Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for transferring a substrate carrier within an electronic device manufacturing facility

US7413069B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
69References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 25, 2005
Grant dateAug 19, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 23, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67276
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a first aspect, a first method is provided for electronic device manufacturing. The first method includes the steps of (1) receiving a request to transfer a carrier from a first substrate loading station to a second substrate loading station of an electronic device manufacturing facility including a plurality of substrate loading stations, wherein the facility further includes a plurality of carrier supports coupled to a conveyor system adapted to move the carrier within the facility; (2) assigning one of the plurality of carrier supports to transfer the carrier from the first substrate loading station to the second substrate loading station such that at least one of a time required for the transfer is reduced and balance of the conveyor system is maintained; (3) moving the carrier from the first substrate loading station; and (4) moving the carrier to the second substrate loading station. Numerous other aspects are provided.

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