Patent · US Expired

Wafer orientation system

US4376482A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
5References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 19, 1981
Grant dateMar 15, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 19, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G47/244
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A wafer orienting apparatus having inwardly biased rollers, spaced about the circumferential edge of a wafer in contact with the edge. Two of the rollers are spaced apart a distance less than the dimension of a primary flat registration edge and are mounted to follow the wafer edge upon rotation of the wafer. When a flat registration edge passes these closely spaced rollers they move inwardly, activating switches associated with a coincidence circuit. When both switches are simultaneously activated, the coincidence circuit produces a signal which stops wafer rotation, thereby orienting the wafer. The rollers are mounted so that they can be moved from the path of wafer travel after wafer orientation, permitting a queue of wafers to be oriented, one after the other.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.