Overhead buffer double-entry detection system and method thereof

{
  "publication_number": "US12191180B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Overhead buffer double-entry detection system and method thereof",
  "abstract": "An overhead buffer double-entry detection system, which includes an overhead hoist transport, a first sensing unit for scanning and generating detection data of a horizontal range, a driving device for moving the first sensing unit in a vertical range, a controlling unit, and an overhead hoist transport controlling system for sending a detection instruction and a driving instruction to the controlling unit when the overhead hoist transport moves to a corresponding overhead buffer position, whereby the controlling unit bases on the driving instruction to control the driving device to move the first sensing unit in a vertical range, bases on the detection instruction to control the first sensing unit to scan and generate detection data of each horizontal range within the overhead buffer during movement process, and bases on the detection data of each horizontal range within the overhead buffer to judge whether there is obstacle in the overhead buffer.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An overhead buffer double-entry detection system, comprising: an overhead hoist transport; a first sensing unit, for scanning and generating detection data of a horizontal range; a driving device, disposed on the overhead hoist transport, and connected to the first sensing unit, for moving the first sensing unit in a vertical range; a controlling unit, connected to the driving device and the first sensing unit respectively; and an overhead hoist transport controlling system, connected to the overhead hoist transport and the controlling unit respectively, for sending a detection instruction and a driving instruction to the controlling unit when the overhead hoist transport moves to a corresponding overhead buffer position, whereby the controlling unit bases on the driving instruction to control the driving device to move the first sensing unit in a vertical range, bases on the detection instruction to control the first sensing unit to scan and generate detection data of each horizontal range within the overhead buffer during movement process, and sends the detection data of each horizontal range within the overhead buffer to the overhead hoist transport controlling system, and the overhead hoist transport controlling system bases on the detection data of each horizontal range within the overhead buffer to judge whether there is obstacle in the overhead buffer.",
    "2. The overhead buffer double-entry detection system according to claim 1, wherein: the driving device is a leading screw mechanism; the first sensing unit is disposed on a sliding block of the leading screw mechanism; and the controlling unit drives a motor of the leading screw mechanism to enable the sliding block to bring into movement the first sensing unit in a vertical range.",
    "3. The overhead buffer double-entry detection system according to claim 2, further comprising: a second sensing unit, connected to the controlling unit, for outputting a first sensing signal when the first sensing unit is moved to an upper limit of the vertical range; and a third sensing unit, connected to the controlling unit, for outputting a second sensing signal when the first sensing unit is moved to a lower limit of the vertical range; wherein the controlling unit is further employed to base on the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal to control the first sensing unit to start scanning from lower limit position of the vertical range and to stop scanning when it is moved to upper limit position of the vertical range.",
    "4. The overhead buffer double-entry detection system according to claim 3, wherein the second sensing unit and the third sensing unit are respectively laser sensors.",
    "5. The overhead buffer double-entry detection system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical range at least includes a region ranging from a bottom edge of the obstacle on the overhead buffer to a top edge of a load transfer part of the overhead hoist transport.",
    "6. The overhead buffer double-entry detection system according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal range at least includes the range of a region where the obstacle on the overhead buffer is located.",
    "7. The overhead buffer double-entry detection system according to claim 4, wherein the laser sensors are U-shaped sensors; and a block piece capable of penetrating the U-shaped sensors during the movement process is disposed at a corresponding position of the first sensing unit or the sliding block.",
    "8. An overhead buffer double-entry detecting method, characterized in comprising: controlling an overhead hoist transport to move to a corresponding position of an overhead buffer; triggering a first sensing unit, controlling a driving device to move the first sensing unit in a vertical range, and enabling the first sensing unit to scan and generate detection data of each horizontal range within the overhead buffer during movement process, wherein the driving device is disposed on the overhead hoist transport, and the first sensing unit is connected to the driving device; and basing on the detection data of each horizontal range within the overhead buffer to judge whether there is obstacle in the overhead buffer.",
    "9. The overhead buffer double-entry detecting method according to claim 8, wherein, before the overhead hoist transport moves to a corresponding position of the overhead buffer, the method further comprises: setting detection range of horizontal range of the first sensing unit and vertical range moved by the first sensing unit; wherein the horizontal range at least includes a range of a region where the obstacle on the overhead buffer is located, and the vertical range at least includes a region ranging from a bottom edge of the obstacle on the overhead buffer to a top edge of a load transfer part of the overhead hoist transport.",
    "10. The overhead buffer double-entry detecting method according to claim 9, wherein, after the first sensing unit is triggered, the first sensing unit starts scanning from bottom edge position of the obstacle on the overhead buffer, and stops scanning when it is moved under control of the driving device to top edge position of the load transfer part of the overhead hoist transport.",
    "11. The overhead buffer double-entry detecting method according to claim 9, wherein, after judging whether there is obstacle in the overhead buffer, the method further comprises: basing on detection data of each horizontal range within the overhead buffer to judge types of the obstacle; and basing on different types of the obstacle to make corresponding warning reminders.",
    "12. The overhead buffer double-entry detecting method according to claim 8, wherein, before controlling the overhead hoist transport to move to a corresponding position of the overhead buffer, the method further comprises: setting detection regions and triggering conditions, the detection regions including horizontal range scannable by the first sensing unit and vertical range required for the first sensing unit to be moved; wherein the detection range of the horizontal range at least includes the horizontal range in which the obstacle on the overhead buffer is located, the vertical range at least includes a region ranging from a bottom edge of the obstacle on the overhead buffer to a top edge of the load transfer part of the overhead hoist transport, and the triggering conditions include movement of the overhead hoist transport to a corresponding load transfer part of the overhead buffer."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present application relates to an overhead buffer double-entry detection system and a method thereof.\n\nThe automated material handling system (AMHS) in a semiconductor integrated circuit includes an overhead hoist transport (OHT) moving along tracks disposed below the ceiling, and an overhead buffer (OHB) mounted below the ceiling, of which the overhead buffer is a storage rack for disposing front opening unified pods (FOUPs), and the overhead hoist transport is employed to convey the FOUPs to destination sites.\n\nThe present application proposes an overhead buffer double-entry detection system and a method thereof, whereby precise detection of double entry can be realized.\n\nAccording to plural embodiments, a first aspect of the present application provides an overhead buffer double-entry detection system, which comprises:\n\nan overhead hoist transport;\n\na first sensing unit, for scanning and generating detection data of a horizontal range;\n\na driving device, disposed on the overhead hoist transport, and connected to the first sensing unit, for moving the first sensing unit in a vertical range;\n\na controlling unit, connected to the driving device and the first sensing unit respectively; and\n\nan overhead hoist transport controlling system, connected to the overhead hoist transport and the controlling unit respectively, for sending a detection instruction and a driving instruction to the controlling unit when the overhead hoist transport moves to a corresponding overhead ...",
  "cpc": [
    "H10P 72/3221",
    "B65G 49/07",
    "B66C 13/16",
    "B66C 13/18",
    "B66C 15/06",
    "B66C 15/065",
    "G01B 11/00",
    "G01V 8/26",
    "H01L 21/67733",
    "H10P 72/0606"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 49/07",
    "H01L 21/677"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Changxin Memory Technologies Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Yuanzhang QIN"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-05-18",
  "publication_date": "2025-01-07",
  "grant_date": "2025-01-07",
  "priority_date": "2020-05-29",
  "application_number": "US-202117423642-A",
  "family_id": "78724597",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}