Rapid Connection for Semiconductor Front-end and Back-end Process and Facility Equipment

The Taiwan Intellectual Property Office has awarded Beijer Electronics an new invention patent certification that utilized the Beijer Electronics X2 series smart Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and BoX2 series Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) gateway to rapidly implement the SEMI Equipment Communications Standard/Generic Equipment Model (SECS/GEM) communication protocol. This innovative development integrates front-end process and facility equipment, back-end testing and packaging equipment, substantially advancing the semiconductor industry's digitization, availability of manufacturing facility equipment, and capacity utilization.

The semiconductor industry plays a decisive role and propels the growth of rapidly evolving global innovative technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G communication, industrial automation, medical technology, defense aerospace, and consumer electronics. While the global pandemic is gradually becoming manageable, people's lifestyles and work patterns have profoundly transformed, significantly increasing chip demand. This unprecedented situation has created a remarkable upsurge in the semiconductor industry, including chip manufacturing, passive components, memory, packaging, and testing facilities, among other related supply chains.

Beijer Electronics' X2 series smart HMI and BoX2 series IIoT gateway products cater to semiconductor front-end and back-end equipment demands. These products provide an add-on SECS/GEM communication suite and a Semiconductor Message Language (SML) template import mechanism. Users can quickly implement specified GEM communication commands and response content with two simple steps.

First, edited the system-specified GEM commands and response content into SML format files as templates. Next, import these templates using Beijer Electronics' developed SECS/GEM software operation interface. This measure allows the SECS/GEM communication module to link device messages such as employee IDs, equipment IDs, material IDs, and real-time data from PLCs, including production parameters, recipe and quantities. Based on the specified statements in the commands, the system determines the response's content. Engineers only need to have a basic understanding of GEM command content. They can quickly establish communication without learning complex SECS technical details and programming.

The X2 series smart HMI and BoX2 series IIoT gateway products offer the most cost-effective solution to integrate the SECS/GEM communication suite by supporting most mainstream PLC communication protocols. Equipment developers can continue using their favorite PLC brands, significantly reducing the development workforce and time costs associated with data integration between systems and devices.

Furthermore, the X2 and BoX2 series products are indispensable tools for semiconductor equipment manufacturers and system integrators. X2 and BoX2 series can incorporate with various devices by leveraging the C# language based on the .NET framework, and the products enable rapid development of custom features or special communication protocols.

Beijer Electronics' newly released industrial solutions have been successfully implemented into world-renowned semiconductor manufacturers. With the acquisition of the new invention patent for fast implementation of the SECS/GEM communication protocol, Beijer Electronics will bring revolutionary changes to the semiconductor industry. Beijer Electronics' service provided across various global locations will enhance the competitiveness of Taiwan's semiconductor industry worldwide.

More information, please visit Beijer’s website at https://www.beijerelectronics.com/