual C++ language, Delphi language, Visual Basic language, Python language, Structure Text language, and Java language any programming language.

In one embodiment, the first communication interface is a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface.

In one embodiment, the second communication interface is a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface.

In one embodiment, the electronic device of the present invention further includes: a user interface coupled to the microprocessor.

In one embodiment, the microprocessor has: an import unit, which is presented in the user interface in the form of a physical key or a virtual key; wherein, an external electronic device coupled to the electronic device In some cases, enabling the import unit can import a plurality of computer-readable files from the external electronic device into the electronic device and store them in the storage unit; a selection unit is a physical button or a virtual button is presented in the user interface; wherein, enabling the selection unit can select one of the computer-readable files from the storage unit; and an editing unit is in the form of a physical button or a virtual button on the user displayed in the interface; wherein, after selecting one of the computer-readable files, the editing unit can be activated to edit the computer-readable file; wherein, the editing unit can also be activated to edit the link program.

1a, 2a: MES system

11a, 21a: central control device

12a:SECS/GEM Gateway

13a, 23a: machine controller device

3a: machine

1: MES system

11: Central control device

12: Electronic device

120: Microprocessor

1201: import unit

1202: select unit

1203: edit unit

121: The first communication interface

122: Second communication interface

123: storage unit

124: User interface

13: Machine control device

3: machine

Fig. 1 is a simple architecture diagram of a known MES system; Fig. 2 is a simple structure diagram of another MES system comprising devices such as PLC or PC with a built-in SECS/GEM communication interface; Fig. 3 is a simple structure diagram of a MES system comprising an electronic device of the present invention; Fig. 4 is the present invention The block diagram of the electronic device of the invention; Figure 5 is an example diagram showing two sets of machine reply messages conforming to the SECS/GEM protocol; Figure 6 is an example showing a computer-readable file containing machine reply messages edited in SML format Figure; and Figure 7 is an example diagram of the program code contained in the link program edited by utilizing the C# language.

In order to describe an electronic device proposed by the present invention and its application more clearly, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a simple architecture diagram of an MES system including an electronic device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3 , the electronic device 12 of the present invention is applied to be integrated in a Manufacturing Execution (MES) system 1 for coupling to a central control device 11 and a machine tool coupled to at least one machine tool 3 Between the control devices 13, the central control device 11 can use the SECS/GEM protocol to link the at least one machine through the machine control device 13 information. In a feasible embodiment, the electronic device 12 of the present invention can be a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, an All-In-One computer, an industrial computer, a server, a cloud server, a man-machine Interfaces and machine controllers can be installed with control software and other devices.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electronic device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , the electronic device 12 of the present invention includes: a microprocessor 120 , a first communication interface 121 , a second communication interface 122 , a storage unit 123 , and a user interface 124 . Wherein, both the first communication interface 121 and the second communication interface 122 are coupled to the microprocessor 120, so that the microprocessor 120 communicates with the central control device 11 through the first communication interface 121, and communicates with the central control device 11 through the second communication interface. The communication interface 122 communicates with the machine control device 13 . In a feasible embodiment, both the first communication interface 121 and the second communication interface 122 can be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface.

In more detail, the storage unit 123 stores a plurality of computer-readable files and at least one link program written in a programming language, wherein each of the computer-readable files contains a machine reply message edited in SML format, And the machine reply message includes a common part and a plurality of advanced planning and scheduling system parameter codes. In a feasible embodiment, the computer-readable file may be a txt file, sml file, doc file, docx file, xls file, or xlsx file. On the other hand, the link program is edited by using a programming language, such as C# language. Of course, in a feasible embodiment, the programming language may also be C language, C++ language, Visual C++ language, Delphi language, Visual Basic language, Python language, Structure Text language, or Java language.

The machine control device 13 may be a programmable logic controller (Programmable logic controller, PLC) or a computer (Personal computer) and other machine controllers are indispensable devices. According to this design, when a collection event (collection event) of the machine 3 occurs, the machine control device (such as: PLC device) 13 will pass the second communication interface 122 to the machine 3 where the collection event occurs a machine ID (i.e., Equipment ID) and an operator identification code (i.e., Employee ID) are sent to the microprocessor 120, and the microprocessor 120 accesses a corresponding computer from the storage unit 123 according to the collection event readable file, and then execute the linking unit 1200 to link the plurality of codes of the machine reply message with a plurality of strings (strings), so as to transmit the machine reply advanced planning sequence through the SECS/GEM protocol Send system parameter information to the central control device 11. In one embodiment, the multiple strings include: a command code, multiple reply sentences, and at least one equipment parameter, and the equipment parameter is selected from all parameters of the advanced planning and scheduling system, including event numbers, reports Number, machine number, production or testing parameters, production or testing quantity, production or testing batch number, alarm number, alarm status, equipment status, raw material number, operator number, etc.

For example, FIG. 5 shows an example diagram of reply messages of two sets of machines conforming to the SECS/GEM protocol. It is worth noting that, as shown in FIG. 5 , the machine response report (Response report) conforming to the SECS/GEM protocol is written in the format of Semiconductor Message Language (SML). Collection events (Collection events) is a key feature of the SECS/GEM communication protocol. For example, a machine unlock check event refers to that the MES system 2a tries to unlock the machine 3 according to the schedule information of equipment operators in the database of the advanced planning and scheduling system. After the machine unlock check event is triggered, if the operator has the authority to operate the machine 3, the machine reply message (Response report) of the machine 3 includes the content in the box (b) in FIG. 5 . On the contrary, if the operator does not have the authority to operate the machine 3, the machine reply message (Response report) of the machine 3 includes the content in the box (a) in FIG. 5 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , the contents of the box (a) and the contents of the box (b) have a common part and a difference part, wherein the difference part is marked with a dark gray frame line. Wherein, the difference part includes: a command code (that is, 0 or 1), a character string including an operator identification code and/or a machine identification code, and a character string not including an operator identification code and/or a machine identification code. string. For example, when the operator does not have the authority to operate the machine 3, the command code is 1 (ie, a 1-byte integer). On the contrary, when the operator has the authority to operate the machine 3, the command code is 0 (that is, a 1-byte integer). Therefore, the present invention expresses the above-mentioned character string with multiple codes such as {0}, {1}, {2}, and edits the computer-readable file (such as: txt file) containing the reply message of the machine according to the SML format, so that the The machine reply message includes the common part and the plurality of codes.

FIG. 6 shows an example diagram of a computer-readable file containing machine reply messages edited in SML format. According to FIG. 6 , in one embodiment, a machine reply message is edited in a txt file in SML format. Comparing Figure 5 and Figure 6, it can be known that the machine reply message edited in the txt file includes the one common part and a plurality of the codes (ie, {0}, {1}, {2}), wherein the plural Each of these codes has been outlined with a dark gray outline. It should be understood that various txt files (ie, computer-readable files) can be edited to correspond to various collection events of the machine 3 .

It is repeated that the present invention utilizes a programming language (such as: C# language) to write at least one link program, and the link program is used to edit the multiple descriptions of the machine reply message in the txt file as shown in Figure 6 The codes (ie, {0}, {1}, {2}) are respectively linked with plural character strings. FIG. 7 shows an example diagram of code contained in a link program edited by using C# language. According to Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 as can be known, the present invention utilizes C# language programming codes, thereby defining a plurality of strings for linking a plurality of said codes. Wherein, a plurality of said character strings are marked with dark gray frame lines. At the same time, it can also be found that the multiple strings include: command codes (that is, 0 or 1), strings that include operator identification codes and/or machine identification codes, and that do not include operator identification codes and/or A string of machine IDs.

To explain in more detail, the MES system 2a triggers a machine unlocking check event based on the scheduling information of equipment operators in the database of the advanced planning and scheduling system. At this time, the machine control device 13 transmits the machine identification code and the operator identification code of the machine 3 where the machine unlocking and detection event occurred to the microprocessor 120, and the microprocessor 120 The platform unlocks the detection event and accesses a corresponding txt file (that is, a computer-readable file) from the storage unit 123, and then executes the link program (as shown in Figure 7) to edit the machine reply message in the txt file (As shown in FIG. 6 ) the plurality of said codes are respectively linked with a plurality of character strings, so as to reply messages (as shown in FIG. 5 ) to said machines conforming to the SECS/GEM protocol through the first communication interface 121 sent to the central control device 11.

It should be understood that as long as the definition of the character string shown in FIG. 7 is changed, then when the collection event occurs, the difference in the machine reply message shown in FIG. 5 will also be changed accordingly. For example, "User is authorized" shown in Figure 7 can be changed to "PE or BookingChange", then when the machine unlock check event occurs and the operator has the machine operation authority, the original reply User of machine 3 is authorized will be changed to PE or BookingChange. For another example, the "User is not authorized" shown in Figure 7 can be changed to null, then when the machine unlock check event occurs and the operator If you do not have the authority to operate the machine, the User is not authorized originally replied by machine 3 will be changed to blank, that is, no message will be displayed.

It is added that, preferably, the user interface 124 is a touch screen, so as to facilitate the operation of the electronic device 12 of the present invention by operators and/or IT personnel. Of course, in a feasible embodiment, a display screen and at least one input device (such as a keyboard and a mouse) can also be used as the user interface 124 instead of a touch screen.

Moreover, in a feasible embodiment, the microprocessor 120 has an import unit 1201 , wherein the import unit 1201 is presented in the user interface 124 in the form of a physical button or a virtual button. According to this design, when an external electronic device is coupled to the electronic device 12, enabling the import unit 1201 can import a plurality of computer-readable files from the external electronic device to the electronic device 12, and stored in the storage unit 123.

Moreover, in a feasible embodiment, the microprocessor 120 may further have a selection unit 1202 and an editing unit 1203 , all of which are presented in the user interface 124 in the form of physical buttons or virtual buttons. When using the electronic device 12 of the present invention, the selection unit 1202 is activated to select a computer-readable file (ie, txt file) from the storage unit 123, and then the selection unit 1202 is activated to perform the computer-readable file edit. Moreover, the linking program can also be edited by activating the selection unit 1202 and the editing unit 1203, thereby changing or self-defining a plurality of strings used to link a plurality of said codes.

Thus, the above is a complete and clear description of an electronic device of the present invention; and, through the above, it can be known that the present invention has the following advantages:

(1) The present invention discloses an electronic device 12, which is applied to be integrated in a (MES system 1), coupled between a central control device 11 and a machine control device 13 coupled to at least one machine 3 , so that the central control device 11 can use the SECS/GEM protocol to link the at least one machine 3 through the information of the machine control device 13 .

(2) The present invention expresses the character string (string) comprising the machine identification code, the operator identification code and the reply text as a code, and edits a computer-readable file (such as: txt file) containing the machine reply message in SML format , so that a machine reply message corresponding to a collection event (collection event) includes a common part and a plurality of said codes. At the same time, the present invention uses a programming language (such as: C# language) to link the plurality of said codes in the reply message of the machine with the plurality of said strings respectively. According to this design, if there is a need to increase/decrease collection events, suppliers and/or manufacturers only need to add/delete computer-readable files, which is very convenient. On the other hand, if it is necessary to change the reply text corresponding to the collection event, the supplier and/or manufacturer can also make changes in the editor of the programming language.

However, it must be emphasized that the above detailed description is a specific description of a feasible embodiment of the present invention, but the embodiment is not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention, any equivalent implementation or implementation that does not depart from the technical spirit of the present invention All changes should be included in the patent scope of this case.

1: MES system

11: Central control device

12: Electronic device

13: Machine control device

3: machine

Claims (10)

An electronic device for coupling between a central control device and a machine control device coupled to at least one machine, so that the central control device can use the SECS/GEM protocol to link the machine control device information to the At least one machine; the electronic device includes: a microprocessor; a first communication interface, coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor communicates with the central control device through the first communication interface; a second communication interface, coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor communicates with the machine control device through the second communication interface; A storage unit that stores a plurality of computer-readable files and at least one link program written in a programming language, wherein each of the computer-readable files contains a machine reply message edited in SML format, and the machine reply the message contains a common part and a plurality of codes; and a user interface coupled to the microprocessor; Wherein, when a collection event (collection event) of the machine occurs, the machine control device transmits a machine identification code and an operator identification code of the machine where the collection event occurs through the second communication interface sent to the microprocessor, the microprocessor accesses a corresponding one of the computer-readable files from the storage unit according to the collection event, and then executes the link program to return the plurality of the machine reply message linking the above codes with a plurality of character strings respectively, so as to send the said machines conforming to the SECS/GEM protocol to reply the advanced planning and scheduling system message to the central control device through the first communication interface; Wherein, the plurality of strings include: a command code, a plurality of reply sentences, at least one equipment parameter, and the equipment parameter is selected from all parameters of the advanced planning and scheduling system, including event number, report number, machine Any one of the group consisting of number, production or testing parameters, production or testing quantity, production or testing batch number, alarm number, alarm status, equipment status, raw material number, operator number, etc. The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is selected from desktop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, all-in-one (All-In-One) computers, industrial computers, servers, Any one of the group consisting of cloud server, man-machine interface and machine controller. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the computer-readable file is selected from the group consisting of txt file, sml file, int file, doc file, docx file, xls file, and xlsx file any type of file. The electronic device as described in claim 1, wherein the programming language is selected from C language, C++ language, C# language, Visual C++ language, Delphi language, VISUAL BASIC language, Python language, Structure Text language, and Java language Any of the programming languages in this group. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first communication interface is a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second communication interface is a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is a touch screen. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a display screen and at least one input device. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor also has: An import unit is presented in the user interface in the form of a physical button or a virtual button; wherein, when an external electronic device is coupled to the electronic device, enabling the import unit can convert multiple The computer-readable file is imported from the external electronic device to the electronic device and stored in the storage unit; A selection unit is presented in the user interface in the form of a physical button or a virtual button; wherein, activating the selection unit can select one of the computer-readable files from the storage unit; and An editing unit is presented in the user interface in the form of a physical button or a virtual button; wherein, after one of the computer-readable files is selected, the editing unit can be activated to edit the computer-readable file; Wherein, enabling the editing unit can also edit the linked program. An application of the electronic device described in any one of claim 1 to claim 9, which is applied to be integrated in a manufacturing execution system, so that a central control device of the manufacturing execution system can pass through the electronic device Link at least one machine with a machine control device information.

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