System and method for reticle protection and transport
US6991416B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S414/14
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A substrate protection and transport system and method for transitioning a substrate from atomospheric pressure to vacuum in a lithography tool. The system includes one or more removable substrate transport cassettes. Each cassette has at least one vent and at least one filter. The system further includes an end effector coupled to a robotic arm to enable the substrate to be positioned within one of the cassettes, thereby forming a cassette-substrate arrangement. The system further includes a box having a base and a lid. The box holds one or more of the cassette-substrate arrangements. In this way, a box-cassette-substrate arrangement is provided. An out of vacuum storage rack having shelves for holding the box-cassette-substrate arrangement is also provided. Still further, an entry-exit module having a loadlock is provided for transitioning the cassette-substrate arrangement from atmospheric pressure to vacuum. To transport the substrate, the substrate is first loaded into a removable substrate transport cassette. Next, the cassette-substrate arrangement is loaded into the box. The box-cassette-substrate arrangement is then transported to a shelf of an out of vacuum storage rack. …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.