SIDE STORAGE PODS, EQUIPMENT FRONT END MODULES, AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A side storage pod, comprising:
- one or more interior chambers;
one or more side storage containers located in the one or more interior chambers, each of the one or more side storage containers configured to receive one or more substrates, each of the one or more side storage containers further comprising;
an opening configured to be located adjacent an opening of a body of an equipment front end module; and
an exhaust port configured to exhaust gas entering the opening;
a pod plenum; and
an exhaust conduit coupled between the exhaust port and the pod plenum, and
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Abstract
Electronic device processing assemblies including an equipment front end module (EFEM) with at least one side storage pod attached thereto are described. The side storage pod has a side storage container. In some embodiments, an exhaust conduit extends between the chamber and a pod plenum that can contain a chemical filter proximate thereto. A supplemental fan may draw purge gas from the pod plenum through the chemical filter and route the gas through a return duct to an upper plenum of the EFEM. Methods and side storage pods in accordance with these and other embodiments are also disclosed.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A side storage pod, comprising:
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one or more interior chambers; one or more side storage containers located in the one or more interior chambers, each of the one or more side storage containers configured to receive one or more substrates, each of the one or more side storage containers further comprising; an opening configured to be located adjacent an opening of a body of an equipment front end module; and an exhaust port configured to exhaust gas entering the opening; a pod plenum; and an exhaust conduit coupled between the exhaust port and the pod plenum, and - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electronic device processing assembly, comprising:
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an equipment front end module including an equipment front end module chamber having one or more interface openings; one or more side storage pods attached to a body of the equipment front end module, the one or more side storage pods comprising; one or more interior chambers; one or more side storage containers located in the one or more interior chambers, each of the one or more side storage containers configured to receive one or more substrates from the equipment front end module chamber, each of the one or more side storage containers further comprising; an opening located adjacent one of the interface openings of the equipment front end module; and an exhaust port configured to exhaust gas entering the opening; a pod plenum; and an exhaust conduit coupled between the exhaust port and the pod plenum. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating an equipment front end module, comprising:
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flowing purge gas from an upper plenum to an equipment front end module chamber and into a side storage container of a side storage pod; and exhausting purge gas from the side storage container through a return duct coupled to the upper plenum of the equipment front end module. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification