Wafer transfer system having rotational capability
First Claim
1. A semiconductor wafer transfer system for moving a wafer horizontally into and out of a wafer support device to and from a position in which the wafer is maintained in a vertical orientation accessible for further processing, the wafer support device having opposed, paired shoulders on interior walls thereof to support the wafer in a horizontal orientation, the support device further having a vertical opening therein, the wafer transfer system comprising:
- a base positioned adjacent the opening in the wafer support device;
an extraction structure mounted to the base for generally horizontal reciprocal movement into and out of the wafer support device for removing the wafer from the wafer support device along a generally horizontal path, the extraction structure further mounted to the base for rotation to a generally vertical orientation; and
a wafer support structure comprising wafer receiving elements disposed to receive the wafer from the extraction structure, the wafer support structure mounted to the base for rotation to a generally vertical orientation concurrently with the extraction structure.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wafer transfer system is operable with a front or side loading wafer carrier to move one or more horizontally oriented wafers out of the carrier and to rotate the wafers to a vertical orientation in which the wafers are accessible for further processing. The transfer system provides a wafer extractor which employs a plurality of paired fingers of a size and configuration to fit between the spaced, stacked wafers in the carrier for lifting the wafers off the shoulders of the carrier. The fingers are then movable generally horizontally to remove the wafers from the carrier into two angled combs having ledges for receiving wafers. The fingers and combs are rotated to a vertical orientation in which the wafers are supported along their edges by the combs. The fingers are shifted horizontally a small amount relative to the combs to disengage from the wafers, either by a translation following the rotation or by rotating the fingers and combs about different axes. In this manner, the wafers are in a position from which they can be accessed by a robot arm according to the particular process. In a further embodiment, the fingers and combs are also translated forward during the rotation, thereby minimizing the floor space or footprint required by the system.
78 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A semiconductor wafer transfer system for moving a wafer horizontally into and out of a wafer support device to and from a position in which the wafer is maintained in a vertical orientation accessible for further processing, the wafer support device having opposed, paired shoulders on interior walls thereof to support the wafer in a horizontal orientation, the support device further having a vertical opening therein, the wafer transfer system comprising:
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a base positioned adjacent the opening in the wafer support device; an extraction structure mounted to the base for generally horizontal reciprocal movement into and out of the wafer support device for removing the wafer from the wafer support device along a generally horizontal path, the extraction structure further mounted to the base for rotation to a generally vertical orientation; and a wafer support structure comprising wafer receiving elements disposed to receive the wafer from the extraction structure, the wafer support structure mounted to the base for rotation to a generally vertical orientation concurrently with the extraction structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A semiconductor wafer transfer system for moving a wafer horizontally into and out of a wafer support device to and from a position in which the wafer is maintained in a vertical orientation accessible for further processing, the wafer support device having opposed, paired shoulders on interior walls thereof to support the wafer in a horizontal orientation, the support device further having a vertical opening therein, the wafer transfer system comprising:
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means for translating the wafer generally horizontally into and out of the wafer support device; means for receiving the wafer from the translating means and for supporting the wafer in a vertical orientation; and means for rotating the receiving means and the translating means concurrently to rotate the wafer to and from a generally vertical position in which the wafer is accessible to further processing equipment. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A process for moving a wafer horizontally into and out of a wafer support device to and from a position in which the wafer is maintained in a vertical orientation accessible for further processing, the wafer support device having opposed, paired shoulders on interior walls thereof to horizontally support the wafer, the support device further having a vertical opening therein, the process comprising:
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providing a wafer transfer device comprising; a base positioned adjacent the opening in the wafer support device, an extraction structure mounted to the base for generally horizontal reciprocal movement into and out of the wafer support device for removing the wafer from the wafer support device along a generally horizontal path, the extraction structure further mounted to the base for rotation to a generally vertical orientation, and a wafer support structure comprising wafer receiving elements disposed to receive the wafer from the extraction structure, the wafer support structure mounted to the base for rotation to a generally vertical orientation concurrently with the extraction structure; moving the wafer by the extraction structure along a generally horizontal path out of the support device into contact with the wafer support structure; and rotating the extraction structure and the wafer support structure concurrently to a generally vertical orientation. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification