International Business Machines Corporation

Paul D Hand

Andrew Paul Wyskida

Edward Sherwood

Philip L Campbell

Gary Thomas Leonardi

George M Harmuth

Glenn M Stefanski

A system and a method for safeguarding wafers and photomasks. The system includes a container for storing an article, the article being a wafer or a photomask; a flashing unit for flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function, the anti-theft unit being attached to the container; and a trigger unit electrically connected to the anti-theft unit for triggering the anti-theft function of the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern of the flashing unit. The method includes providing a container having an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function; storing an article in the container, the article being a wafer or a photomask; providing a flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; detecting the pre-determined light pattern; and performing the anti-theft function by the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern.

System and method for safeguarding wafers and photomasks

A system and storage medium for providing continuous communication between passive and active equipment are provided. The system includes a conversion unit coupled to at least one the passive and active equipment, which monitors signals received from the equipment. The signals relate to an equipment state. Upon detecting a state change, the system converts a signal associated with the state change to a TCP/IP-formatted request. The system also includes a message handler coupled to the conversion unit, which receives the request from the conversion unit and transmits the request to a host system. The message handler also removes TCP/IP formatting from the request resulting in a file transfer protocol message. The conversion unit converts the file transfer protocol message to a signal and responds to the signal by the equipment. The conversion includes decoding the file transfer protocol message and setting a signal line to a requested state.

Method, system, and storage medium for providing continuous communication between process equipment and an automated material handling system

Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a method and system for providing continuous communication between passive equipment and active equipment. The method includes monitoring signals received from a passive equipment or active equipment. The signals relate to at least one equipment state. Upon detecting a state change, the method also includes converting a signal associated with the state change to a TCP/IP-formatted request, and transmitting the request to a host system.

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Stanfordville, NY, United States of America

Paul D Hand