JP2010287736A - Substrate processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a substrate processing system easily transferring a received telegram message to a predetermined transfer destination without discard of the telegram message by a group management device even when a telegram message classification code in the telegram message received from a substrate processing device or a terminal device is not defined in a data format list memorized in the group management device. <P>SOLUTION: The group management device includes: a communication unit for transmitting/receiving a telegram message to/from a substrate processing device or a terminal device; a list memory unit for memorizing a data format list; and a telegram message processing unit for checking based on the data format list whether a telegram message classification code extracted from a received telegram message is defined or not, and then extracting data from a data part of the received telegram message when the classification code is defined, while, when the classification code is not defined, generating a transfer telegram message containing the telegram message classification code extracted from the received telegram message and the data part read from a telegram message memory unit so that the transfer telegram message is transferred by the communication unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a substrate processing system.

  There is known a substrate processing system having one or more substrate processing apparatuses for processing a substrate, a group management apparatus connected to the substrate processing apparatus, and one or more terminal devices connected to the group management apparatus. ing.

Between each device, a message including device data and the like is transmitted / received based on a prescribed communication protocol regarding transmission / reception of a message (communication message). As a communication protocol, a protocol based on SECS (SEMI Equipment Communications Standard) -I or SECS-II, which is generally defined by SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International), is used.
The message includes, for example, a header part that stores a message classification code (stream function code) that classifies the contents of the message, and a data part. Each of the group management device, the substrate processing device, and the terminal device stores a common data format list (message definition format) related to the message. In this message definition format, a message classification code and data format information relating to the data part are recorded in association with each other. The message is generated based on this message definition format.

  When the group management device receives a message from the substrate processing device or the terminal device, the group management device extracts a message classification code from the message, and performs a predetermined message processing based on the message classification code and the data part while referring to the message definition format. Do.

However, when the message processing format is changed on the substrate processing device side or the terminal device side (for example, a new message classification code is added) and the message definition format is not changed on the group management device side, the above-mentioned case is required. Even if the group management device receives a message from the substrate processing device or the terminal device, the new message classification code in the received message is undefined in the message definition format on the group management device side. The received message could be discarded.
When the group management device discards the received message, the substrate processing system may malfunction due to a transmission failure of the message between the substrate processing device and the terminal device.

  Therefore, when the message definition format is changed on the substrate processing apparatus side or the terminal apparatus side, the operation of the group management apparatus is temporarily stopped on the group management apparatus side described above, and the substrate processing apparatus side or terminal is Corresponding to the message definition format on the device side, complicated work such as changing the message definition format on the group management device side or changing the program for processing the message has been performed.

  In view of the above-described problems, the object of the present invention is that the message classification code in the message received from the substrate processing apparatus or the terminal device is undefined in the data format list (message definition format) stored in the group management device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a substrate processing system that allows a group management device to easily transfer a received message to a predetermined transfer destination without discarding the received message as invalid.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a substrate having one or more substrate processing apparatuses, a group management apparatus connected to the substrate processing apparatus, and one or more terminal apparatuses connected to the group management apparatus. In the processing system, the group management device includes a communication unit that transmits / receives a message including a message classification code and a data unit to / from the substrate processing apparatus or the terminal device, a message classification code, and data format information. A list storage unit for storing a data format list to be associated; and a definition of a message category code extracted from the message by extracting the message format code from the list storage unit, extracting the message category code from the list storage unit If the message classification code is defined in the data format list, the extracted message classification is referred to by referring to the data format list. Data is extracted from the data portion of the message based on the data format information corresponding to the message, and when the message classification code of the message is not defined in the data format list, the extracted message classification code and the message There is provided a substrate processing system including a message processing unit that generates a transfer message including the data unit read from a message, and causes the communication unit to transfer the transfer message.

  According to the substrate processing system of the present invention, even if the message classification code in the message received from the substrate processing device or the terminal device is undefined in the data format list (message definition format) stored in the group management device. The group management device can easily transfer the received message to a predetermined transfer destination without discarding the received message as invalid.

It is a block diagram of the substrate processing system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the semiconductor processing apparatus which shows an example of the substrate processing apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus which shows an example of the substrate processing apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus showing an example of the substrate processing apparatus shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining a message according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining a header portion of the message shown in FIG. 5A. . It is a functional block diagram of the group management apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the data format list | wrist with which the message | telegram classification code and data format information concerning one Embodiment of this invention were linked | related. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the group management apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of an operation | movement at the time of receiving the normal message | telegram of the group management apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the substrate processing system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the substrate processing system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. Specifically, FIG. 11A is a diagram for explaining an example of a data format list (message definition format) of a transmission source, and FIG. 11B illustrates a message received by the group management apparatus from the transmission source. 11C is S0F0 format information used when the group management device receives an undefined message, and FIG. 11D is an S0F0 message (binary data) for temporary storage by the group management device. 11E is a diagram for explaining a data format list of the transfer destination terminal device, and FIG. 11F shows a transfer message transferred by the group management device. It is a figure for demonstrating. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the group management apparatus concerning a comparative example.

  The configuration and operation of the substrate processing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of substrate processing system 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a substrate processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a substrate processing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes one or more substrate processing apparatuses (semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses) 100, a group management apparatus 500 connected to the substrate processing apparatus 100, and a group management apparatus. And one or more terminal devices (GUI terminal devices) 700 connected to 500.

  The substrate processing apparatus 100 and the group management apparatus 500 are communicably connected via a communication path (communication network) 6A. The group management device 500 and the terminal device 700 are communicably connected via a communication path (communication network) 6B. The group management device 500 and the terminal device 700 constitute a group management system. In this embodiment, the communication network 6A is configured by a LAN (Local Area Network), and the communication network 6B is configured by a LAN, a wide area communication network, or the like. The communication network 6A and the communication network 6B may be separate and independent communication networks or the same communication network.

  Data (apparatus data) transmitted from the substrate processing apparatus 100 that performs substrate processing to the group management apparatus 500 includes data relating to substrate processing, for example, information indicating the state of the substrate processing apparatus 100 itself, wafer information, and temperature. Data related to information, gas flow rate information, pressure information, and various sensor information. The substrate processing apparatus 100 stores these apparatus data in a message and transmits them to the group management apparatus 500 via the communication network 6A.

  The group management apparatus 500 can centrally manage information regarding the plurality of substrate processing apparatuses 100 and accumulates data (apparatus data) from the plurality of substrate processing apparatuses 100. In addition, the group management apparatus 500 transmits / receives a message to / from the substrate processing apparatus 100 and the terminal apparatus 700 using a predetermined communication protocol.

  The terminal device 700 includes, for example, a communication unit, a display unit such as a display, an operation input unit such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a control unit that executes a communication task (communication processing program) for performing message processing. The terminal device 700 can display device data, for example, information related to the state of the substrate processing apparatus 100 by display means by transmitting and receiving a message to and from the group management device 500.

(Operation of the substrate processing system 1)
The group management apparatus 500 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a data format list (message definition) in which the message classification code in the message received from the substrate processing apparatus 100 (or the terminal device 700) as the transmission source is stored in the group management apparatus 500. Even if it is undefined in (format), the received message is simply transferred to the terminal device 700 (or the substrate processing apparatus 100) as the transfer destination without discarding the received message as invalid.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the substrate processing apparatus 100 will be described in detail, and then the configuration and operation of the group management apparatus 500 will be described in detail.

(Functional block of the process control module 100A of the substrate processing apparatus 100)
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the substrate processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a process control module 100A as an apparatus controller that causes the substrate processing system of the substrate processing apparatus 100 to perform substrate processing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process control module 100 </ b> A of the substrate processing apparatus 100 includes an operation unit 2 and a control unit 3. The operation unit 2 includes a communication unit (transmission / reception module), a hard disk (HDD) 9 as a fixed storage device, a memory 30, and the like. The control unit 3 includes a communication unit (transmission / reception module) 5, various modules 15 to 18, a memory 19, and the like.
The operation unit 2 and the control unit 3 are communicably connected by communication units 4 and 5 via a communication path (LAN or the like) 6A.

(Operation unit 2)
A monitor 7 and a key input device 8 are connected to the operation unit 2 as a user interface.
The hard disk 9 of the operation unit 2 includes a process recipe 20, an alarm condition table 21, an ABORT recipe 22, a PMC (process control module) configuration file 23, a control task (control program) 24, a data format list 800A, a screen file, and an icon file. A program related to substrate processing and screen display processing, tables and files necessary for substrate processing, and the like are stored.

In the process recipe (substrate processing sequence) 20, set values (control values) to be transmitted to each sub-controller of the substrate processing apparatus 100 such as a temperature controller and a pressure controller are set for each step. The process recipe 20 includes a sequence for executing an error check for each step.
The alarm condition table 21 stores condition information regarding various alarms for each error state.
The ABORT recipe 22 stores a procedure for recovery processing when an error occurs due to an error check for each step.

The PMC configuration file 23 stores various parameters related to the apparatus configuration and various parameters used for controlling the substrate processing apparatus 100.
The control task (control program) 24 stores procedures (contents) for controlling each component of the substrate processing apparatus 100.
The data format list 800A defines message classification codes and data format information related to messages. The data format list 800A may be stored directly in the group management device 500.

(Control unit 3)
The controller 3 includes, as sub-controllers, a controller (not shown) that controls the wafer transfer device 11 and a temperature controller that adjusts the temperature of the processing furnace by controlling the temperature of the heater 12 that heats the processing furnace (see FIG. (Not shown), opening and closing of a pump / pressure valve 13 of a vacuum pump as a vacuum exhaust device for exhausting from the processing furnace, opening and closing of a single or plural source gas supply pipes of the gas pipe 14 communicating with the processing furnace, A gas controller (not shown) for controlling the flow rate of the mass flow controller MFC arranged downstream thereof is connected.

  The memory 19 of the control unit 3 can store at least a process recipe 20, an alarm condition table 21, an ABORT recipe 22, a PMC configuration file 23, a control task 24, and the like.

The control unit 3 includes at least various modules, specifically, a recipe setting value transmission module 15, an ABORT recipe acquisition module 16, an error processing acquisition module 17 in a PMC configuration file, and an alarm condition table setting value acquisition module 18. .

The recipe setting value transmission module 15 acquires the setting value for each sub-controller from the process recipe 20 and transmits it to the corresponding sub-controller.
The ABORT recipe acquisition module 16 acquires the ABORT recipe 22 based on the table number.
The error processing acquisition module 17 in the PMC configuration file selects the ABORT recipe 22 in order to automatically perform recovery processing when an error relating to the PMC configuration file 23 occurs.
The alarm condition table setting value acquisition module 18 acquires the setting value of the alarm condition table 21 for selecting the ABORT recipe 22 by the table number.

  The operation unit 2 and the control unit 3 are each configured by a known computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an I / O (Input / Output), a memory, and the like. Each module is a hardware resource of the computer. Is configured by a program that functions as each of the above means.

(Operation of process control module 100A)
Next, the operation of the process control module 100A will be described.
First, when the process control module 100 </ b> A is activated and the operation unit 2 and the control unit 3 are activated, the operation unit 2 acquires an initial screen (startup screen) from a screen file stored in the hard disk 9 in advance and stores it on the monitor 7. Display. A download button (not shown) is displayed on the initial screen, and is used for control when an operator or the like presses the download button with the key input device 8 (a finger when displaying a touch key on the initial screen). The process recipe 20 and the ABORT recipe 22 are stored in the memories 30 and 19.

Specifically, the process recipe 20, the alarm condition table 21, the ABORT recipe 22, the PMC configuration file 23, the control task 24, etc. of the hard disk 9 are stored in the memory 30 of the operation unit 2 by the operation unit 2 (CPU or the like). The process recipe 20, alarm condition table 21, ABORT recipe 22, PMC configuration file 23, control task 24, etc. stored in the memory 30 of the operation unit 2 are communicated by the communication unit 4, the communication path 6 </ b> A, and the control unit 3 of the operation unit 2. The data is transferred to the memory 19 of the control unit 3 via the unit 5. The data format list 800A is transmitted to the group management device 500 via the communication path 6A.
Such downloading may be automatically performed at the time of activation.

  In the control unit 3, the modules 15 to 18 refer to the memory 19 of the control unit 3. When the above-described data or the like is transferred from the memory 30 of the operation unit 2 to the memory 19 of the control unit 3, the recipe setting value transmission module 15 transmits each sub-controller from the process recipe 20 stored in the memory 19 of the control unit 3. The operation unit 2 searches the screen file on the hard disk 9 and displays an operation screen (not shown) for recipe execution, recipe creation, etc. on the monitor 7. .

  Thereafter, for example, when a recipe execution button (not shown) is pressed, the operation unit 2 performs a process of causing the monitor 7 to display an operation screen related to the substrate processing control state and interlock.

  The substrate processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can be applied to, for example, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus that performs processing steps in a semiconductor device (IC) manufacturing method. Hereinafter, a vertical semiconductor manufacturing apparatus (also simply referred to as a processing apparatus) to which the substrate processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is applied and which performs oxidation processing, diffusion processing, CVD processing, etc. on the substrate will be described.

(Configuration of the substrate processing system of the substrate processing apparatus 100)
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus showing an example of the substrate processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a side perspective view of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus showing an example of the substrate processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG.
The configuration of the substrate processing system of the substrate processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. The substrate processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is configured as a vertical apparatus that performs oxidation, diffusion processing, CVD processing, and the like on a substrate such as a wafer.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the substrate processing apparatus 100 includes a housing 111 configured as a pressure vessel. A front maintenance port 103 serving as an opening provided for maintenance is provided in the front front portion of the front wall 111a of the casing 111. The front maintenance port 103 is provided with a pair of front maintenance doors 104 that open and close the front maintenance port 103. A pod (substrate container) 110 containing a wafer (substrate) 200 such as silicon is used as a carrier for transporting the wafer 200 into and out of the housing 111.

  A pod loading / unloading port (substrate container loading / unloading port) 112 is opened on the front wall 111 a of the housing 111 so as to communicate between the inside and the outside of the housing 111. The pod loading / unloading port 112 is opened and closed by a front shutter (substrate container loading / unloading port opening / closing mechanism) 113. A load port (substrate container delivery table) 114 is installed on the front front side of the pod loading / unloading port 112. On the load port 114, the pod 110 is placed and aligned. The pod 110 is configured to be transferred onto the load port 114 by an in-process transfer device (not shown).

  A rotary pod shelf (substrate container mounting shelf) 105 is installed at an upper portion of the housing 111 at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction. A plurality of pods 110 are stored on the rotary pod shelf 105. The rotary pod shelf 105 includes a support column 116 that is erected vertically and intermittently rotates in a horizontal plane, and a plurality of shelf plates (substrate container mounting table) that are radially supported by the support column 116 at each of the upper, middle, and lower levels. 117). The plurality of shelf plates 117 are configured to hold a plurality of pods 110 in a state where they are mounted.

  A pod transfer device (substrate container transfer device) 118 is installed between the load port 114 and the rotary pod shelf 105 in the housing 111. The pod transfer device 118 includes a pod elevator (substrate container lifting mechanism) 118a that can be moved up and down while holding the pod 110, and a pod transfer mechanism (substrate container transfer mechanism) 118b as a transfer mechanism. The pod transfer device 118 moves the pod 110 between the load port 114, the rotary pod shelf 105, and the pod opener (substrate container lid opening / closing mechanism) 121 by the continuous operation of the pod elevator 118a and the pod transfer mechanism 118b. It is comprised so that it may convey mutually.

  A sub-housing 119 is provided at a lower portion in the housing 111 from a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction in the housing 111 to a rear end. A pair of wafer loading / unloading ports (substrate loading / unloading ports) 120 that transfer the wafer 200 into and out of the sub-casing 119 are provided on the front wall 119a of the sub-casing 119 so as to be arranged vertically in two stages. Yes. Pod openers 121 are respectively installed at the upper and lower wafer loading / unloading ports 120.

Each pod opener 121 includes a pair of mounting bases 122 on which the pod 110 is mounted, and a cap attaching / detaching mechanism (lid attaching / detaching mechanism) 123 that attaches / detaches a cap (cover) of the pod 110. The pod opener 121 is configured to open and close the wafer loading / unloading port of the pod 110 by attaching / detaching the cap of the pod 110 placed on the placing table 122 by the cap attaching / detaching mechanism 123.

  In the sub casing 119, a transfer chamber 124 that is fluidly isolated from a space in which the pod transfer device 118, the rotary pod shelf 105, and the like are installed is configured. A wafer transfer mechanism (substrate transfer mechanism) 125 is installed in the front region of the transfer chamber 124. The wafer transfer mechanism 125 includes a wafer transfer device (substrate transfer device) 125a that can rotate or linearly move the wafer 200 in the horizontal direction, and a wafer transfer device elevator (substrate transfer device) that moves the wafer transfer device 125a up and down. (Elevating mechanism) 125b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the wafer transfer apparatus elevator 125 b is installed between the right end of the front area of the transfer chamber 124 and the right end of the casing 111 of the sub casing 119. The wafer transfer device 125 a includes a tweezer (substrate holding body) 125 c as a mounting portion for the wafer 200. By continuous operation of the wafer transfer device elevator 125b and the wafer transfer device 125a, the wafer 200 can be loaded (charged) and unloaded (discharged) from the boat (substrate holder) 217. It is configured.

  In the rear region of the transfer chamber 124, a standby unit 126 that houses and waits for the boat 217 is configured. A processing furnace 202 serving as a substrate processing system is provided above the standby unit 126. The lower end portion of the processing furnace 202 is configured to be opened and closed by a furnace port shutter (furnace port opening / closing mechanism) 147.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a boat elevator (substrate holder lifting mechanism) 115 for raising and lowering the boat 217 is installed between the right end of the standby section 126 and the right end of the casing 111 of the sub casing 119. ing. An arm 128 as a connecting tool is connected to the elevator platform of the boat elevator 115. A seal cap 219 serving as a lid is horizontally installed on the arm 128. The seal cap 219 is configured to support the boat 217 vertically and to close the lower end portion of the processing furnace 202.

  The boat 217 includes a plurality of holding members. The boat 217 is configured to hold a plurality of wafers 200 (for example, about 50 to 125 wafers) horizontally in a state where the centers are aligned in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a clean atmosphere or an inert gas, clean air 133, is supplied to the left end of the transfer chamber 124 opposite to the wafer transfer device elevator 125b side and the boat elevator 115 side. A clean unit 134 composed of a supply fan and a dustproof filter is installed. Although not shown, a notch alignment device as a substrate alignment device for aligning the circumferential position of the wafer is installed between the wafer transfer device 125a and the clean unit 134.

  The clean air 133 blown out from the clean unit 134 flows around the boat 217 in the notch alignment device, wafer transfer device 125a, and standby unit 126 (not shown), and is then sucked in by a duct (not shown) to the outside of the casing 111. Or is circulated to the primary side (supply side) that is the suction side of the clean unit 134 and is blown out again into the transfer chamber 124 by the clean unit 134.

(Operation of the substrate processing apparatus 100)
Next, the operation of the substrate processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the pod 110 is supplied to the load port 114, the pod loading / unloading port 112 is opened by the front shutter 113. Then, the pod 110 on the load port 114 is carried into the housing 111 from the pod carry-in / out port 112 by the pod carrying device 118.

  The pod 110 carried into the housing 111 is automatically transported and temporarily stored on the shelf plate 117 of the rotary pod shelf 105 by the pod transport device 118, and then one of the pods 110 from the shelf plate 117. It is transferred onto the mounting table 122 of the pod opener 121. Note that the pod 110 carried into the housing 111 may be directly transferred onto the mounting table 122 of the pod opener 121 by the pod transfer device 118. At this time, the wafer loading / unloading port 120 of the pod opener 121 is closed by the cap attaching / detaching mechanism 123, and clean air 133 is circulated and filled in the transfer chamber 124. For example, when the transfer chamber 124 is filled with nitrogen gas as clean air 133, the oxygen concentration in the transfer chamber 124 becomes, for example, 20 ppm or less, which is much lower than the oxygen concentration in the casing 111 that is an atmospheric atmosphere. It is set to be.

  The pod 110 mounted on the mounting table 122 is pressed against the opening edge of the wafer loading / unloading port 120 in the front wall 119a of the sub-housing 119, and the cap is removed by the cap attaching / detaching mechanism 123. Then, the wafer loading / unloading port is opened. Thereafter, the wafer 200 is picked up from the pod 110 through the wafer loading / unloading port by the tweezer 125c of the wafer transfer device 125a, aligned in the notch alignment device, and then in the standby unit 126 at the rear of the transfer chamber 124. Are loaded into the boat 217 (charging). The wafer transfer device 125 a loaded with the wafer 200 in the boat 217 returns to the pod 110 and loads the next wafer 200 into the boat 217.

  During the loading operation of the wafer into the boat 217 by the wafer transfer mechanism 125 in the one (upper or lower) pod opener 121, another pod is placed on the mounting table 122 of the other (lower or upper) pod opener 121. 110 is transferred from the rotary pod shelf 105 by the pod transfer device 118 and transferred, and the opening operation of the pod 110 by the pod opener 121 is simultaneously performed.

  When a predetermined number of wafers 200 are loaded into the boat 217, the lower end portion of the processing furnace 202 closed by the furnace port shutter 147 is opened by the furnace port shutter 147. Subsequently, the boat 217 holding the wafer 200 group is loaded into the processing furnace 202 when the seal cap 219 is lifted by the boat elevator 115.

  After loading, arbitrary substrate processing is performed on the wafer 200 in the processing furnace 202. After the substrate processing, the boat 217 storing the processed wafers 200 is unloaded from the processing chamber 201 by a procedure almost opposite to the above-described procedure except for the wafer alignment process in the notch aligner 135. The pod 110 storing the wafer 200 is carried out of the casing 111.

  As described above, in the substrate processing apparatus 100, for example, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure, and other data indicating various states of the substrate processing apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as apparatus data) are generated (for example, temperature sensor, MFC, Many pressure sensors and the like are hereinafter referred to as data generation locations). The control unit 3 of the substrate processing apparatus 100 is configured to create a telegram (also referred to as a telegram message) that stores apparatus data generated at each data generation location. The control unit 3 of the substrate processing apparatus 100 is configured to transmit the message to the group management apparatus 500 via the communication network 6A. The electronic message is configured to be transmitted at regular intervals (for example, at intervals of 0.1 seconds), transmitted each time device data is generated, or a combination thereof.

(Telegram 600)
Next, a telegram 600 transmitted and received between each apparatus of the substrate processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5A is a view for explaining a telegram 600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining the header portion 620 of the message 600 illustrated in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the electronic message 600 according to the present embodiment includes a length information part (length byte) 610, a header part 620, a data part 630, and a checksum 640.
Information indicating the length of the electronic message 600 is stored in the length information section 610 (for example, 1 byte).
The header section 620 stores a message classification code (stream function code) 622A and the like (for example, 10 bytes).
The data part 630 stores data 630A (for example, device data) arranged based on the data format information corresponding to the message classification code of the header part 620 (for example, 0 to 244 bytes).
The checksum 640 stores information indicating the checksum (sum of unsigned binary values) of the electronic message 600 (excluding the length information portion 610 and the checksum 640) (for example, 2 bytes).

(Configuration of header section 620)
As shown in FIG. 5B, the header section 620 includes a device ID information section 621, a code storage section (message ID storage section: message classification code storage section) 622, a block number storage section 623, and a system byte 624. .
The device ID information portion 621 stores information (device ID) indicating the transmission source device.
The code storage unit 622 stores a message classification code (message ID) 622A. The message classification code 622A is information for classifying the contents of the message 600. The message classification code 622A includes, for example, a code indicating a stream (S) and a code indicating a function (F). The stream code and the function code are collectively referred to as a stream function code.

The block number storage unit 623 stores information indicating the block number (2 bytes). Specifically, when the device data stored in the data portion 630 is larger than the size of the data portion 630, the device data is divided into a plurality of blocks corresponding to the size of the data portion 630. It is stored in the data part 630. Information indicating the number assigned to this block is stored in the block number storage unit 632.
The system byte 624 stores information indicating the number of message transmissions. This message transmission count is incremented each time the message 600 is transmitted by each device.

(Configuration of group management device 500)
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the group management apparatus 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the group management apparatus 500 includes a communication unit 501, an external storage unit 502, a memory 503, and a control unit (CPU) 504. The communication unit 501, the external storage unit 502, the memory 503, and the control unit 504 are connected via a communication path 505.

  The communication unit 501 transmits / receives a message 600 including the header unit 620 (message classification code 622A) and the data unit 630 to / from the substrate processing apparatus 100 and / or the terminal device 700.

  The external storage unit 502 includes, for example, an external storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a semiconductor disk (SDD: Solid State Disk).

The memory 503 is configured by, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory).
The control unit (CPU) 504 performs a process according to the present invention by, for example, executing a program having the processing content according to the present invention and comprehensively controlling each component of the group management apparatus 500.

(Memory 503)
Next, the memory 503 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the memory 503 includes a list storage unit 531, a message storage unit 532, a control task (control processing program) 533, a message processing unit (communication processing program (communication task)) 534, and a transfer destination list 536. Have.

(List storage unit 531)
The list storage unit 531 is a storage unit reserved for work in the memory 503. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the list storage unit 531 according to the present embodiment includes a data format list 800 and S0F0 format information (temporary storage binary data format information) 830.

The data format list 800 stores the message classification code 810 and the data format information 820 in association with each other.
The message classification code 810 is information for classifying the contents of the message.
The data format information 820 is information indicating the data format of the data stored in the data portion of the message corresponding to the message classification code 810.
The data format list 800 stored on the group management apparatus 500 side according to the present embodiment conforms to SECS-I or SECS-II. Specifically, the message classification code 810 is a stream function code conforming to SECS-I or SECS-II.

  When the group management device 500 receives an undefined message (a message including an undefined message classification code on the group management device 500 side), the S0F0 format information 830 is used to temporarily store the undefined message in the memory 503. To be referenced.

(Message storage unit 532)
The message storage unit 532 is a storage unit reserved for work in the memory 503. As shown in FIG. 6, the message storage unit 532 can store the message 600 received by the communication unit 501, the temporary storage S0F0 message 600C, the transfer message 600B, and the like. The temporary storage S0F0 message 600C is a binary message generated when an undefined message is temporarily stored in the memory 503 based on the S0F0 format information 830.

  The control task (control processing program) 533 is a program that performs control regarding each component of the group management apparatus 500.

(Message processing unit 534)
The message processing unit 534 extracts the message classification code 622A from the message 600 stored in the message storage unit 532 from the communication unit 501, reads the data format list 800 from the list storage unit 531, and based on the data format list 800, The presence / absence of the definition of the extracted message classification code 622A is confirmed. Specifically, the message processing unit 534 includes a code (message classification code) 810 that matches the message classification code 622A extracted from the received message 600 among the plurality of message classification codes 810 included in the data format list 800. Determine whether or not.

In addition, when the message classification code 622A is defined in the data format list 800 as a result of the confirmation, the message processing unit 534 refers to the data format list 800 and corresponds to the extracted message classification code 622A (810). Based on the data format information 820, data 630A is extracted from the data portion 630 of the message 600 stored in the message storage unit 532, and predetermined processing is performed based on the data 630A.
Also, as a result of the confirmation, if the message classification code 622A of the message 600 is not defined in the data format list 800, the message processing unit 534 extracts the data 630A from the data portion 630 of the message 600 in the message storage unit 532. The transfer message 600B including the extracted message classification code 622A and the data 630A of the data part 630 read from the message storage unit 532 is generated, and the communication unit 501 transfers the transfer message 600B.

  The transfer destination list 536 stores a message transmission source and a message transfer destination in association with each other. The transfer destination list 536 according to the present embodiment records the substrate processing apparatus 100 as a transmission source (or transfer destination) and the terminal device 700 as a transfer destination (or transmission source) in association with each other.

(Data format list 800 (message definition format))
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of the data format list 800 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, an example of the data format list 800 illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described.

  In the data format list 800, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a message classification code (stream function code) 810 and data format information 820 are stored in association with each other.

  The message classification code 810 of S1F13 is a code indicating a communication establishment request. The data format information 820 corresponding to the message classification code 810 of S1F13 has two variables. The first variable is an ASCII character code and is 6 bytes long, and the variable name is defined as “MODLN”. The second variable is an ASCII character code and is 6 bytes long, and the variable name is defined as “SOFTREV”.

The message classification code 810 of S1F14 is a code indicating confirmation of a communication establishment request. The message classification code 810 of S5F239 is a failure information notification code issued by the substrate processing apparatus 100. The message classification code 810 of S7F1-1 is a code indicating a request for downloading a recipe file to the substrate processing apparatus 100. The message classification code 810 of S7F2-1 is a response message code of S7F1-1. The message classification code 810 of S7F17-1 is a code that requests deletion of the device recipe file. The message classification code 810 of S7F18-1 is a code indicating confirmation for S7F17-1. The message classification code 810 of S7F27-1 is a code for notifying the download result of the device recipe file.
The data format information 820 corresponding to the message classification code 810 of each of the above S1F13, S1F14, S5F239, S7F1-1, S7F18-1, S7F17-1, and S7F27-1 is defined as shown in FIG. 7, for example.

(Operation of Group Management Device 500)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the group management apparatus 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the group management apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the control unit 504 of the group management apparatus 500 reads out a message processing unit (communication processing program) 534 stored in the external storage unit 502 and executes it on the memory 503.

(ST1)
In step ST <b> 1, the message processing unit 534 reads the data format list 800 stored in the external storage unit 502 and stores it in the memory 503.

(ST2)
In step ST <b> 2, the message processing unit 534 performs a process of receiving the message 600 from the substrate processing apparatus 100 or the terminal device 700 using the communication unit 501.

(ST3)
In step ST <b> 3, when the message processing unit 534 receives the message 600 by the communication unit 501, the message processing unit 534 stores the received message 600 from the communication unit 501 in the message storage unit 532.

(ST4)
In step ST4, the message processing unit 534 extracts the message classification code 622A from the message 600 stored in the message storage unit 532.

(ST5)
In step ST5, the message processing unit 534 reads the data format list 800 from the list storage unit 531, and confirms the presence / absence of the definition of the extracted message classification code 622A based on the data format list 800.
Specifically, the message processing unit 534 includes a code (message classification code) 810 that matches the message classification code 622A extracted from the received message 600 among the plurality of message classification codes 810 included in the data format list 800. Determine whether or not.

(ST6)
When the message classification code 622A extracted from the received message 600 is defined in the data format list 800, in step ST6, the message processing unit 534 refers to the data format list 800 and adds the extracted message classification code 622A to the message classification code 622A. Based on the corresponding data format information 820, data 630A is extracted from the data portion 630 of the message 600 stored in the message storage unit 532 (step ST6A). Subsequently, the message processing unit 534 performs processing according to the data 630A and the message classification code 622A extracted from the data unit 630, and returns to the process of step ST2.

If the message classification code 622A extracted from the received message 600 is not defined in the data format list 800 in step ST5, the message processing unit 534 according to the present embodiment starts from the data unit 630 of the message 600 of the message storage unit 532. Without extracting the data 630A, a transfer message 600B including the extracted message classification code 622A and the data part 630 of the received message 600 read from the message storage unit 532 is generated, and the transfer message 600B is generated by the communication unit 501. Is transferred to a predetermined transfer destination.
During the message transfer process, the message processing unit 534 according to the present embodiment converts the undefined message 600 into a temporary storage S0F0 message (binary format) 600C and temporarily stores it in the memory 503, and then the S0F0. Based on the message 600C, a transfer message 600B is generated. Hereinafter, the process will be described in detail.

(ST7)
In step ST7, the message processing unit 534 converts the received message 600 into the S0F0 format (binary format for transfer) without extracting data from the data unit 630 of the message 600 stored in the message storage unit 532. To do.

(ST8)
In step ST8, the message processing unit 534 stores the message (S0F0 message) converted into the S0F0 format in the message storage unit 532.

(ST9)
In step ST <b> 9, the message processing unit 534 refers to the transfer destination list 536 and acquires information regarding the transfer destination associated with the transmission source of the received message 600.

(ST10)
In step ST10, the message processing unit 534 generates a transfer message 600B including the extracted message classification code 622A and the data 630A of the data unit 630 read from the message storage unit 532.

(ST11)
In step ST11, the message processing unit 534 performs a process of causing the communication unit 501 to transfer the transfer message 600B to the transfer destination (for example, the terminal device 700) acquired in step ST8, in step ST2. Return to the process.

(Operation when receiving a normal message)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation when the group management device 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention receives a normal message. An example of the process of step ST6 (ST6A) shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

(S1F13)
As shown in FIG. 9, for example, when the message classification code 622A extracted from the received message 600 includes S1F13 (a code indicating a communication establishment request), the message processing unit 534 includes the received message 600. The data section 630 is stored in a temporary storage section (not shown) secured in the memory 503 (S1F13 reception processing), and the data format 820 is referenced based on the data format information 820 corresponding to the message classification code with reference to the data format list 800. Data 630A is extracted from the unit 630 (data acquisition process), and a response message (communication establishment request confirmation) is transmitted to the request source in accordance with the data 630A (response message transmission process).

(S5F239)
For example, when the message classification code 622A extracted from the received message 600 includes S5F239 (a code indicating the notification of failure information issued by the substrate processing apparatus 100), the message processing unit 534 receives the received message 600. Is stored in the temporary storage unit secured in the memory 503 (S5F239 reception process), the data 630A is extracted from the data part 630 (data acquisition process), and the failure information of the failure information is based on the data 630A. A process of transferring a message indicating the notification to the transfer destination is performed (S5F239 transfer process).

(S7F15)
For example, when the message classification code 622A extracted from the received message 600 includes S7F15 (a code for notifying the copy result of the device information of the substrate processing apparatus 100), the message processing unit 534 receives the received message 600. Is stored in the temporary storage section secured in the memory 503 (S7F15 reception process), the data 630A is extracted from the data section 630, and is stored in the memory 503 as device data (data acquisition process). ).

(S14F201)
In the message processing unit 534, for example, the message classification code 622A extracted from the received message 600 includes S14F201 (a code for instructing transfer of information related to objects (each component) transmitted from the substrate processing apparatus 100). If there is, the data part 630 of the received message 600 is stored in the temporary storage part secured in the memory 503 (S14F201 reception process), the data 630A is extracted from the data part 630 (data acquisition process), and the data 6
Based on 30A, a process of transferring a message containing the information to the transfer destination is performed (S14F201 transfer process).

(Operation related to undefined message in the substrate processing system 1)
Next, an example of an operation related to an undefined message in the substrate processing system 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the substrate processing system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the substrate processing system 1 that transmits / receives a message including an undefined message classification code on the group management apparatus 500 side. Specifically, FIG. 11A is a diagram for explaining an example of a data format list (message definition format) of a transmission source (substrate processing apparatus 100 side in the present embodiment). FIG. 11B is a diagram for explaining a message 600 received by the group management apparatus 500 from the transmission source (the substrate processing apparatus 100 in this embodiment). FIG. 11C shows S0F0 format information 830 used when the group management apparatus 500 receives an undefined message. FIG. 11D is a diagram for explaining the temporary storage S0F0 message (binary data) 600C by the group management apparatus 500. FIG. 11E is a diagram for explaining a data format list included in the transfer destination terminal device 700. FIG. 11F is a diagram for explaining a transfer message (a message received by the transfer destination terminal device 700) 600B transferred by the group management device 500.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the group management apparatus 500 receives a message 600 including an undefined message classification code from the substrate processing apparatus 100, the group management apparatus 500 performs a transfer process ST11 (specifically, ST7 to ST11), and receives a received message. Transfer to the terminal device 700.

  Hereinafter, an operation related to an undefined message in the substrate processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 (A) to 11 (F) and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 2, the substrate processing apparatus 100 generates a data format list (message definition format) 800 </ b> A that associates the message classification code 810 </ b> A of the new S100F100 with the data format information 820 </ b> A of the substrate processing apparatus 100. It is stored in the memory 19 (30).
As shown in FIG. 11E, the terminal device 700 stores the same data format list 800A as the data format list (message definition format) 800A of the substrate processing apparatus 100 in a storage unit (not shown) of the terminal device 700. is doing.
The group management apparatus 500 stores the data format list 800A (message definition format) including the message classification code 810 of the new S100F100 shown in FIGS. 11 (A) and 11 (E) in the list storage unit 531. No (data format list 800 that does not include the new message classification code S100F100 is stored).
As shown in FIG. 11B, the group management apparatus 500 may receive a message S600F100 message classification code 622A and a message 600 including data 630A corresponding to the data format corresponding to the message classification code 622A. The contents of the data 630A of the message 600 cannot be understood.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, in the message processing unit 534 of the group management device 500, the message classification code 622A (S100F100) extracted from the received message 600 is defined in the data format list 800 of the list storage unit 531. If it is determined that there is no data, the data 630A is not extracted from the data part 630 of the message 600 stored in the message storage unit 532, and the S0F0 format information (temporary storage binary format) 830 shown in FIG. Based on the received message 600, an S0F0 message 600C in the S0F0 format (binary format) is generated as shown in FIG. 11D, and the S0F0 message 600C is temporarily stored in the message storage unit 532.

  The S0F0 format information 830 shown in FIG. 11C defines “[S0F0] FREE, FREE, <TOP>”. In other words, in the S0F0 format information 830, the message 600 is in binary data format (FREE) and has a size corresponding to the message 600 (without specifying the temporary storage data size (FREE)), and the message 600 is sequentially written from the top ( <TOP>).

  Subsequently, the message processing unit 534 of the group management device 500 stores S100F100 of the message classification code 622A extracted from the message 600C (600) in the header portion 622 of the transfer message 600B as shown in FIG. Then, by storing the data part 630 of the message 600C (600) read from the message storage unit 532 as it is in the data part 630 of the message for transfer, the message for transfer 600B is generated, and the message for transfer 600B is transmitted to the communication unit By 501, the process of transferring to the transfer destination (the terminal device 700 in this embodiment) is performed.

  Upon receiving the transfer message 600B shown in FIG. 11F from the group management device 500, the terminal device 700 extracts the message classification code 622A (S100F100) from the received message 600B, and stores the storage unit ( Referring to the data format list 800A shown in FIG. 11 (E) stored in (not shown), based on the data format information 820A corresponding to the extracted message classification code 622A (810A) of S100F1000, the data section 630 Data 630A is extracted from the data, and processing according to the data 630A and the message classification code 622A (810A) is performed.

  The operation of the substrate processing system 1 is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, when the group management device 500 receives the undefined message 600 from the terminal device 700, the group management device 500 may perform processing for transferring the message 600 to the substrate processing apparatus 100.

(Effect according to this embodiment)
According to the present embodiment, one or more effects shown below are produced.

(A) According to this embodiment, the message processing unit 534 extracts the message classification code 622A from the code storage unit 622 of the header unit 620 of the message 600 stored in the message storage unit 532 from the communication unit 501, and the list storage unit The data format list 800 is read from 531 and the presence / absence of the definition of the extracted message classification code 622A is confirmed based on the data format list 800. If it is not defined, the data format list 800 is read from the data unit 630 of the message storage unit 532 Without extracting the data 630A, a transfer message 600B including the extracted message classification code 622A and the data part 630 read from the message storage unit 532 is generated, and the transfer message 600B is transferred by the communication unit 501.
For this reason, the group management device 500 does not define the message classification code 622A in the message 600 received from the substrate processing apparatus 100 or the terminal device 700 in the data format list 800 (message definition format) stored in the group management device 500. Even so, the transfer message 600B corresponding to the received message 600 can be easily transferred to a predetermined transfer destination without invalidating and discarding the received message 600.

(B) According to the present embodiment, the group management device 500 does not discard the received message 600 even when the undefined message 600 is received. It is possible to suppress the transmission failure of messages between the two. Moreover, the malfunction of the substrate processing system 1 by the transmission failure of a message | telegram can be suppressed.

(C) According to this embodiment, even if the data format list (message definition format) is changed on the substrate processing apparatus 100 side or the terminal apparatus 700 side, the data format list (in the group management apparatus 500) ( The group management device 500 can easily transfer an undefined message to a predetermined transfer destination without changing the (message definition format) 800.

(D) According to this embodiment, when the transfer destination terminal device 700 (or the substrate processing apparatus 100) receives the message 600B transferred from the group management device 500, the data format is stored in the transfer destination device. While referring to the list (message definition format), it is possible to extract a message classification code and data from the message and perform processing according to the extracted code.

(E) According to the present embodiment, the group management apparatus 500 temporarily stores the undefined message 600 and the binary S0F0 message 600C based on the S0F0 format information 830 in the message storage unit 532, and then stores the message 600C. Based on the above, a transfer telegram 600B is generated. For this reason, the group management apparatus 500 can perform the process which transfers a message | telegram easily to a predetermined transfer destination, without performing a complicated process.
Moreover, the group management apparatus 500 may include a message storage unit 532 having a relatively large storage capacity. By doing so, the group management apparatus 500 temporarily stores the undefined message 600 in binary format in the message storage unit 532 even when a relatively large number of undefined message 600 is received. By performing a simple process of performing the above transfer, a plurality of messages can be transferred in a relatively short time.

(Comparative example)
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the group management apparatus 500 according to the comparative example.
As shown in FIG. 12, when the group management device according to the comparative example receives the message 600 (ST101), the message classification code 622A included in the message 600 is displayed in the data format list stored in the group management device. If defined (ST102), predetermined processing is performed for each message type (ST103), and the message classification code 622A included in the received message 600 is defined in the data format list stored in the group management device. If not, the received message 600 has been discarded (ST104).
When the message 600 is discarded by the group management apparatus according to the comparative example, there may be a problem in the operation of the substrate processing system having the group management apparatus according to the comparative example.

(Other embodiments of the present invention)
The substrate processing system according to the present embodiment is substantially the same as the substrate processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1. One or more substrate processing apparatuses (semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses) 100 and a group management apparatus connected to the substrate processing apparatus 100 are used. 500 and one or more terminal devices 700 connected to the group management device 500.

  In the present embodiment, in the configuration of the substrate processing system as shown in FIG. 1, the same search condition is applied to an acquisition request for apparatus data periodically generated from a plurality of terminal apparatuses 700 to a specific substrate processing apparatus 100. The data types searched in are collected as one search item. In this way, the number of device data searches can be reduced.

  Data (apparatus data) transmitted from the substrate processing apparatus (semiconductor manufacturing apparatus) 100 to the group management apparatus 500 includes the state of the substrate processing apparatus 100 itself, wafer information, temperature information, and gas flow rate information included in the substrate processing apparatus 100. , Pressure information, various sensor information, and the like, and these pieces of information are classified by groups and have detailed data in the groups. For example, in the case of temperature information, temperature settings, temperature monitor values, cascade monitor values, profile monitor values, heater power monitor values, and the like are defined as temperature information groups.

In the present embodiment, when temperature information is displayed on the terminal device 700, the terminal device 700 first transmits a message including a search request to the group management device 500. In the message, for each display item, a temperature information group is set as a search condition, and a temperature set value or a temperature monitor value is set as a type.
When the group management device 500 receives a message including a search request from a plurality of terminal devices 700, the group management device 500 performs a process of reducing the number of searches based on the plurality of messages. Specifically, the group management apparatus 500 refers to the search conditions for a plurality of display items, and combines the display items of the same condition (for example, “temperature information group”) as one search item. By summarizing the search conditions in this way, it is possible to acquire device data by searching the device data stored in the group management device 500 in groups.
The group management device 500 transmits the search result in units of groups to each of the requesting terminal devices 700.

For this reason, in this embodiment, even when the group management apparatus 500 receives a search request from a relatively large number of terminal apparatuses 700, it is possible to search for apparatus data in units of groups. That is, the number of searches can be reduced. The group management device 500 can easily transmit the result of the search request to each of the plurality of requesting terminal devices 700 based on the search result in units of groups. Each terminal device 700 can receive the search request result in a relatively short time.
That is, each terminal device 700 receives device data corresponding to a search request related to a specific substrate processing apparatus 100 from the group management device 500 in a relatively short time even when the number of terminal devices 700 is relatively large. Can be acquired.

  In addition, when receiving an undefined message from the substrate processing apparatus 100 or the terminal device 700, the group management apparatus 500 according to the present embodiment simply and without discarding the received message as invalid as in the above embodiment. The received message is transferred to a predetermined transfer destination.

  For this reason, the group management device 500 according to the present embodiment performs a transfer process easily when an undefined message is received, and reduces the number of device data searches related to a plurality of search requests. It is possible to perform processing related to device data.

<Preferred embodiment of the present invention>
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be additionally described.

According to one aspect of the invention,
A substrate processing system comprising one or more substrate processing apparatuses, a group management apparatus connected to the substrate processing apparatus, and one or more terminal devices connected to the group management apparatus,
The group management device includes:
A communication unit that transmits and receives a message including a message classification code and a data unit with the substrate processing apparatus or the terminal device;
A message storage unit for storing the message;
A list storage unit that stores a data format list that associates the message classification code with the data format information;
A message processing unit for processing the message,
The message processing unit
Extract the message classification code from the message stored in the message storage unit from the communication unit,
Read the data format list from the list storage unit, confirm the presence or absence of the definition of the extracted message classification code based on the data format list,
When the message classification code is defined in the data format list, referring to the data format list, based on the data format information corresponding to the extracted message classification code, from the data section of the message storage section Extract the data,
If the message classification code of the message is not defined in the data format list, the extracted message classification code and the message storage unit are read without extracting data from the data unit of the message storage unit. There is provided a substrate processing system for generating a transfer message including a data part and transferring the transfer message by the communication unit.

  Preferably, the message classification code defined in the data format list stored in the list storage unit is a stream function code conforming to SECS-I or SECS-II.

According to another aspect of the invention,
A group management apparatus connected to one or more substrate processing apparatuses and one or more terminal apparatuses,
A communication unit that transmits and receives a message including a message classification code and a data unit with the substrate processing apparatus or the terminal device;
A message storage unit for storing the message;
A list storage unit that stores a data format list that associates the message classification code with the data format information;
A message processing unit for processing the message,
The message processing unit
Extract the message classification code from the message stored in the message storage unit from the communication unit,
Read the data format list from the list storage unit, confirm the presence or absence of the definition of the extracted message classification code based on the data format list,
When the message classification code is defined in the data format list, referring to the data format list, based on the data format information corresponding to the extracted message classification code, from the data section of the message storage section Extract the data,
If the message classification code of the message is not defined in the data format list, the extracted message classification code and the message storage unit are read without extracting data from the data unit of the message storage unit. There is provided a group management device for generating a transfer message including a data part and transferring the transfer message by the communication unit.

  Preferably, the message classification code defined in the data format list stored in the list storage unit is a stream function code conforming to SECS-I or SECS-II.

According to another aspect of the invention,
A substrate processing method implemented in a substrate processing system having one or more substrate processing apparatuses, a group management apparatus connected to the substrate processing apparatus, and one or more terminal devices connected to the group management apparatus Because
The group management device includes:
A communication unit that transmits and receives a message including a message classification code and a data unit with the substrate processing apparatus or the terminal device;
A message storage unit for storing the message;
A list storage unit that stores a data format list that associates the message classification code with the data format information,
The group management device stores a message received from the substrate processing apparatus or the terminal device in the message storage unit, and extracts the message classification code from the message;
The group management device reads the data format list from the list storage unit, and confirms whether or not the extracted message classification code is defined based on the data format list;
When the message classification code is defined in the data format list, the group management device refers to the data format list and, based on the data format information corresponding to the extracted message classification code, stores the message storage Extracting data from the data portion of the portion;
When the message management code of the message is not defined in the data format list, the group management device does not extract data from the data part of the message storage unit, and extracts the message classification code and the message. Generating a transfer message including the data part read from the storage unit and causing the communication unit to transfer the transfer message to the substrate processing apparatus or the terminal device. .

  Preferably, the message classification code defined in the data format list stored in the list storage unit is a stream function code compliant with SECS-I or SECS-II.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described in detail, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, It can change variously in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

  For example, each terminal device (GUI terminal device) 700 may be arranged on the same floor (for example, in a clean room) as the substrate processing apparatus (semiconductor manufacturing apparatus) 100, or may be installed in other places. In that case, each terminal device 700 may be communicably connected to both or one of the substrate processing apparatus 100 and the group management apparatus 500 via a communication path (for example, a communication network such as the Internet).

  The substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied not only to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus but also to a substrate processing apparatus processing apparatus that processes a glass substrate used in an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) apparatus or the like. The substrate processing apparatus can also be applied to an exposure apparatus, a lithography apparatus, a coating apparatus, a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) apparatus using plasma, and the like.

  Further, the list storage unit 531 and the message storage unit 532 may be provided in the memory 503 or in the external storage unit 502.

  Further, the group management apparatus 500 according to the present invention stores a data format list conforming to SECS-I or SECS-II in the group management apparatus 500, and based on the data format list, a message in a received message is stored. Although the presence / absence of the definition of the category code has been determined, the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, the group management apparatus 500 stores a data format list corresponding to a predefined communication protocol other than SECS-I or SECS-II, and defines a message classification code in a received message based on the data format list. The presence or absence of may be judged.

1 Substrate Processing System 100 Substrate Processing Equipment (Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment)
100A process control module 500 group management device 501 communication unit 502 external storage unit 503 memory (storage unit)
504 Control unit (CPU)
531 List storage unit 532 Message storage unit 534 Message processing unit (communication processing program: communication task)
600 Message 620 Header part 622 Code storage part 622A Message classification code (stream function code)
630 Data section 630A Data 700 Terminal device (GUI terminal device)
800 Data format list 810 Message classification code (stream function code)
820 Data format information

Claims (1)

A substrate processing system comprising one or more substrate processing apparatuses, a group management apparatus connected to the substrate processing apparatus, and one or more terminal devices connected to the group management apparatus,
The group management device includes:
A communication unit that transmits and receives a message including a message classification code and a data unit with the substrate processing apparatus or the terminal device;
A list storage unit that stores a data format list that associates the message classification code with the data format information;
Extract the message classification code from the message,
Read the data format list from the list storage unit, confirm the presence or absence of the definition of the message classification code extracted from the message by the data format list,
When the message classification code is defined in the data format list, referring to the data format list, based on the data format information corresponding to the extracted message classification code, data is transmitted from the data portion of the message. Extract and
When a message classification code of the message is not defined in the data format list, a transfer message including the extracted message classification code and the data part read from the message is generated, and the transfer message is transmitted by the communication unit. A substrate processing system comprising: a message processing unit that transfers the message.

Images