Abstract: A tool including a tool surface and further including coding indicia linked, at least indirectly, with the surface of the tool, the coding indicia capable of being detected by a sensor, the coding indicia functioning as a pointer to information relating to said tool or its use.

Abstract: A workpiece data processing method and apparatus are for accurately determining a relationship between production equipment processing parameters/ambient condition data and workpiece quality inspection results.

Abstract: A method of providing process protocols for physical objects, which pass through several production/processing stations in a production/processing line, is provided. In such a method, machine-readable data for uniquely identifying an object are assigned to the object, a reading means is arranged at a production/processing station, by which machine-readable data can be read, a time stamp is assigned to the data, and a process protocol is generated from the machine-readable data, an assignment of the data to the station and/or to the reading means and the time stamp. Each data set describes a process step of a process, and comprises at least a first attribute, in which a unique identification of a process is stored, a second attribute, in which an identification of the process step is stored, and a third attribute, in which a sequence of the process steps within a process is stored.

Abstract: A label issuing system includes a label issuing apparatus and a label printer. The label issuing apparatus includes a printer interface and a processor. The processor is configured to generate print data for an image including a first region with first information and a second region with a first code symbol and a second code symbol each representing the first information but being of different sizes. The processor controls the printer interface to transmit the print data to the label printer. The label printer is connectable to the printer interface and configured to print the image on a label based on the print data received through the printer interface symbol.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to manage process excursions. An example apparatus includes a digital twin comparer to determine when a product fails to satisfy a tolerance metric of a digital twin, and a fingerprint manager to generate a fingerprint corresponding to a sensor pattern. The example apparatus also includes a node interfacer to determine a number of workstations of a process control system that exhibit the fingerprint, and an excursion statistics calculator to invoke a corrective action for respective ones of the number of workstations, the corrective action based on a threshold count of the number of workstations that exhibit the fingerprint.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus of the invention acquires normal data related to an operating state during normal operation of an industrial machine, stores the normal data, generates a learning model by learning based on the stored normal data, and performs an estimation process for normality or abnormality of an operation of the industrial machine using the learning model. The diagnostic apparatus of the invention further generates verification data including at least one piece of abnormal data based on the stored normal data to verify validity of the learning model on receiving a result of the estimation process using the learning model based on the verification data.

Abstract: Method for controlling operating of at least one additive manufacturing apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects is provided by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a powdered build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, embodiments including exemplary steps of: supplying authorization data (AD) which contains at least one authorization parameter that authorizes the operation of at least one additive manufacturing apparatus (1) or at least one functional unit (2-7) of the at least one additive manufacturing apparatus (1) from an external data supply source (10), transmitting the authorization data (AD) from the external data supply source (10) to a control unit (8) of the at least one additive manufacturing apparatus (1), and controlling operation of the additive manufacturing apparatus (1) or the at least one functional unit (2-7).

Abstract: An information presenting method according to the present disclosure includes: acquiring instruction information indicative of a preferred taste of a user with respect to a food product; calculating a first feature quantity indicative of a feature of a taste indicated by the instruction information; calculating, from a food product data base which stores a temporal change in a content of each of one or more components for each of one or more food products, progress information indicative of a temporal change in a second feature quantity indicative of a feature of the taste of each of the food products, extracting a food product for which a distance between the first feature quantity and the progress information is equal to or less than a reference value; and presenting the extracted food product.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus are provided. The transmitting apparatus includes an encoder configured to generate a low density parity check (LDPC) codeword by performing LDPC encoding, an interleaver configured to interleave the LDPC codeword, and a modulator configured to modulate the interleaved LDPC codeword according to a modulation method to generate a modulation symbol. The interleaver performs interleaving by dividing the LDPC codeword into a plurality of groups, rearranging an order of the plurality of groups in group units, and dividing the plurality of rearranged groups based on a modulation order according to the modulation method.

Abstract: A device, a method, and a computer program for use in a device for washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical, dental, laboratory and/or pharmaceutical goods. The device can have a chamber for receiving the goods, a door associated with the chamber and a processing circuitry for creating and storing a track record of at least one parameter of the washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing process performed by the device. The user interface can be operable by the user to cause the process circuitry to electronically sign the track record, where the signing of the track record is associated with at least one condition on the device, such as controlling doors. The device, method and computer program facilitates an easy and secure signing of a track record directly on the device. The device may be a single door device, or a two door pass-through device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for semiconductor tool part tracking and kit verification. Data relating to part identification and performance are encoded to a unique code that is encoded into machine-readable form, such as a data matrix. A multi-dimensional array (MDA) of the data matrices of a group of parts is a ‘golden MDA’. When assembled into a kit, the parts are scanned and compared to the golden MDA. If there's a match, a kit unique code is used to generate a kit data matrix. The part data matrix codes are provided to a database to determine if a part combination will cause a coupling effect, based on part usage history.

Abstract: Provided is a management system for performing quality management on manufacturing equipment. A management system that includes: an acquisition component that acquires state information for manufacturing equipment that is subject to management; a determination component that, on the basis of the acquired state information, determines whether an event has occurred; a display component that displays both an image that schematically or realistically represents a manufacturing line included in the manufacturing equipment and, separated into the four perspectives Machine, Man, Material, and Method, indexes that indicate the likelihood that there is a factor that caused an event; and an output component that, when a specific event has occurred, outputs, in response to a user selection, analysis results for each of one or more factors belonging to each of the four perspectives, the analysis results indicating a likelihood of having caused the specific event that occurred.

Abstract: A device a method, and a computer program for use in a device (40) for washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical, dental, laboratory and/or pharmaceutical goods. The device comprises a chamber (41) for receiving the goods, a door (42) associated with the chamber (41) and a processing circuitry for creating and storing a track record of at least one parameter of the washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing process performed by the device (40). The user interface (44, 45) is operable by the user to cause the process circuitry to electronically sign the track record, and wherein the signing of the track record is associated with at least one condition on the device (40). The device, method and computer program facilitates an easy and secure signing of a track record directly on the device.

Abstract: Provided is a lithography apparatus that has a plurality of processing units each of which configured to perform processing of pattern formation for substrates. The lithography apparatus also has a controller configured to manage the plurality of processing units as groups in accordance with characteristics of the pattern formation respectively, allocate the substrates included in one or more lots to one of the groups, and, if an unprocessed substrate allocated to the group still exist upon a standby state of a processing unit included in the group, allocate the unprocessed substrate to the processing unit in the standby state and then cause the processing units to perform parallel processing for the substrates based on the allocation.

Abstract: A machine part number of an industrial machine is scanned when the machine enters a facility for maintenance. The scanned number is associated with components that comprise the machine and with characteristics of the components or machine. Based upon the characteristics of the machine or components, a customized maintenance route is produced for the machine through the facility. The customized maintenance route specifies a sequence of maintenance actions and timing of these actions for the machine that are adjusted in real-time as the characteristics change.

Abstract: Operator and quality information can be traced during manufacturing processes. It can be determined whether an operator requesting access to the manufacturing process is authorized. If authorized, the operator can be granted access to the manufacturing process. Quality information including one or more quality checks associated with the operator can be received. It can be determined whether the one or more quality checks pass predetermined quality requirements. If the quality checks pass the predetermined quality requirements, identification information can be generated. The identification information can be used to apply a traceable output on a part associated with the manufacturing process. Traceability reports can be generated that include the operator identification and the quality information and that can be reviewed by external computing systems.

Abstract: A method for controlling a manufacturing device used in an optical lens manufacturing process. The method including providing optical lens data, the optical lens data representing the nominal and effective values of at least one optical lens parameter of an optical lens manufactured according to a manufacturing process using a manufacturing device, providing manufacturing data identifying at least the manufacturing device used to manufacture the optical lens, determining the difference between the nominal and effective values of the at least one optical lens parameter of the optical lens, determining a recommended value of a manufacturing parameter of the manufacturing device identified by the manufacturing data, the recommended value of the manufacturing parameter being determined based on the difference between the nominal and effective values of the at least one optical lens parameter.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method and apparatus are provided for testing a wafer while the wafer is disposed in a wafer carrier. The test results can be utilized to adjust the manufacturing process and thereby increase processing yield.

Abstract: A first embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising clustering processing tools of a processing stage into a tool cluster based on processing data and forming a prediction model for processing a semiconductor wafer based on the tool cluster. A second embodiment is a method for semiconductor process control comprising providing cluster routes between first stage tool clusters and second stage tool clusters, assigning a comparative optimization ranking to each cluster route, and scheduling processing of wafers. The comparative optimization ranking identifies comparatively which cluster routes provide for high wafer processing uniformity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a tracking system and a controller in communication with the tracking system. The tracking system is configured to identify characteristics about a group of portable machines configured to perform a number of manufacturing operations on a workpiece. The controller is configured to control performance of the number of manufacturing operations on the workpiece using the characteristics about the group of portable machines identified using the tracking system.

Abstract: An eyeglass lens supplying system for supplying an eyeglass lens to a plurality of eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a plurality of conveyer line units, each of which includes: at least one conveyer line conveying a tray; a tray moving unit separating at least two trays from the conveyer line to move the trays to standby positions, and put the tray on the conveyer line; and a control unit obtaining processing information from a host computer; a carrying-in conveyer line connected to the conveyer line of the conveyer line unit; a carrying-out conveyer line connected to the conveyer line of the conveyer line unit; a main control unit communicating with each of the control units, and determines the processing apparatus to process the lens in the tray on the carrying-in conveyer unit, or determines the conveyer line unit to convey the tray on the carrying-in conveyer unit.

Abstract: Material management systems and methods include material storage vessels with information (e.g., electronic information) storage. Information may be communicated from a storage device to a process tool controller and employed to set or adjust a process tool operating parameter. Material information may be determined by remote analysis and subsequently communicated to an electronic information storage device of a vessel containing such material. Location and movement of material storage vessels within a customer facility may be automatically tracked, with further transfer of material-specific information. Product information may be associatively stored with material-specific information utilized in product manufacture.

Abstract: A system manages results of an analysis process on objects handled along a technical process line. The system contains measures for defining workflow steps of the technical process line and workflow execution software, and measures for generating for each object an object record containing the results of the workflow steps and a status. The system further has measures for defining an event manager for managing a transition from an actual status to a new status according to results of the workflow steps. The event manager contains a customized number of statuses linked to the workflow steps and contains for each transition a customizable set of rules for delivering check results. Finally, measures are provided for executing in parallel the analysis process, the workflow execution software and the event manager, thereby assigning a status to the object record depending on the check results derived from the execution of the set of rules.

Abstract: The system comprises a conveyor for conveying a plurality of molds along a production path on which is located a plurality of stations, each of which can execute at least one corresponding operation. Each mold carries an electronic identification device including memory devices from and to which information or data can be read and written without contact by means of an antenna. Each station is provided with an electronic unit including a processor, having memory devices and at least one antenna, and designed to read and/or write information or data from or to the memory devices of a mold passing through the station. An initial input station transfers or writes to the memory devices of each mold passing through it information identifying the products to be formed in the mold and relating to corresponding forming operations.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and a device for titling, which can achieve automatic correction when deviation occurs between a real titling position of a product to be titled and a preset titling position, so as to avoid an ID shift phenomenon, and thus ensure accuracy of titling positions and improve titling efficiency. The titling method provided in the present disclosure comprises: determining a real titling position of a product to be titled; comparing the real titling position with a preset titling position; and titling the product to be titled in accordance with the comparison result.

Abstract: To enable recording of which robot has participated in the manufacture of which product without fail, provided is a robot system, including: a robot controller for controlling a robot; and a production management computer, which is to be connected to the robot controller. The robot controller includes a robot information transmitting unit for transmitting robot identification information by which the robot is identified to the production management computer when the robot works on a work piece that is put on a work space for the robot. The production management computer includes: a work piece identification information obtaining unit for obtaining, when the work piece within the work space for the robot is switched, work piece identification information by which the work piece is identified; and a storage for storing the robot identification information in association with the work piece identification information.

Abstract: A manufacturing system and method for manufacturing a product include storing product-related information with the product. The product-related information may be stored on one or more tags secured to a portion of the product and may be used to facilitate or control an aspect of manufacturing. During manufacturing, product-related information may be updated, for example, to reflect completion of a manufacturing operation.

Abstract: A problem that the present invention is to solve is to provide a parts mounting related work device which can prevent the occurrence of an unexpected operation failure and an erroneous stopping of the whole system which are attributed to an error in combination of working head and working equipment. A storage part (24c) stores combinations of types of working heads (H) and types of working equipment (E) which correspond to contents of work that is performed on a board (PB), and a determination part (24d) determines whether or not the combination of the type of the working head (H) which is currently detected by a head type detector and the type of the working equipment which is currently detected by an equipment type detector coincides with any of combinations stored in the storage part (24c).

Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing system including a group controller which determines a combination of processing apparatuses having the shortest total processing time including the processing end time in a final processing apparatus, determines a predictable elapsed time up to a processing start time by a predetermined downstream processing apparatus for a wafer lot from a processing end time of the wafer lot by a predetermined processing apparatus in the combination of the processing apparatuses, and determines a timing of discharging the substrate to the predetermined processing apparatus or an upstream processing apparatus of the predetermined processing apparatus so that the predictable elapsed time is set within a predetermined time when the predictable elapsed time exceeds the predetermined time.

Abstract: A method testing the quality of products applied to a system is provided. Each product includes a unique identification number. The system includes a data storage device and test devices. The data storage device includes a first table recording identification numbers, test types, and test results, each test device stores a second table records the identification numbers and the test types. The method includes: obtaining the identification number; obtaining the test type; determining whether a test type previous to the test type exists; and generating first information to prompt the operator to return the to-be-tested product to the workstation of previous test type when the test result corresponding to the existed previous test type does not exist or the test result corresponding to the existed previous test type is a first value.

Abstract: Workability management system including operations of: storing resource identification information for identifying said resource and said work history information in association with each other in a storage medium; extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information from said storage medium when a change occurs in said work history information, updating a change content and storing it into said storage medium; extracting said work history information corresponding to said resource identification information of said resource for judging workability of said resource from said storage medium, taking out total use information of said resource from said work history information, and creating a change with time of said total use information as said casual sequence information; and judging workability of said resource by said casual sequence information.

Abstract: In a transfer system, a storage data and a specific equipment data indicating a specific equipment are generated. When a transfer command indicates the specific equipment as one of a previous location and a subsequent location, a priority level of the transfer command is increased. A transfer command having a highest priority level is selected. When an available carrier that is not assigned with a transfer command is not accessible within a previous area in which the previous location of the transfer command selected belongs to, when the priority level of the transfer command selected has been increased, and when an alternative carrier that is assigned with the transfer command and is transferring without carrying the cassette is accessible within the previous area, the transfer command selected is assigned to the alternative carrier.

Abstract: Methods and systems for programmed dispensation of consumable compositions are provided. A method for sterilizing a beverage container may include, but is not limited to: (a) detecting a sterilization status of a container; and (b) controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status. A system for sterilizing a beverage container may include, but is not limited to: (a) means for detecting a sterilization status of a container; and (b) means for controlling functionality of a controllable device according to the sterilization status.

Abstract: A management method is able to quickly investigate the cause of a defect generated in a semiconductor product manufacturing process. Manufacturing conditions in various QFP manufacturing steps are stored in a main server while correlating them with an identification number of the QFP, and a two-dimensional bar code corresponding to the identification number is stamped to the surface of the QFP. In the event of occurrence of a defect of the QFP, the manufacturing conditions for the QFP stored in the main server can be traced in an instant by reading the two-dimensional bar code of the QFP and thereby specifying the identification number.

Abstract: A lot of buildings have been built while it is concerned that a building material is used fraudulently. Therefore, the present invention provides a managing method of the material and a system thereof. The present invention provides a managing method including a step of attaching a sheet including a plurality of memories to each surface of a plurality of materials, a step of dividing the plurality of materials with the sheet in accordance with data in the memory, a step of constructing a building by using the divided material in accordance with the data in the memory, and a step of checking the data on the constructed building, which is stored in the plurality of memories.

Abstract: A method for continuous, non lot-based manufacturing of integrated circuit (IC) devices of the type to each have a unique fuse identification (ID) includes: reading the fuse ID of each of the IC devices; advancing multiple lots of the IC devices through, for example, a test step in the manufacturing process in a substantially continuous manner; generating data, such as test data, related to the advancement of each of the IC devices through the step in the process; and associating the data generated for each of the IC devices with the fuse ID of its associated IC device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for creating customized products using a product identification device. In some embodiments, the process involves receiving an aggregate order for yearbooks, creating a master list associated with the aggregate order and including single orders, associating at least one number with each single order, manufacturing a first portion of a yearbook for each single order with a first identifier associated with that portion and also being associated with the at least one number, manufacturing a second portion of the yearbook for the single order with a second identifier associated with that portion and also being associated with the at least one number, and combining the first portion with the second portion.

Abstract: A maintenance information management method comprising steps of: by a terminal processing apparatus, transmitting, to a management apparatus via a network, maintenance work information about an analyzer on which maintenance work has been performed; storing, in a maintenance work information storage section of the management apparatus, the maintenance work information transmitted via the network; and transmitting, to the terminal processing apparatus via the network, the maintenance work information of the analyzer, which is stored in the maintenance work information storage section.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer processing tape sticking apparatus is provided and is capable of sticking a semiconductor wafer processing tape to a semiconductor wafer under the optimum conditions based on the processing data that has been written to a data carrier member and that has been read from the data carrier member without accessing the host computer unlike a conventional method. The semiconductor wafer processing tape sticking apparatus includes: a feeding apparatus provided with a feeding shaft to which a semiconductor wafer processing tape winding body can be detachably attached; a tape data read/write device for reading and writing the processing data that has been written to a data carrier member of the semiconductor wafer processing tape winding body; and a tape sticking apparatus for sticking a semiconductor wafer processing tape that has been fed out from the feeding apparatus to the semiconductor wafer based on the processing data that has been read by the tape data read/write device.

Abstract: A foreign matter detection unit detects an entry of an unexpected foreign matter that is other than the substrates by light transmitting optical sensors 7 having light projecting portions 7a and light receiving portions 7b at opening sections 3a, 3b formed in cover members 2 through which the substrates pass. By executing an emergency stop processing, when the entry of the foreign matter is detected at one of the opening sections, to stop the electronic component mounting apparatus that is adjacent to the opening section at which the entry of the foreign matter is detected, safety of the machine operators is properly ensured in check and confirmation works conducted at the time of machine troubles etc even in an electronic component assembling line in which the small-sized thin unit apparatuses are combined.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to an integrated circuit such as an FPGA wherein a stable unique identifier is produced by reading an intrinsic characteristic of the IC such as a physically unclonable function, and a related method. In one embodiment, a first unique identifier is generated using the intrinsic characteristic and is subdivided into a plurality of first subsets. A second unique identifier is received and subdivided into a plurality of second subsets. The first and second subsets are compared to identify matching subsets to generate the stable unique identifier. Each of the one or more matching subsets includes a particular one of the plurality of first subsets that matches a corresponding one of the plurality of second subsets. The stable unique identifier can be integrated into logic of the IC. Prior to comparing the subsets, the first and second subsets can be transformed with one-way functions.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an electronic component mounting system and an electronic component mounting method which can execute component mounting work on a plurality of boards simultaneously, concurrently and efficiently so that high productivity and responsiveness to production of many items can be achieved consistently.

Abstract: A method for continuous, non lot-based manufacturing of integrated circuit (IC) devices of the type to each have a unique fuse identification (ID) includes: reading the fuse ID of each of the IC devices; advancing multiple lots of the IC devices through, for example, a test step in the manufacturing process in a substantially continuous manner; generating data, such as test data, related to the advancement of each of the IC devices through the step in the process; and associating the data generated for each of the IC devices with the fuse ID of its associated IC device.

Abstract: A process control device includes a tracking controller receiving event information indicating that a product pass a predetermined location is received; a conductor unit for determining a corresponding process based on the event information; and a work instruction unit for issuing a work instruction for the product in the production line in response to the request from the conductor unit. The device further includes a work instruction past record control unit for controlling past record of the work instructions in response to an issue of the work instruction; a work instruction sequence order control unit for controlling a sequence order of the work instructions; and a work instruction sequence order storage for storing information of the sequence order of the work instructions to control the information of the sequence order of the work instructions in addition to the current location information of the product.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a manufacturing control system include but are not limited to identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine; confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code; and enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A method testing the quality of products applied to a system is provided. Each product includes a unique identification number. The system includes a data storage device and test devices. The data storage device includes a first table recording identification numbers, test types, and test results, each test device stores a second table records the identification numbers and the test types. The method includes: obtaining the identification number; obtaining the test type; determining whether a test type previous to the test type exists; and generating first information to prompt the operator to return the to-be-tested product to the workstation of previous test type when the test result corresponding to the existed previous test type does not exist or the test result corresponding to the existed previous test type is a first value.

Abstract: A method of building construction includes designing a building with software for execution on a computer such that an envelope of the building principally comprises expanded polystyrene foam panels, and the software is used to automatically generate a plan with reference numbers that identify substantially all the component pieces of the building. The software and computer are coupled to a computer aided design (CAD) program for generating computer numerical controlled (CNC) milling commands for expanded polystyrene foam panels, and a cut-list for steel reinforcing studs to fit into matching slots milled into the expanded polystyrene foam panels. At least the expanded polystyrene foam panels and matching steel reinforcing studs are marked with identifying numbers corresponding to the reference numbers. The expanded polystyrene foam panels are milled with a CNC machine and panel cutter according to CNC milling commands from the CAD program.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is coupled to a circuit board to track the specific operating and environmental conditions of each manufacturing stage as the circuit board passes through the manufacturing stages. An RFID reader and data collector are used at each stage to read the RFID tag and store its identifying information along with processing information, operating conditions, and results for each stage. This permits to quickly and accurately collect manufacturing information for each circuit board at various manufacturing stages as well as the operating conditions for each stage at a particular time. Such manufacturing metrics can then be retrieved on a stage-by-stage basis for a particular circuit board by an identifier printed on the circuit board.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a work performance collection system for reliably collecting information of work performance without applying a burden to a worker in assembly of a work object article. This system includes a work specification ID tag into which information for specifying a work content of a work object article is written, a work management box having a throw-in port into which the work specification ID tag is thrown at the time of work, and an ID tag reader provided to a side surface of the work management box, for reading the work specification ID tag and transmitting the information read to a work performance management apparatus. A worker is required to only throw the work specification ID tag into the work management box at the start of work and to only take out the work specification ID tag at the end of work.

Abstract: In an electronic component mounting system constituted by interconnecting a plurality of mounting apparatuses, a board ID code attached by digital data to the board is read in a board supply apparatus located in the uppermost stream and transmitted to the mounting apparatuses on the downstream side via communication means. By comparing the transmitted board ID code with mounting nonrequirement board code data (defective board code, read error code, dummy board code, etc.) preparatorily stored in a storage section in the mounting apparatus, it is determined whether or not execution of mounting operation of the board is required, and the board determined to be not required to be subjected to mounting is unloaded to the downstream side without carrying out mounting works and without line stop.