Fsi International, Inc.

Other

Natarajan Ramanan

Chelliah Sriskandarajah

James B Sims

Kevin G Kemp

Keith H Armstrong

Subodha Kumar

H Neil Geismar

Faqiu (Frank) Liang

A robotic manufacturing system may include multiple robots for transporting materials between a series of stages in a manufacturing process. To provide enhanced efficiency, each of these robots may independently operate according to a reverse process flow, cyclical schedule of operation.

Scheduling multi-robot processing systems

In an automated processing system, a system controller uses a meta-heuristic technique for identifying an optimal or near-optimal control schedule for controlling movements and operations of a robot. In particular embodiments, the system controller uses a genetic algorithm to breed a control schedule for the robot. In particular embodiments, the system controller dynamically updates the control schedule based on system operation.

Control of robotic systems

Described are heating members and related methods, the heating members being usefully for processing substrates such as microelectronic devices, the heating members optionally and preferably comprising a thermal conductive layer prepared to a superior flatness and having thermal transfer properties that facilitate rapid, agile, and uniform heat transfer, with ceramic material being preferred for its construction, and the heating member optionally and preferably including a multi-layer heating element.

Heating member for combination heating and chilling apparatus, and methods

Robotic system control

Systems and methods that make it possible to rapidly cycle a workpiece through a temperature/time profile over a wide temperature range, e.g., 0.degree. C. to 350.degree. C., without having to lift and transfer the workpiece between separate baking and chilling mechanisms. The present invention is based in part upon the concept of using a low thermal mass, thermally conductive heating member to support a workpiece, such as a microelectronic device, during both baking and chilling operations. While supporting the workpiece on one surface, the other surface of the heating member can be brought into and out of thermal contact with a relatively thermally massive chill plate to easily switch between baking and chilling operations. A simple mechanism is all that is required to either physically separate the heating member and chill plate to accomplish the most rapid heating, or the simple mechanism adjoins the heating member and chill plate to accomplish the most rapid chilling. This approach completely eliminates the need to rely upon a workpiece handling mechanism in order to lift and transfer a microelectronic device from a heating member to a separate chill plate. This approach also allows both chilling and baking to occur from a direction below the microelectronic device.

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Plano, TX, United States of America

Natarajan Ramanan