摘要:
A valve mounted in pod door of a SMIF pod for allowing gas flow to and from the sealed pod while the pod is seated on a SMIF port. The valve is provided to allow fluid flow to or from the pod upon the valve be actuated by either a standard registration pin or a specially adapted fluid flow pin. The valve includes a body and a valve stem capable of vertical translation within the valve body. A spring biases the valve stem downward with respect to the valve body such that a top of the valve stem lies in sealing engagement with a O-ring 54. When not engaged by a registration pin or fluid flow pin, the engagement between the valve top and the O-ring prevents passage of fluid into or out of the pod.
摘要:
A loadlock chamber for transferring one or more semiconductor wafers from a storage and transfer pod into high-vacuum process chambers in a contaminant free environment. The loadlock chamber includes mechanisms for separating a wafer-carrying cassette from the storage and transfer pod, mechanisms for transferring the cassette into a chamber which may be sealed and evacuated, and mechanisms for allowing transfer of wafers between the cassette and the various process chambers, wherein each of the mechanisms operates in an environment that is sealed against the external environment.
摘要:
A system for storing transporting and processing articles includes a plurality of transportable containers, each transportable container having an interior region adapted to receive a plurality of articles and data processing device provided on the transportable container for receiving, storing, transmitting and displaying information related to the articles received by the corresponding transportable container. A plurality of workstations are adapted to receive one of the transportable containers and to process selected ones of the articles. The workstation also verifies that at least one of the articles in the transportable container has arrived at the appropriate workstation and communicates with a central processing unit to receive and transmit status information and processing information, and to transmit information stored by the data processing device provided on the transportable container. The system may also include a storage station for receiving said transportable container, for providing communication between the data processing devices provided on the transportable container and the central processing unit, and for making a backup copy of the information stored by said data processing device.
摘要:
The present invention is a transportable container for storing articles and maintaining a clean article, such as semiconductor wafers, clean. The container provides a box which defines an interior space for containing the articles. The box includes a box top and box base which supports the box top and includes a box door for opening and closing the container. The box door provide a region for supporting the articles in the interior space. A liner is insertable into the interior space and surrounds the region. The box door is retractable from the box space. The articles in the region are retractable with the box door.
摘要:
Disclosed is a manipulator for removing a cassette holding articles, such as semiconductor wafers, to be processed from a container supported on a processing station in a standard mechanical interface (SMIF) system. The container is supported on an interface port on the canopy of the processing station and has a removeable door on which the cassette is supportable. A first platform is transportable along a shaft below the interface port and is operable to mate with the interface port and receive the cassette from the container. The first platform is transported down the shaft, thereby removing the cassette from the container. A second platform mounted in the shaft includes a manipulator arm which swings to engage the cassette on the first platform and support the cassette off of the first platform. The manipulator arm then pivots to transport the cassette to a location in the processing station away from the shaft. The first platform is then transported back up the shaft to the interface port to seal the container to prevent particulate contamination. The manipulator arm and the second platform after placing the cassette at a location in the processing station away from the shaft, are then positioned completely inside the shaft to minimize the space taken up in the processing station by the manipulator.
摘要:
Infrared radiation is focused to a line at a site at which a semiconductor wafer is expected to appear when a wafer is transferred with, i.e., loaded onto or unloaded from, a semiconductor wafer conveyor. A cylindrical lens of selected focal length is positioned to receive and focus to a line at an image plane radiation reflected by a wafer arriving at the site. An apertured stop defines an opening at the image plane to pass reflected radiation to an infrared sensor positioned on the side of the stop opposite the cylindrical lens.
摘要:
A kickstand for supporting a parked two-wheeled vehicle and a footrest for supporting the feet of the vehicle operator when the vehicle is in motion is provided by a single device comprising a lever pivoted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle on a horizontal beam rigidly affixed to the vehicle frame. The center of gravity of the lever portion is located relative to the pivot axis so that the lever portion is stable both when pivoted to contact the ground for vehicle support and when pivoted to a position parallel to the beam to act as a footrest.
摘要:
A workpiece container storage and handling system includes a base, a number of wheels connected to the base, and a container handling system connected to the base. The wheels provide for movement of the base. The container handling system is defined to hold at least two containers in a vertically overlying orientation relative to each other. The container handling system is defined to provide for controlled vertical travel of the at least two containers in unison relative to the base. Also, the container handling system is defined to provide for controlled and independent horizontal travel of each of the at least two containers relative to the base.
摘要:
A tray engine includes a vertical drive column, a rotation mechanism for rotating the vertical drive column, and an end effector attached to the vertical drive column. The end effector includes an end effector base attached to the vertical drive column. The end effector further includes a slide attached to the end effector base to support a tray, when present. The slide enables the tray to slide along a length of the end effector base. The tray engine includes a drive mechanism attached to the end effector base for moving along the length of the end effector base to enable the tray, when present, to slide linearly along the length and load or unload the tray to or from the slide.
摘要:
A workpiece container storage and handling system includes a base, a number of wheels connected to the base, and a container handling system connected to the base. The wheels provide for movement of the base. The container handling system is defined to hold at least two containers in a vertically overlying orientation relative to each other. The container handling system is defined to provide for controlled vertical travel of the at least two containers in unison relative to the base. Also, the container handling system is defined to provide for controlled and independent horizontal travel of each of the at least two containers relative to the base.