SECS (SEMI Equipment Communications Standard)/GEM (Generic Equipment Model) is the communication interface protocol for communication between semiconductor equipment and a fab host. Fab host is a software application that controls and monitors equipment processing using SECS/GEM protocol. SECS/GEM-compliant equipment communicates with the fab host using either RS-232 (using SEMI standard E4 – SECS-I) or TCP/IP (using SEMI standards E37 and E37.1 – HSMS).
The SECS/GEM standard interface helps to start and stop equipment processing, collect measurement data, select recipes for products, and change variables. With SECS/GEM, all processes are carried out in a standard way.
SECS/GEM protocol is standardized by the non-profit association SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International).
Let us understand 3 basic SEMI standards in brief:
- SEMI E30 GEM Standard – SEMI E30 is the core standard that describes the nature of the equipment, state machine, and a few rules like which SECS-II messages should be used, in which situations, and also what the output should be. It defines the functionalities like Status Data Collection, Trace Data Collection, Alarms Management, Spooling, Remote Command, etc.
- SEMI E5 SECS-II – SEMI E5 describes the interpretation of (APIs) messages exchanged between the equipment and a host. It also outlines message inputs/outputs data structure, data item format, and acknowledgment codes.
- SEMI E37 HSMS – SEMI 37 is High-Speed SECS Message service. This is a transport layer based on TCP/IP protocol and a successor of the previous SEMI E4 SECS-I standard that uses serial communication. This is the layer where the SECS-II messages are encoded into HSMS message format.
GEM standard is called SEMI standard E30 but is also referred to as the GEM or SECS/GEM standard. GEM standard can be used by both device manufacturers and equipment suppliers as it lists downs a common set of equipment behavior and communication capabilities to provide functionality as well as the flexibility to support manufacturing. As the GEM standard has few semiconductor-specific features, it has been adopted by other manufacturing industries as well, such as PV.
Benefits of SECS/GEM standard:
Benefits to Fab Host:
• Start and Stop processing
• Select, download and upload recipes from/to the equipment
• Query the equipment for values of various process parameters and equipment configuration
• Set equipment configuration parameter values
• Define reports of various variables and associate them with events such as lot start or wafer complete
Benefits to Equipment:
• Send alarms to the fab host
• Send various events and associated reports to the fab host
SECS/GEM is a communication protocol, which is a platform, technology, and programming language independent. The host side of a connection is executed on a computer system provided by the factory, and the equipment side of a connection is running on a controller computer provided by the equipment manufacturer. This gives the fab as well as the equipment manufacturer flexibility, interoperability, and platform independence. Both, the fab and the OEM can develop their software application without having to worry about communication compatibility, as long as both of them are adhering to SECS/GEM standards.
We at eInnoSys offer SECS/GEM software solutions for equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as factories (FABs or ATMs).
eInnoSys’ EIGEMEquipment plug-n-play software with equipment controller, OEMs can significantly reduce the cost and time it takes to make their equipment SECS/GEM capable.
EIGEMHost is a SECS/GEM software for FABs and ATMs (Assembly and Test Manufacturing) to communicate with various equipment in the factory.
EIGEMSim is a simulator software for SECS/GEM testing. It is software that can be configured as a host or equipment to test SECS/GEM communication of the other.
Our SECS/GEM Products
SEMI complaint SECS/GEM software for equipment
EIGEM300Equipment is a plug-and-play, SEMI standards compliant, SECS/GEM software
EIGEMBox is a unique product that adds SECS/GEM capability to your existing equipment without any hardware or software installation!