Wonderware Unveils and Demos APC 'Interface-A' Connection in Collaboration with Cimetrix
SEMICON WEST, SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 12, 2004 -- Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys Systems, Inc., will demonstrate at SEMICON West a new Interface A (SEMI E134 standard) connection for its ArchestrA architecture. The addition of Interface A integration to the ArchestrA architecture was done in collaboration with Cimetrix Inc., with integration services provided by Alan Weber and Associates.
Interface A is considered by industry experts to be a pivotal element in the semiconductor industry's growing use of advanced process control (APC).This new enhancement continues Wonderware's tradition of supporting leading communication and information standards. Wonderware will demonstrate the new Interface A capabilities of its ArchestrA architecture in Booth No. 2806 in South Hall at SEMICON West, July 12-14.
The company also will demonstrate its process client, developer client and a wireless casual user tool that gives a real-time view of tools and lots in process." As important as the Interface A standard is overall, Wonderware's implementation of it in the ArchestrA architecture is more than just a 'pipe' for data," said Mike Bradley, president of the Wonderware-ArchestrA business units of Invensys. "The combination of ArchestrA and Interface A enables semiconductor fabs to move tool data directly into a real-time SQL database within a robust APC software framework, which has been proven in many manufacturing applications. Current discussions about the importance of Interface A often fail to consider that to maximize the value of the data requires a high-speed relational database.
Wonderware's ArchestrA architecture uses a plant-centric object model that captures, encapsulates, deploys and manages wafer fab process knowledge as software objects." Interface A is a non-proprietary, open industry software standard that enables access to the data available from today's wafer processing tools and sensors through a new data port, not the SECS/ GEM port. Data includes event alarms, event and process identifications and process transitions which is parsed into an output data stream for use by a fab's APC environment.
"We chose Cimetrix to supply the products for our Interface A solution because of the company's strength in providing equipment communications products specifically to the semiconductor industry," said Kevin Tock, vice president of strategic alliances and programs at Wonderware. "Cimetrix focuses on delivering a communications infrastructure that is ideally suited to piping data from wafer fab tools. Its products include a robust software test methodology and the company is well-connected to SEMI communications standards work." Most wafer processing tools in production today have only a SECS/ GEM port, which is for tool automation rather than for high-speed process data acquisition.
Since Interface A requires a separate data port, these tools have no way to easily connect to the new generation of APC applications. "Wonderware was able to leap over this obstacle by combining Cimetrix' CIMPortal product with its Interface A solution," Tock said. "CIMPortal is purchased directly from Cimetrix and can be deployed directly on a fab network to make SECS/ GEM-only tools provide both SECS/ GEM and Interface A data via one secure data port. This capability clearly addresses a major problem in implementing APC. It provides a data bridge from existing production tools into APC.
With Wonderware's Interface A solution, the ArchestrA architecture can take APC data directly from new SEMI E134 Interface A ports or from existing SECS/ GEM ports via CIMPortal." Tock added that using Cimetrix products has allowed Wonderware to accelerate its integration efforts with GEM and Interface A which is required for the kind of transition in equipment communications that the industry now faces." We are pleased that Wonderware has chosen to work with Cimetrix products and will adopt Interface A as the connectivity choice for emerging APC applications," said Dave Faulkner, executive vice president at Cimetrix. "We believe Interface A will provide significant benefits through increased quality of data for today's fabs.
Cimetrix has made significant investments in the Interface A technology to support the new equipment data acquisition standards. Wonderware is taking full advantage of this by providing an exciting platform from which to build APC applications. Wonderware and Alan Weber & Associates have joined our beta program for Interface A, and are currently developing great products which will become available when industry standards are approved." "We look at our Interface A for ArchestrA as more than just a plug in the wall," Bradley said. "We are confident that the ArchestrA architecture's combination of a robust object environment, a real-time SQL database and an Interface A solution will open up the free flow of process data in a way that the semiconductor industry has never seen before.
This will enable IT and process engineers at leading semiconductor fabs to address APC with a fab-centric approach, just like we have seen happen in the other industries that we serve. Our message is that data drives the understanding of processes and semiconductor manufacturing is on the threshold of a new wave in APC applications."
About Cimetrix
Cimetrix Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a leading developer of software products for equipment connectivity and advanced motion control. Connectivity products include CIM300, an award winning product family for 300mm semiconductor tools and CIMConnect, a family of enabling general-purpose connectivity solutions for 200mm tools and printed circuit board equipment. Motion control products include Cimetrix Open Development Environment product family, which provides PC-based solutions for motion intensive applications such as surface mount technology equipment, electronics assembly equipment, robotics, and machine tools.
For more information, please visit www.cimetrix.com .
About Alan Weber & Associates
Alan Weber & Associates is a provider of systems integration services for advanced process control in the semiconductor industry. Based in Austin, Tex., the company is experienced in all phases of APC implementation and provides extensive production deployment and support experience.
For more information, please visit the company's Web site at www.alanweberassociates.com .
About Wonderware and ArchestrA Business Units
Wonderware and ArchestrA are business units of Invensys Systems, Inc. Wonderware is the world's leading supplier of industrial automation and information software. Founded in 1987, Wonderware pioneered the use of the Microsoft Windows operating system in HMI automation software for manufacturing operation systems. Wonderware software powers intelligent plant decisions in real time.
The hallmark of the ArchestrA architecture is: "Every system in your plant, working in concert." Based in Lake Forest, Calif., the Wonderware and ArchestrA business units have regional sales and development offices throughout the North American, European, Latin American and Asia-Pacific regions to provide support to its network of more than 160 distributor offices. Wonderware has approximately 300,000 software licenses in approximately 100,000 plants worldwide, which is about 30 percent of the world's 335,000 plants with 20 or more employees.
For more information, visit www.wonderware.com or www.archestra.biz .
About Invensys
Invensys is a global automation, controls and process solutions group. Products, services, expertise and ongoing support enable intelligent systems to monitor and control processes in many different environments. The businesses within Invensys help customers in a variety of industries perform with greater efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness. Industry areas of focus include hydrocarbons, chemicals, oil and gas, power and utilities, rail, telecommunications, paper, food and beverage, dairy, pharmaceuticals and personal care. Process Systems provides products, services and solutions for the automation and optimization of plant operation in the process industries.
Featuring industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor and Wonderware, Process Systems occupies a top-tier position in the DCS, safety, simulation and HMI markets. Products are installed in more than 100,000 plants worldwide. Serving process and batch industries, including hydrocarbons, chemicals, power and utilities and metals and mining, and also the discrete and hybrid manufacturing sectors, Process Systems is at the forefront of technological innovation, with new award-winning technologies such as ArchestrA, Digital Coriolis and DolPhin.Also within the Invensys Group, APV specializes in process equipment engineered into systems and asset services for food, beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical and chemical clients.
Eurotherm is a leading supplier of control and measurement instrumentation solutions and services to industrial and process customers. Rail Systems is a multinational leader in the design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of safety-related rail signaling and control systems. Climate Controls is a major provider of the components, systems and services used globally to make commercial and residential environments safer, more comfortable and more efficient.
Appliance Controls has the broadest system and component offering for the appliance industry worldwide.The Invensys Group is headquartered in the U.K. and listed on the London Stock Exchange. With 39,000 employees operating in 60 countries, Invensys helps customers to improve their performance and profitability, building value for end users and shareholders alike.
For more information, visit www.invensys.com .
