摘要:
A modular sorter is disclosed in which modular sections maybe easily added and removed to add and remove load port assemblies as required by a particular wafer fabrication run. In one embodiment, a modular sorter according to the present invention include a two-wide modular section defining a minienvironment for the sorter, a wafer handling robot a pair of aligners and a centralized controller. The modular section of this embodiment includes a pair of side-by-side load port assemblies for receiving a container or open cassette and presenting the cassette to the minienvironment of the sorter for processing of the wafers therein. The present invention further includes a removable end panel. When it is desired to add additional modular sections to the sorter, the end panel is removed and replaced by a connector frame. The connector frame allows additional modular sections, including either one load port assembly or two load port assemblies, to be attached to the original modular section. All of the power and control components for the modular sections are preferably located in the centralized controller. Upon attachment of the additional modular section, the power and signal connections for the additional section are plugged into the controller. The controller then recognizes the additional section and changes the overall operation scheme to now operate as a three-wide sorter or a four-wide sorter.
摘要:
A system is disclosed for safeguarding fab operators and workpieces such as semiconductor wafers from harm as a result of collision between an operator and a transport assembly for the workpieces as the workpieces are transported between tools and storage nests within a tool bay.
摘要:
A reticle support mechanism is disclosed in which a reticle may be quickly and easily located and removed, and which is capable of securely supporting a reticle for storage and/or transport. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of reticle supports mounted to a door of a container, and a pair of reticle retainers mounted to a shell of the container. When the container shell is coupled with the container door, sections of the reticle support and reticle retainer engage chamfered edges of the reticle and sandwich the reticle in a secure position within the container. As a result of engaging the reticle at its chamfered edges, potentially harmful contact with the upper and lower surfaces and vertical edges of the reticle is avoided.
摘要:
An adaptor plate for allowing 200 mm SMIF pods carrying one or more semiconductor wafers to be used on an access port of a wafer processing station configured to accept a 300 mm SMIF pod. The adaptor plate has a substantially circular outer circumference conforming substantially in size and shape to the outer circumference of a conventional 300 mm SMIF pod, and a central opening conforming substantially in size and shape to a conventional rectangular 200 mm SMIF pod. The one or more semiconductor wafers are supported on pod door of the pod, and the semiconductor wafers and pod door are lowered through the central opening in the adaptor plate into the wafer processing station. With the adaptor plate supported on the access port, and a cover of the 200 mm SMIF pod supported around the central opening, the access port is entirely covered and entry of contaminants into the processing station through the access port is prevented.
摘要翻译:用于允许携带一个或多个半导体晶片的200mm SMIF盒的适配器板被用于被配置为接受300mm SMIF盒的晶片处理站的访问端口。 适配器板具有基本上圆形的外圆周,其尺寸和形状基本上与传统的300mm SMIF荚的外圆周相符合,并且基本上具有尺寸和形状的中心开口,与传统的矩形200mm SMIF荚一致。 一个或多个半导体晶片被支撑在容器的荚门上,并且半导体晶片和荚门通过适配器板中的中心开口下降到晶片处理台中。 在适配板支撑在进出口上,并且200 mm SMIF吊舱的盖子围绕中央开口支撑,进入口完全被覆盖,并且防止污染物通过入口进入加工站。
摘要:
A SMIF pod capable of supporting a cassette at points in the pod located directly over or near a kinematic coupling between the pod and a surface on which the pod is supported. Even if the pod shell warps or otherwise deforms, the three points of contact between the pod and the support surface at the kinematic couplings will always remain at a fixed, controllable and repeatable position. The present invention makes use of this fact by supporting the cassette at or near the three kinematic coupling points. Moreover, the support structure is not affixed to the top or sides of the pod shell. Thus, the position of the cassette, and wafers supported therein, will similarly remain at a fixed, controllable and repeatable position, substantially unaffected by any pod shell deformation which may occur.
摘要:
A system is disclosed for retaining a pod door on a port door at a load port, and for removing contaminants, particulates and/or gasses from between the pod and port door surfaces and from within the interior of the pod door. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vacuum source may be provided within, adjacent to, or remote from a process tool, which vacuum source is connected to a vacuum port in the front surface of a port door. The vacuum is provided to produce a negative pressure between juxtaposed surfaces of the port and pod doors. The negative pressure accomplishes two functions. First, the negative pressure serves to hold the pod door firmly against the port door to prevent vibration, tilting and/or movement of the pod door with respect to the port door while the pod and port doors are stowed within the process tool. Second, the negative pressure serves to remove particulates, contaminants and/or gasses from between the pod and port doors and from within the interior volume of the pod door.
摘要:
A valve seated within a SMIF pod support platform is disclosed for activating and deactivating the flow of gas to a pod on the platform. In preferred embodiments, the valve includes a central poppet capable of moving between a first, closed position where the poppet blocks the flow of gas through the valve, and a second, open position where the poppet allows gas flow through the valve. In the absence of a pod on the support platform, pressurized gas from the gas source downstream of the valve biases the poppet into the first position to thereby block gas flow. In this first position, a top portion of the poppet extends slightly above the upper surface of the pod support platform. When a pod is seated on the support platform, the weight of the pod moves the poppet from its first position to its second position where gas is allowed to flow through the valve and into the pod to allow purging of the pod.
摘要:
An integrated intrabay buffer, delivery, and stocker system including a pair of shuttles, capable, by themselves, of transferring a pod in an X-Z plane between the interbay transport system, the I/O ports of various process tools and a plurality of storage shelves provided along the wall of the tool bay. Advantageously, the present invention integrates together the process tools within a tool bay by providing a single transport mechanism shared by each tool, and by providing a single, large storage and buffer area for pods that is shared by each tool. This increases reliability and flexibility, and simplifies the hardware and software control. Additionally, the storage shelves may be provided above some or all of the process tools within the tool bay. Such an arrangement offers a substantially greater number of spaces to store a pod as compared to conventional tool bays. Moreover, as the space above processing tools is currently unused, in part because a clear, unobstructed path above the I/O ports of the processing tools must be available in conventional systems, the increased storage capacity according to the present invention may be provided without increasing the footprint of conventional tool bays.
摘要:
A material handling system includes an overhead rack defining a plurality of storage positions. The overhead rack defines at least one interior window devoid of storage locations. First and second side rails are disposed above the overhead rack. A first cross rail is movably coupled to the first and second side rails. A first transport vehicle movably is coupled to the first cross rail and operable to descend below the overhead rack through the at least one interior window.
摘要:
A material handling system includes an overhead rack defining a plurality of storage positions. The overhead rack defines at least one interior window devoid of storage locations. First and second side rails are disposed above the overhead rack. A first cross rail is movably coupled to the first and second side rails. A first transport vehicle movably is coupled to the first cross rail and operable to descend below the overhead rack through the at least one interior window.