The present invention provides methods and systems for manufacturing process control of photovoltaic products. Some embodiments relate to a method for tracking wafers for photovoltaic products with respect to which production tool processed them and their position within that production tool. Some embodiments relate to measuring and characterizing the critical-to-quality parameters of the partially-finished photovoltaic products emerging from the production tool in question. Some embodiments relate to display and visualization of the measured parameters on a computer screen, such that the parameters of each production unit can be directly observed in the context of which production tools processed them, which location within a specific production tool they were located in during processing, and which batch, or in the case of continuous processing, what time, the unit(s) was/where processed.

Aspects of the disclosed technology encompass the use of a deep-learning controller for monitoring and improving a manufacturing process. In some aspects, a method of the disclosed technology includes steps for: receiving control values associated with a process station in a manufacturing process, predicting an expected value for an article of manufacture output from the process station, and determining if the deep-learning controller can control the manufacturing process based on the expected value. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

A wafer shape metrology system includes a wafer shape metrology sub-system configured to perform stress-free shape measurements on an active wafer, a carrier wafer, and a bonded device wafer. The active wafer includes functioning logic circuitry and the carrier wafer is electrically passive. The wafer shape metrology system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the wafer shape metrology sub-system. The controller is configured to receive stress-free shape measurements; determine overlay distortion between features on the active wafer and the carrier wafer; and convert the overlay distortion to a feed-forward correction for one or more lithographic scanners. The controller is also configured to determine a control range for a bonder or lithography scanner; predict an overlay distortion pattern; calculate an optimal control signature based on a minimal achievable overlay; and provide a feed-forward correction to the bonder or lithography scanner based on the calculated optimal control signature.

Aspects of the disclosed technology encompass the use of a deep learning controller for monitoring and improving a manufacturing process. In some aspects, a method of the disclosed technology includes steps for: receiving a plurality of control values from two or more stations, at a deep learning controller, wherein the control values are generated at the two or more stations deployed in a manufacturing process, predicting an expected value for an intermediate or final output of an article of manufacture, based on the control values, and determining if the predicted expected value for the article of manufacture is in-specification. In some aspects, the process can further include steps for generating control inputs if the predicted expected value for the article of manufacture is not in-specification. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Aspects of the disclosed technology encompass the use of a deep learning controller for monitoring and improving a manufacturing process. In some aspects, a method of the disclosed technology includes steps for: receiving a plurality of control values from two or more stations, at a deep learning controller, wherein the control values are generated at the two or more stations deployed in a manufacturing process, predicting an expected value for an intermediate or final output of an article of manufacture, based on the control values, and determining if the predicted expected value for the article of manufacture is in-specification. In some aspects, the process can further include steps for generating control inputs if the predicted expected value for the article of manufacture is not in-specification. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Aspects of the disclosed technology encompass the use of a deep-learning controller for monitoring and improving a manufacturing process. In some aspects, a method of the disclosed technology includes steps for: receiving control values associated with a process station in a manufacturing process, predicting an expected value for an article of manufacture output from the process station, and determining if the deep-learning controller can control the manufacturing process based on the expected value. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Aspects of the disclosed technology encompass the use of a deep learning controller for monitoring and improving a manufacturing process. In some aspects, a method of the disclosed technology includes steps for: receiving a plurality of control values from two or more stations, at a deep learning controller, wherein the control values are generated at the two or more stations deployed in a manufacturing process, predicting an expected value for an intermediate or final output of an article of manufacture, based on the control values, and determining if the predicted expected value for the article of manufacture is in-specification. In some aspects, the process can further include steps for generating control inputs if the predicted expected value for the article of manufacture is not in-specification. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Aspects of the disclosed technology encompass the use of a deep-learning controller for monitoring and improving a manufacturing process. In some aspects, a method of the disclosed technology includes steps for: receiving control values associated with a process station in a manufacturing process, predicting an expected value for an article of manufacture output from the process station, and determining if the deep-learning controller can control the manufacturing process based on the expected value. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Aspects of the disclosed technology encompass the use of a deep-learning controller for monitoring and improving a manufacturing process. In some aspects, a method of the disclosed technology includes steps for: receiving control values associated with a process station in a manufacturing process, predicting an expected value for an article of manufacture output from the process station, and determining if the deep-learning controller can control the manufacturing process based on the expected value. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Aspects of the disclosed technology encompass the use of a deep learning controller for monitoring and improving a manufacturing process. In some aspects, a method of the disclosed technology includes steps for: receiving a plurality of control values from two or more stations, at a deep learning controller, wherein the control values are generated at the two or more stations deployed in a manufacturing process, predicting an expected value for an intermediate or final output of an article of manufacture, based on the control values, and determining if the predicted expected value for the article of manufacture is in-specification. In some aspects, the process can further include steps for generating control inputs if the predicted expected value for the article of manufacture is not in-specification. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.