U.S. patent application number 10/425773 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-16 for local store for a wafer processing station.
Invention is credited to Anderson, H. Alexander, Sackett, James G., Weldon, David E..
Application Number | 20030194297 10/425773 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27732963 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030194297 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sackett, James G. ; et
al. |
October 16, 2003 |
Local store for a wafer processing station
Abstract
A buffer apparatus includes a vertically moving mechanism
containing a plurality of horizontally moving mechanisms to store
carriers and transfer carriers to and from a load port, and one or
more buffer load ports adjacent to the buffer apparatus to charge
and uncharge the buffer apparatus by means of a guided vehicle, an
overhead vehicle, or a human. A buffer system includes a buffer
apparatus and a processing system load port to transfer carriers
from the buffer apparatus to a processing system load port. An
arrayed buffer system includes a plurality of buffer systems where
each buffer system interacts with an individual set of load ports
or a pair of buffer systems interacts with a shared set of load
ports. A combination of arrayed buffer systems includes a plurality
of adjacent arrayed buffer systems capable of sharing a single,
environmental front-end mechanism maintenance space and capable of
being serviced from the front.
Inventors: |
Sackett, James G.; (Santa
Clara, CA) ; Weldon, David E.; (Santa Clara, CA)
; Anderson, H. Alexander; (Santa Cruz, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SILICON VALLEY PATENT GROUP LLP
2350 MISSION COLLEGE BOULEVARD
SUITE 360
SANTA CLARA
CA
95054
US
|
Family ID: |
27732963 |
Appl. No.: |
10/425773 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10425773 |
Apr 28, 2003 |
|
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|
10079025 |
Feb 19, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
414/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 414/14 20130101;
H01L 21/67769 20130101; H01L 21/67775 20130101; Y10S 414/139
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/217 |
International
Class: |
B65G 049/07 |
Claims
1. An apparatus (hereinafter "buffer apparatus") comprising: a
plurality of first mechanisms (hereinafter "horizontally moving
mechanisms") capable of horizontally moving through a first
distance; a second mechanism (hereinafter "vertically moving
mechanism") capable of moving vertically through a second distance,
each horizontally moving mechanism in the plurality being mounted
on the vertically moving mechanism; and a frame comprising a foot
on which the vertically moving mechanism is fixedly supported, the
frame further comprising a shelf fixedly attached to the foot by a
support, wherein the shelf is horizontally separated from the foot
by approximately the first distance and the shelf is vertically
separated from the foot by approximately the second distance.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the horizontally moving
mechanism comprises: a guide mechanism; a drive mechanism guided by
the guide mechanism; and a carrier receiver mounted at an end of
the drive mechanism.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the carrier receiver comprises
a forked end effector.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vertically moving
mechanism comprises a guide mechanism and a drive mechanism.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a kinematic mount
attached to an upper surface of the shelf.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foot comprises: a cleanroom
floor-mounted part of a docking mechanism.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foot comprises: slide
mechanism including casters or skids.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foot comprises: a
freewheeling mechanism or a driven wheeled mechanism located on the
bottom side of said foot to allow for movement by a human or
robotic transport mechanism.
9. A method of storing a plurality of carriers adjacent to a
processing station, the method comprising: transferring a carrier
from an upper load port to a column of space adjacent to the
processing station; transferring the carrier from the column of
space to a lower load port while the upper load port remains
unpopulated.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: transferring the
carrier to or from the upper load port from or to an overhead
vehicle (OHV) prior to the acts of transferring.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising: transferring the
carrier to either the upper load port or the lower load port from a
personal guided vehicle (PGV), an automated guided vehicle (AGV),
or a rail guided vehicle (RGV) prior to the acts of
transferring.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising: transferring a
carrier to or from the upper load port from or to an overhead
vehicle (OHV) and simultaneously transferring another carrier from
the lower load port to a personal guided vehicle (PGV), an
automated guided vehicle (AGV), or a rail guided vehicle (RGV).
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the column of space is enclosed
within a buffer apparatus, and the method further comprising:
docking the buffer apparatus to the processing station; and
servicing the buffer apparatus from the front while docked.
14. A system comprising: a box opener/loader having a load port
(hereinafter "load port of the box opener/loader"); and an
apparatus (hereinafter "buffer apparatus") located adjacent to the
box opener/loader, the buffer apparatus comprising a plurality of
first mechanisms (hereinafter "horizontally moving mechanisms")
capable of horizontally moving through a first distance, a second
mechanism (hereinafter "vertically moving mechanism") supporting
each horizontally moving mechanism and capable of moving each
horizontally moving mechanism vertically through a second distance,
the vertically moving mechanism being fixedly supported on a foot
of the buffer apparatus; wherein a transfer position for the buffer
apparatus is at the load port of the box opener/loader, and the
second distance is larger than the vertical distance between the
foot and the load port of the box opener/loader.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the buffer apparatus is placed
adjacent to the load port of the box opener/loader and the buffer
apparatus has an additional load port above said load port of the
box opener/loader {hereinafter "buffer apparatus load port").
16. The system of claim 14 wherein the load port is capable of
receiving a carrier from and presenting a carrier to an overhead
vehicle (OHV).
17. The system of claim 14 wherein the load port is capable of
receiving a carrier from and presenting a carrier to a personal
guided vehicle (PGV), an automated guided vehicle (AGV), or a rail
guided vehicle (RGV).
18. The system of claim 14 comprising a plurality of load ports
capable of simultaneously receiving a carrier from and presenting a
carrier to an overhead vehicle on said uppermost load port and to
one of the following: a personal guided vehicle (PGV), an automated
guided vehicle (AGV), or a rail guided vehicle (RGV).
19. A system comprising: a box opener/loader having a load port
(hereinafter "load port of the box opener/loader"); and a pair of
apparatuses located adjacent to the box opener/loader on either
side thereof, each apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "buffer
apparatus") comprising a plurality of first mechanisms (hereinafter
"horizontally moving mechanisms") capable of horizontally moving
through a first distance, a second mechanism (hereinafter
"vertically moving mechanism") supporting each horizontally moving
mechanism and capable of moving each horizontally moving mechanism
vertically through a second distance, the vertically moving
mechanism being fixedly supported on a foot of the buffer
apparatus; wherein a transfer position for each buffer apparatus is
at the load port of the box opener/loader, and the second distance
is larger than the vertical distance between the foot and the load
port of the box opener/loader.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the buffer apparatus is placed
adjacent to the load port of the box opener/loader on either side
thereof and the pair of buffer apparatus has an additional load
port above said load port of the box opener/loader {hereinafter
"buffer apparatus load port"), such that said pair of buffer
apparatus are located on either side thereof of the buffer
apparatus load port.
21. The system of claim 19 wherein the load port is capable of
receiving a carrier from and presenting a carrier to an overhead
vehicle (OHV).
22. The system of claim 19 wherein the load port is capable of
receiving a carrier from and presenting a carrier to a personal
guided vehicle (PGV), an automated guided vehicle (AGV), or a rail
guided vehicle (RGV).
23. The system of claim 19 comprising a plurality of load ports
capable of simultaneously receiving a carrier from and presenting a
carrier to an overhead vehicle on said uppermost load port and to
one of the following: a personal guided vehicle (PGV), an automated
guided vehicle (AGV), or a rail guided vehicle (RGV).
24. A method of receiving and presenting a plurality of carriers to
a buffer apparatus adjacent to a processing station, the method
comprising: transferring a carrier through a column of space
adjacent to a buffer apparatus and above a load port of said buffer
apparatus.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising: transferring a
carrier between an overhead vehicle (OHV) and the load port of the
buffer apparatus.
26. The method of claim 24 further comprising: transferring a
carrier between a personal guided vehicle (PGV), an automated
guided vehicle (AGV), or a rail guided vehicle (RGV) and the load
port of a buffer apparatus.
27. The method of claim 24 further comprising: transferring a
carrier from an overhead vehicle (OHV) to the load port of the
buffer apparatus and simultaneously transferring another carrier
between the processing system load port and a personal guided
vehicle (PGV), an automated guided vehicle (AGV), or a rail guided
vehicle (RGV).
28. The method of claim 24 wherein a second column of space located
adjacent to a second buffer apparatus and above a second load port
of said second buffer apparatus, and the method further comprising:
receiving and presenting a carrier to the second buffer apparatus
through the second column of space; and transferring the carrier
through the second column of space to the load port of the second
buffer apparatus.
29. A method of docking a buffer apparatus adjacent to a box
opener/loader, the method comprising: attaching a moving member of
a docking mechanism to the buffer apparatus; and mounting a fixed
member of said docking mechanism to a cleanroom floor.
30. The method of claim 29 further comprising: said means of
docking is accomplished by locating the buffer apparatus adjacent
to the box opener/loader, such that the moving member of the
docking mechanism couples to the fixed member of said docking
mechanism.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein a fixed member of a second
docking mechanism is fixedly attached to the cleanroom floor,
adjacent to a second box opener/loader, the method further
comprising: undocking said buffer apparatus; and moving said buffer
apparatus adjacent to the second box opener/loader; and docking
said buffer apparatus.
32. A method of relocating a buffer apparatus, the method
comprising: undocking the buffer apparatus from a first processing
system; and moving the buffer apparatus adjacent to a second
processing system; and docking the buffer apparatus to the second
processing system.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein said movement is accomplished by
a human operator.
34. The method of claim 32 wherein the foot of the buffer
comprises: a freewheeling mechanism or a driven wheeled mechanism
to allow for movement by a human.
35. A movable buffer apparatus comprising: a plurality of first
mechanisms (hereinafter "horizontally moving mechanisms") capable
of horizontally moving through a first distance; and a second
mechanism (hereinafter "vertically moving mechanism") capable of
moving vertically through a second distance, each horizontally
moving mechanism in the plurality being mounted on the vertically
moving mechanism; and a frame comprising a foot on which the
vertically moving mechanism is fixedly supported; and a driven
wheeled mechanism fixedly attached to the perimeter of said foot;
and a battery system to supply power to the apparatus.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the driven wheeled mechanism
comprises: a handle to allow for guidance of the movable buffer
apparatus movement by a human; and a force feedback system coupled
to the handle to allow for a speed-controlled movement of the
movable buffer apparatus by a human.
37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the driven wheeled mechanism
comprises: an autonomous computer system to allow for
automated-guided movement of the movable buffer apparatus.
38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the driven wheeled mechanism
comprises: a guide mechanism to allow the movable buffer apparatus
to follow the path of the guide rail; and a computer system to
allow for rail-guided movement of the movable buffer apparatus.
39. A movable buffer system comprising: a plurality of buffer
apparatuses fixedly mounted to a movable platform and said buffer
apparatuses being arranged in line with each other and in a common
direction; and a driven wheeled mechanism fixedly attached to the
perimeter of said movable platform; and a battery system to supply
power to the apparatus.
40. The system of claim 39 wherein the driven wheeled mechanism
further comprises: a handle to allow for guidance of the movable
buffer system movement by a human; and a force feedback system
coupled to the handle to allow for a speed-controlled movement of
the movable buffer system by a human.
41. The system of claim 39 wherein the driven wheeled mechanism
further comprises: an autonomous computer system to allow for
automated-guided movement of the movable buffer system.
42. The system of claim 39 wherein the driven wheeled mechanism
further comprises: a guide mechanism to allow the movable buffer
system to follow the path of the guide rail; and a computer system
to allow for rail-guided movement of the movable buffer system.
43. A method of arranging a plurality of buffer apparatus on a
movable platform, the method comprising: locating the plurality of
buffer apparatus adjacent to each other in a row on said movable
platform; and locating said buffer apparatuses such that each faces
a common direction.
44. The method of claim 43 further comprising: arranging two rows
of buffer apparatuses adjacent to each other such that a first row
of buffer apparatuses faces the opposite direction of a second row
of buffer apparatuses.
45. The method of claim 43 further comprising: transferring
carriers between the first row of buffer apparatuses and the
processing systems on a first side of a manufacturing line; and
transferring carriers between the second row of buffer apparatuses
and the processing systems on a second side of said manufacturing
line.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/079,025 filed Feb. 19, 2002 entitled "Local
store for a wafer processing station" by James G. Sackett, David E.
Weldon and H. Alexander Anderson that is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Integrated circuit (commonly abbreviated as "IC") dies are
manufactured by performing a number of steps on a semiconductor
wafer (also called "substrate") in a fabrication system (commonly
abbreviated as "fab"). Wafers are normally held in a central store
1 (commonly called "stocker"), and are transported to one or more
processing stations 2A-2M (wherein A.ltoreq.J.ltoreq.M, M being the
total number of processing stations). During transportation, a
number of wafers are held in a box 3 (also called "carrier",
"cassette", "SMIF", "box", "pod", "FOUP" and "transporting
container"). The size of a carrier depends on the maximum number of
wafers that can be held therein, and prior art discloses carriers
for holding 13 wafers as well as more recent carriers for holding
up to 25 wafers, or as few as one wafer.
[0003] As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a carrier 3 may be picked up from
stocker 1 by an overhead vehicle 4 (commonly abbreviated as "OHV"),
and transported to any of processing stations 2A-2M (also called
"processing systems" or process "tool") depending on the
fabrication step that is to be performed thereon. Instead of an OHV
4, carriers may also be carried manually, or alternatively by an
automated guided vehicle (not shown in FIG. 1A; commonly
abbreviated as "AGV"), by a personal guided vehicle (also not shown
in FIG. 1A; abbreviated as "PGV") or by a rail guided vehicle (also
not shown in FIG. 1A; abbreviated as "RGV").
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,692 granted to Perlov, et al. (which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as background)
states that "In order to ensure that the processing equipment does
not sit idle, a nearly continuous supply of unprocessed substrates
should be available at the processing station. Unfortunately, many
processing stations can hold only a single cassette at the loading
platform. Therefore, once all of the substrates in the cassette
have been processed, the cassette must be quickly replaced, either
manually or by an AGV, with a new cassette containing unprocessed
substrates. Unfortunately, running such a just-in-time cassette
inventory system requires either significant operator oversight or
a large number of AGVs, thereby increasing the costs of the
fabrication facility. Therefore, there is a need for a method and
apparatus which continuously supplies substrate cassettes to a
processing system so that system down time is reduced or
eliminated." See column 1, lines 34-45.
[0005] Perlov, et al. propose "a method and apparatus for storing
multiple cassettes at a processing station, ensuring that a nearly
continuous supply of unprocessed substrates is available for
processing and that the processing equipment does not sit idle.
Multiple cassettes can be stored at a processing station in a
front-end support frame and a cassette can be moved to a docking
station where substrates are extracted and transferred to the
processing equipment. An automation system is mounted or otherwise
disposed on the frame to transfer cassettes between docking
stations or between processing stations. The apparatus does not
increase the footprint, i.e., the required area on the cleanroom
floor, of the processing station. In another aspect of the
invention, cassettes can be transported between different
processing stations without the use of an AGV." See column 1, lines
53-67.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1A, after transportation, each carrier is
placed on a box opener/loader 5 (also called "load port" or "box
opener") located in front of a processing station 2A. Each box
opener/loader 5 opens a lid of the carrier, so that wafers inside
the carrier can be extracted by a robot located in an enclosure of
processing station 2A. The enclosure provides a nearly
particle-free environment in which wafers may be handled, as
required by, for example, International SEMATECH, located at 2706
Montopolis Drive, Austin Tex. 78741, "I300I Factory Guidelines:
Version 5.0" (which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety as background). See section 2.7.
[0007] Depending on the throughput of various processing stations
2A-2M and also depending on the order in which processing stations
2A-2M are used during fabrication, one, two or even four box
opener/loaders may be provided in front of a processing station, as
illustrated in FIG. 1A. Although each box opener/loader is
illustrated in FIG. 1A as being capable of supporting only one
carrier, it is possible for a box opener/loader (also called
"loading and unloading station") to support two carriers, as
described by, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,386 granted to Mages
et al. (which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety
as background).
SUMMARY
[0008] In some embodiments of the invention, a store having its own
footprint separate and distinct from any of the above-described
items is provided locally at a processing station, for example, in
a fabrication facility (also called "fab") for integrated circuits.
The store (also called "buffer apparatus") is located adjacent to a
box opener/loader that in turn is adjacent to the processing
station. The buffer apparatus transfers boxes one at a time to/from
the box opener/loader that in turn opens each box and wafers
therein may be transferred to/from the processing station. In such
embodiments, the buffer apparatus transfers a box to/from a box
opener/loader directly, without an intermediary (such as a human,
an OHV, an AGV, a RGV or a PGV) between the box opener/loader and
the buffer apparatus. Depending on the embodiment, the buffer
apparatus may transfer boxes to/from such an intermediary (in
addition to or instead of transferring the boxes to/from a box
opener/loader).
[0009] One embodiment of such a stand-alone buffer apparatus
includes two types of mechanisms that respectively move a box (also
called "carrier") vertically and horizontally to/from a position of
storage (also called "storage position") within the apparatus.
Specifically, a mechanism (hereinafter "vertically moving
mechanism") that is itself capable of moving vertically is fixedly
attached to a foot, and in addition a number of mechanisms
(hereinafter "horizontally moving mechanisms") that are each
capable of moving horizontally are attached to the vertically
moving mechanism. Although in the just-described embodiment, a
single mechanism moves all the horizontally moving mechanisms in
unison during any vertical movement of a carrier, in alternative
embodiments each horizontally moving mechanism may be moved
vertically independent of the vertical movement of another
horizontally moving mechanism.
[0010] Several embodiments of the buffer apparatus move a carrier
between the above-described storage position and a predetermined
position (called "transfer position") that is located outside of
the volume occupied by the buffer apparatus. The transfer position
is separated from the foot in the horizontal direction by a
distance called "horizontal extent" and in the vertical direction
by another distance called "vertical extent."
[0011] During a storage operation, the buffer apparatus moves a
carrier from the transfer position through the horizontal extent,
and thereafter moves the carrier vertically into a storage
position. These acts are reversed for retrieval of a previously
stored carrier. Some embodiments of the above-described buffer
apparatus have another transfer position (called "lower transfer
position"), which is in addition to the above-described transfer
position (called "upper transfer position"). In one such
embodiment, the buffer apparatus is designed to transfer a carrier
from any storage position to any transfer position. Specifically,
the buffer apparatus can transfer a carrier from the lower-most
storage position to the upper transfer position, and can also
transfer a carrier from the upper-most storage position to the
lower transfer position.
[0012] A buffer apparatus of the type described above has a number
of storage positions (stacked one on top of another) at which a
corresponding number of carriers may be stored. To reach a
lower-most storage position, several embodiments of the buffer
apparatus move a carrier vertically through one or more
intermediate storage positions. In these embodiments, space used
for storage of objects within such a buffer apparatus is also used
for transport of objects vertically.
[0013] Dual use of the same space allows a buffer apparatus to
occupy a small footprint (as compared to use of two spaces, each
distinct from the other, for storage and for transport
respectively, which would effectively double the footprint). The
small size of the footprint of a buffer apparatus provides
significant cost savings, e.g. in fabs where floor space in a
cleanroom commands a premium. In one embodiment, the footprint of a
buffer apparatus is made as small as possible, e.g. as small as the
footprint of a box opener/loader, although in other embodiments a
larger footprint box apparatus is used.
[0014] Although described in the context of a fab, such a buffer
apparatus may also be used in non-fab environments, for objects
other than carriers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1A is a three dimensional perspective view of a
fabrication system of the prior art.
[0016] FIG. 1b depicts a view of two fabrication systems of the
prior art arranged lateral to each other.
[0017] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate schematic representations of a buffer
apparatus in accordance with the invention.
[0018] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate schematic representations of the
buffer apparatus of FIGS. 2A-2C with a shelf
[0019] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate schematic representations of the
buffer apparatus of FIGS. 3A-3C servicing a transfer position under
the shelf.
[0020] FIGS. 5A, 5E, 5F illustrate in three dimensional perspective
views and FIGS. 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5G-5L illustrate in side views, one
specific embodiment of a buffer apparatus of the type illustrated
in FIGS. 4A-4C.
[0021] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D illustrate, in a perspective view, a
top view, a side view and a front view respectively, the buffer
apparatus of FIGS. 5A-5L enclosed in a housing.
[0022] FIG. 6E illustrates, in a perspective view, an initial stage
of assembly of the buffer apparatus of FIGS. 6A-6D with a box
opener/loader to form a combination (also called "buffer
system").
[0023] FIGS. 7A-7J illustrate use of the buffer system of FIG. 6E
with an overhead vehicle (OHV) to locally store wafer carriers
during fabrication of integrated circuit dies.
[0024] FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate, in a side view, a perspective view
and an exploded view respectively, implementation details of one
specific example of the buffer apparatus.
[0025] FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate, in side view, a front view, a plan
view and a rear view, one example of a horizontally moving
mechanism used in the buffer apparatus of FIGS. 8A-8C.
[0026] FIGS. 9E and 9F illustrate, in a perspective view and an
exploded view respectively, the horizontally moving mechanism of
FIGS. 9A-9C.
[0027] FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate transfer of a carrier between a
guided vehicle and a buffer system.
[0028] FIG. 11 illustrates placement of a buffer apparatus in front
of a box opener/loader, rather than on the side.
[0029] FIGS. 12A-12B depict arrayed buffer systems.
[0030] FIG. 12C depicts arrayed buffer systems and their
interaction with guided vehicles.
[0031] FIG. 13A depicts arrayed buffer systems in a dense packed
arrangement and the interaction of the buffer systems with OHVs,
guided vehicles, and operators.
[0032] FIG. 13B depicts dense packing of processing stations and
the maintenance width derived from the use of buffer systems.
[0033] FIG. 13C depicts arrayed buffer systems in a dense packed
arrangement and the interaction of the buffer systems with OHVs,
guided vehicles, and operators.
[0034] FIG. 13D depicts an arrayed buffer system and the multiple
pathways that may be used to load or unload carriers from the
buffer system.
[0035] FIGS. 13E-13H illustrate the redeployment of a buffer
apparatus from one processing system to another.
[0036] FIG. 14 depicts an arrayed buffer system with extended
buffer apparatus.
[0037] FIGS. 15A-15C depict use of a movable buffer apparatus in a
personal guided vehicle, a rail guided vehicle, and an autonomously
guided vehicle respectively.
[0038] FIG. 16 illustrates, in a block diagram, electrical
circuiting used in one embodiment of a buffer apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] In accordance with the invention, a store that is smaller
than and separate and distinct from a centralized stocker of the
prior art (see FIG. 1A) is provided locally at a processing
station, for example, in a fab for integrated circuits (also called
"Ics"). The store is dedicated to the local storage of objects
(such as carriers) in an area next to the processing station. The
locally stored objects may be immediately worked on by the
processing station, thereby eliminating any down time in usage of
the processing station. Therefore, the local store (also called
"buffer apparatus") provides short-term buffering of objects that
are about to be used in (or have just been used by) the processing
station. For an IC fab, the term "buffer apparatus" covers any
apparatus capable of storing and transferring a number of carriers
to and from a load port. Use of such a buffer apparatus decreases
the AMHS (also called "automated material handling system")
complexity by decreasing the delivery time burden.
[0040] One embodiment of a buffer apparatus 10 (FIG. 2A) includes
two types of mechanisms that respectively move vertically and
horizontally. Specifically, a mechanism 11 (also called "vertically
moving mechanism") capable of moving vertically is fixedly attached
to a foot 12, and in addition a number of mechanisms 13A-13N
(wherein A<I<N, N being the total number of such mechanisms)
that are capable of moving horizontally are attached to vertically
moving mechanism 11. The number N depends on the specific
application in which buffer apparatus 10 is used, and on the
dimensions of objects that are to be stored therein.
[0041] The specific design of mechanisms 11 and 13A-13N may differ,
depending on the embodiment, although many embodiments use at least
three types of parts: guides, bearings and drives. Examples of
guides that may be used in such mechanisms include, but are not
limited to an integrated slide and carriage, a telescopic slide, or
a scissors mechanism. Examples of bearings that may be used in such
mechanisms include, but are not limited to linear bearings, ball
bearings, slider bearings, aerostatic bearings, or roller bearings.
Examples of drives that may be used in such mechanisms include, but
are not limited to a lead screw driven by an electric motor, a
pneumatic cylinder, a cable and pulley mechanism driven by an
electric motor, or a belt driven by an electric motor with the
appropriate motion control system.
[0042] Although certain examples are set forth above, any prior art
mechanisms that move linearly, may be combined by a skilled artisan
in view of this disclosure to form an apparatus including a
vertically moving mechanism 11 and multiple horizontally moving
mechanisms 13A-13N as described herein. One or more items used to
implement mechanism 11 may be of the same type as or of a different
type from a corresponding item used to implement mechanism 13A-13N,
depending on the embodiment. The design of mechanisms 11 and
13A-13N may depend on a number of factors, such as the weight and
dimension of objects to be stored in apparatus 10.
[0043] Each mechanism (also called "horizontally moving mechanism")
13I can be moved vertically through a maximum distance Vextent by
mechanism 11 as illustrated in FIG. 2A. Each horizontally moving
mechanism 13I itself moves horizontally (through a maximum distance
Hextent) as illustrated in FIG. 2C. Although in the just-described
embodiment, a common vertically moving mechanism 11 moves all the
horizontally moving mechanisms 13A-13N in unison during any
vertical movement, in alternative embodiments a horizontally moving
mechanism 13N may be moved vertically independent of vertical
movement of another horizontally moving mechanism, such as
mechanism 13I.
[0044] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C, buffer apparatus 10 can
transfer any object to/from a predetermined position 14 relative to
the foot (hereinafter "transfer position"), that is separated from
the foot 12 in the horizontal direction by a distance Th and in the
vertical direction by a distance Tv, as long as Th<Hextent and
Tv<Vextent. Specifically, during operation, buffer apparatus 10
moves the object (after the object is coupled to horizontally
moving mechanism 13A) through the horizontal extent Hextent, and
thereafter moves the object vertically into one of storage
positions 15A-15N.
[0045] The amount of vertical movement of an object being stored in
apparatus 10 depends on the specific location of storage position
15I. For example, to reach the lower-most storage position 15A, a
to-be-stored object is moved through the entire vertical extent
(e.g. from the location of mechanism 13A in FIG. 2B to the storage
position 15A). In contrast, to reach the upper-most storage
position 15N, the object needs to be moved only through a fraction
of the vertical extent, wherein the fraction (also called "pitch")
is obtained by dividing the vertical extent by the number of
storage positions N. Reversal of the acts performed for storage (as
described above) results in returning the object from its storage
position to transfer position 14.
[0046] In some embodiments, space used for storage of objects
within apparatus 10 is also used for transport of objects
vertically. Such dual use of the same space allows apparatus 10 to
occupy a small footprint (as compared to use of two spaces, each
distinct from the other, for storage and for transport). The small
size of footprint in such an apparatus 10 results in significant
cost savings, e.g. in fabs where space in a cleanroom commands a
premium.
[0047] In one such embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C, to reach
the lower-most storage position 15A, buffer apparatus 10 moves a
to-be-stored object vertically through the upper-most storage
position 15N, and through one or more intermediate storage
positions 15I and 15B. During movement of an object to the
lower-most storage position 15A, no objects can be present in any
storage position 15A-15N. In a similar manner, during movement of
an object to the next-to-lowest storage position 15B, an object may
be present in the lower-most storage position 15A but no objects
can be present in any intermediate storage position 15B and 15I and
no object may be present in the upper-most storage position
15N.
[0048] As noted above, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
2A-2C, all horizontally moving mechanisms 13A-13N move in unison
during any vertical movement. Therefore when an object is being
received by mechanism 13B, another object that is already held by
mechanism 13A occupies the uppermost storage position 15N.
Thereafter, both objects are moved in unison downward into their
respective storage positions 15A and 15B. In this example, an
object held by mechanism 13A moves through storage positions 15I
and 15B, whereas another object held by mechanism 13B moves through
storage positions 15N and 15I.
[0049] In one embodiment, all storage positions 15A-15N are located
at an elevation (from the foot) below the elevation Tv of transfer
position 14 (also called "upper transfer position"), so that buffer
apparatus 10 can move an object to an additional transfer position
16 (also called "lower transfer position") that is located below
the upper transfer position 14, as illustrated in FIG. 3A. For
example, lower transfer position 16 may be at an elevation Tp that
is approximately the same as the elevation (N-1)*pitch of the
upper-most storage position 15N. Therefore, an object in the
upper-most storage position 15N can be delivered to lower transfer
position 16 (see FIG. 3A) with a minor amount of vertical movement
or even without any vertical movement, depending on the embodiment.
When present, such minor vertical movement is normally less than
the pitch, for example, 25 mm.
[0050] Note that delivery of a previously stored object to upper
transfer position 14 requires upward movement of the object (see
above discussion in reference to FIGS. 2A-2C) through a distance
approximately equal to the pitch, if the object is held in the
upper-most storage position 15N. Moreover, since an object in any
of storage positions 15A-15N can be moved vertically through the
distance Vextent, for delivery to upper transfer position 14 (see
above discussion in reference to FIGS. 2A-2C), the object can be
delivered to lower transfer position 16 by a smaller amount of
vertical motion. Specifically, an object in storage position 15A
can be moved to lower transfer position 16 (FIG. 3A) as illustrated
by the extension of mechanism 13A in FIG. 3C. Therefore, in this
embodiment, an object in upper-most storage position 15N can be
transferred to lower transfer position 16 (see FIG. 3A) and in
addition an object in the lower-most storage position 15A can be
transferred to upper transfer position 14 (see FIG. 3C).
[0051] In one embodiment, buffer apparatus 10 maintains all
mechanisms 11 and 13A-13N retracted (see FIG. 2A) when simply
storing objects (or when empty), i.e. when no transfer is
occurring. For this reason positions 15A-ISN (FIGS. 2B, 3A, and 3C)
have been referred to in the above description as "storage"
positions. Note that the same apparatus 10 may be maintained in a
mirrored configuration wherein positions 17A-17N (FIG. 3B) are the
storage positions, and positions 15A-15N (FIG. 3A) are used only
during transfer of an object to/from buffer apparatus 10. In such a
configuration, vertically moving mechanism 11 is kept extended (see
FIG. 3A) when simply storing objects (or when empty), i.e. when no
transfer is occurring. In the mirrored configuration, all storage
positions 17A-17N (FIG. 3B) are located at elevations above the
lower transfer position 16. Therefore, an object in the lower-most
storage position 17A is delivered to the upper transfer position 14
with a minor amount of vertical movement (or even with no vertical
movement in some embodiments). Delivery of an object to the lower
transfer position 16 from the lower-most storage position 17A
requires downward movement of approximately the pitch.
[0052] Regardless of the configuration in which apparatus 10 is
used, in many embodiments an object in any storage position inside
apparatus 10 is deliverable to either of the two transfer positions
14 and 16. However, other embodiments may have one or more storage
positions (not shown) that are directly reachable only from one of
the two transfer positions that are closest. Such embodiments must
have at least one storage position (also called "common storage
position") in apparatus 10 that is directly reachable from both
transfer positions 14 and 16. One or more such common storage
positions may be used to shuffle objects between the two transfer
positions 14 and 16. Therefore, each storage position may be
reached either directly or indirectly from each transfer position,
depending on the embodiment.
[0053] In one embodiment, buffer apparatus 10 (FIG. 4A) includes a
shelf 18 at the upper transfer position 14, and shelf 18 is fixedly
attached to foot 12 by a support 19. Shelf 18 is at the same
elevation as transfer position 14, so that an object can be placed
on or picked up from shelf 18 by any of the horizontally moving
mechanisms 13A-13N, by appropriate vertical movement thereof. For
example, FIGS. 4B and 4C illustrated horizontally moving mechanism
13A extended to and retracted from the space above shelf 18. As
would be apparent to the skilled artisan, in view of the
above-described mirrored configuration, it is possible for buffer
apparatus 10 of other embodiments to have a shelf 18 at lower
transfer position 16 instead of or in addition to the shelf at
upper transfer position 14.
[0054] In one embodiment, buffer apparatus 20 (FIG. 5A) is a
stand-alone, self-contained unit having its own footprint, which is
separate and distinct from the footprint of any other prior art
device. For example, the just-described footprint of buffer
apparatus 20 defined by dimensions Fw and Fd (FIG. 5A) may be
approximately the same as and hence occupy the same area on a
cleanroom floor of a fab, as a box opener/loader. In the embodiment
of FIG. 5A, the objects being stored in buffer apparatus 20 are
carriers of substrates (not shown).
[0055] The term "substrate" as used herein covers any object that
is being processed in a processing station for semiconductor device
fabrication. The term "substrate" includes, but not limited to, for
example, semiconductor wafers, reticles, thin-film head wafers,
flat panel displays, glass plates or disks, and plastic work
pieces. The term "carrier" as used herein covers any device for the
holding of substrates processed in a semiconductor device
processing station such as a box, pod, cassette, container, boat,
etc. as depicted in, but not limited to, U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,229 or
as depicted in, but not limited to, SEMI E1-0697; E1.9-0701;
E11-0697; E19-0697,-0998,-0996; E47-0301, 0.1-1101; E62-1101;
E100-1101; E103-1000; E111-1101; and E112-1101 from Semiconductor
Equipment and Materials International located at 3081 Zanker Road,
San Jose, Calif. 95134-2127 (each of which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety as background).
[0056] In one specific example that is illustrated in FIG. 5A, N is
three (so that three carriers can be stored within apparatus 20),
and therefore there are three horizontally moving mechanisms
23A-23C (FIGS. 5A and 5B). In the example of FIG. 5A, each carrier
to be used with apparatus 20 can hold 25 substrates, although in
other examples other numbers and other dimension objects may be
used. Moreover, in the example of FIG. 5A the footprint of buffer
apparatus 20 is only 25% greater in area than the corresponding
area of a carrier, although in other embodiments other dimensions
may be used for buffer apparatus 20.
[0057] In the specific example illustrated in FIG. 5A, a shelf at
the upper transfer position forms a load port 21 for carriers (e.g.
has a kinematic mount formed by pins 22A-22C). The term "load port"
covers any interface location on a processing station where
carriers are transferred to and from the processing station. It is
possible that substrates are not removed from, or inserted into, a
carrier at this location. The load port 21 of buffer apparatus 20
is capable of capturing a carrier 27 in a repeatable fashion
generally via a kinematic mount as depicted in, but not limited to,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,386 or as depicted in, but not limited to, SEMI
E15-0698, E15.1-0600, E57-0600.
[0058] Load port 21 is attached by arms 21A and 21B (FIG. 5A) to a
frame 25 in which vertically moving mechanism 24 travels. Arms 21A
and 21B are sufficiently apart to define an opening through which
horizontally moving mechanisms 23A-23C are able to pass (when
retracted) during vertical movement of mechanism 24 into its
extended position (see FIG. 5A).
[0059] When retracted (FIGS. 5A and 5B), vertically moving
mechanism 24 has a height Vrest of, for example, 1290 mm, and this
distance is almost doubled when extended to Vextended of, for
example, 2590 mm. Note that Vextended is selected to be less than
2600 mm in conformance with the maximum tool height allowed by
SEMI. Apparatus 20 has a pitch of, for example, approximately 387
mm between any two horizontally moving mechanisms 23A and 23B. The
pitch may be selected to be the height of a carrier plus a
clearance distance, for example, 5 mm, between the carrier and the
bottom of horizontally moving mechanism 23B, plus the thickness of
horizontally moving mechanism 23A, for example, 25 mm.
[0060] Furthermore, load port 21 is at an elevation Vshelf of, for
example, 1400 mm. Distance Vshelf may be selected to be at a
minimum height of the distance of the pitch (e.g. 16 inches) above
the shelf of a box opener/loader, because apparatus 20 of this
example is designed for use with a box opener/loader. The shelf of
a box opener/loader is at an elevation of Vbox (FIG. 6E) of, for
example, 900 mm from the floor, and for this reason Vshelf may be
selected to be 1300 mm.
[0061] In the retracted position, each of three horizontally moving
mechanisms 23A-23C has a length of Lretracted (FIG. 5D) of, for
example, 285 mm, and this distance is approximately doubled to when
extended to the length Lextended of, for example, 770 mm. As
illustrated in FIGS. 5E-5F, each of horizontally moving mechanisms
23A-23C has a corresponding number of end effectors 26A-26C, for
holding a carrier 27 in the normal manner (e.g. a forked portion of
an end effector is slid between the top surface of a carrier 27 and
the bottom of a handle 27H on the carrier as illustrated in FIG.
5F). Note that although an end effector is being described and
illustrated, any other mechanism for receiving a carrier (also
called "carrier receiver") can be used in other embodiments of
buffer apparatus 20. Examples of such mechanism include gripper,
platform, and "fork-lift" tongs.
[0062] After end effector 26A is placed under the handle 27H of
carrier 27, end effector 26A cannot be simply withdrawn
horizontally if carrier 27 is to be moved. Instead, the
horizontally moving mechanism 23A while being horizontally extended
is raised by vertically moving mechanism 24 thus nesting carrier
handle 21 in end effector 26A and clearing the pins 22A-22C (FIG.
5F) on load port 21. Horizontally moving mechanism 23A is then
retracted horizontally, with carrier 27 in tow. Vertically moving
mechanism 24 is vertically moved to the lower most position to
prepare for further instructions from processing station. At this
stage carrier 27 is being held in storage in buffer apparatus
20.
[0063] Upon request from a processing system serviced by the buffer
apparatus 20, the just-described acts are performed in the reverse
order when transferring a carrier to, for example, the lower
transfer position (to a shelf of a box opener/loader).
Specifically, vertically moving mechanism 24 is raised such that
the required, populated horizontally moving mechanism 23A is
positioned adjacent to the lower transfer position as illustrated
in FIG. 5I. The populated horizontally moving mechanism 23A with a
carrier nested in the end effector is extended horizontally to the
lower transfer position, while clearing all vertical obstructions
such that the carrier (not shown) is positioned over the shelf
(also called "load port") of the box opener/loader (not shown).
Next, the populated horizontally moving mechanism 23A is lowered by
way of the vertically moving mechanism 24 thus depositing the
carrier on the load port of the box opener/loader. Then the
unpopulated horizontally moving mechanism 23A is horizontally
retracted.
[0064] FIGS. 5D-5F illustrate use of an end effector 26A of the
lower most horizontally moving mechanism 23A to pick up a carrier
27 from load port 21. FIGS. 5G and 5H illustrate use of an end
effector 26B of the middle horizontally moving mechanism 23B to
pick up a carrier (not shown) from load port 21. FIG. 5I
illustrates use of the upper-most horizontally moving mechanism 23C
to pick up a carrier (not shown) from the lower transfer position.
FIGS. 5J and 5K illustrate use of an end effector 26B of the middle
horizontally moving mechanism 23B to pick up a carrier (not shown)
from the lower transfer position. FIG. 5L illustrates use of an end
effector 26A of the lower-most horizontally moving mechanism 23A to
transfer a carrier (not shown) to/from the lower transfer
position.
[0065] Buffer apparatus 20 illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L may include a
housing 27 (FIGS. 6A-6D) that partially encloses mechanisms 23A-23C
and 24. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D, buffer
apparatus 20 has been previously loaded with two carriers 27B and
27C, and a third carrier 27A is being loaded. As noted above,
lower-most horizontally moving mechanism 23A has been extended
sufficiently (e.g. greater than the width of a carrier, Cw), for
example, 550 mm.
[0066] In one specific example illustrated in FIG. 6E, buffer
apparatus 20 has a load port 21 at the upper transfer position,
while a box opener/loader 28 (with which buffer apparatus 20 is
used) has its own shelf 29 at the lower transfer position. Shelf 29
is at an elevation of Vbox, which may be, for example, 900 mm.
[0067] Such a box opener/loader 28 is normally located adjacent to
a processing station 30 as shown in FIG. 6E. Buffer apparatus 20
therefore transfers carriers to/from box opener/loader 28 that in
turn transfers wafers to/from processing station 30. In such
embodiments, buffer apparatus 20 transfers carriers to/from a box
opener/loader 28 directly, without an intermediary (such as a
human, an OHV, an AGV, a RGV or a PGV) between the box
opener/loader 28 and the buffer apparatus 20.
[0068] However, depending on the embodiment, the buffer apparatus
20 may transfer carriers to/from an intermediary, such as a guided
vehicle, at the upper and/or lower transfer position. The term
"guided vehicle" is used herein to cover any apparatus capable of
delivering carriers to a load port of a processing station, either
in a human-assisted mode or in a micro-controller, powered mode. In
general three types of guided vehicles exist, but are not limited
to, personal, rail and automated as depicted in, but not limited
to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,570,990; 5,967,740; 6,068,104 or as depicted
in, but not limited to, SEMI E64-0600, E83-1000 (each of which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as
background).
[0069] The vertical space above load port 21 (after buffer
apparatus 20 has been moved (in the direction of arrow A) during
assembly) is free of any obstructions and therefore an overhead
vehicle (OHV) may bring a carrier from a stocker (such as stocker 1
of FIG. 1) and leave the carrier on load port 21 for storage inside
of buffer apparatus 20. In this manner, up to three carriers may be
stored in buffer apparatus 20 either by the OHV or by an automated
guided vehicle (AGV) or other such intermediary.
[0070] Buffer apparatus 20 is used with processing station 30 (FIG.
6E) to ensure that a nearly continuous supply of unprocessed
substrates is available for processing, and a processing station 30
serviced by buffer apparatus 20 does not sit idle. During
operation, a carrier can be transferred by buffer apparatus 20 to a
box opener/loader 28 where substrates are extracted and transferred
to the processing station 30. Presence of buffer apparatus 20 does
not increase the footprint of the processing station because buffer
apparatus 20 occupies an area on the cleanroom floor that is
otherwise kept reserved as per the SEMI E15.1-0600 (which is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as background). On
the other hand use of buffer apparatus 20 increases the work in
process ("WIP") of processing station 30 at the point of use.
Additionally, the increased processing station WIP allows for a
reduction of intrabay stocker size and need, by moving the storage
from the stocker to the front of the processing system.
[0071] In another embodiment, the buffer apparatus 20 is movable by
means of a motion mechanism such as a caster arrangement (not
shown). The mobility of buffer apparatus 20 allows for field
replacement or servicing away from the processing station 30.
Buffer apparatus 20 can be registered and located by means of a
docking mechanism (not shown) that includes a repeatable mount 31
shown in representative fashion in FIG. 6E.
[0072] Any docking mechanism known to one skilled in the art of
mechanical engineering may be used to secure buffer apparatus 20 at
any appropriate location. Specifically, some embodiments of a
buffer apparatus use a docking mechanism having three parts: a
guide mechanism, a locating mechanism, and a locking mechanism. For
each part there is a moving member attached to the device to be
docked or undocked, and fixed member mounted to a non-movable
device or the floor. Note that any conventional guide mechanism may
be used, and in some embodiments the guide mechanism includes
wheels rolling in a guide track, a pin sliding in a guide track, or
a tapered pin sliding into a sleeve.
[0073] A method to locate a buffer apparatus 20 in an accurate and
repeatable manner is to utilize any known method of kinematic or
semi-kinematic mechanisms. An example of a locating mechanism may
take the form of an arrangement of two pins attached to the moving
member, spaced laterally apart from each other, and a hole spaced
laterally apart from a horizontally oriented slot on the fixed
member. The pins are sized such that they slide into the hole and
slot with minimal clearance (typically 0.125 mm) and the spacing of
the pins is approximately the spacing of the center of the hole to
the center of the slot.
[0074] The general method of locking a docking mechanism in place
includes employing a screw or a series of screws, which join or
clamp the moving member to the fixed member. Additionally, a cam
mechanism maybe employed to join or clamp the two members, thus
locking them together and locating them adjacent to a device such
as a box opener/loader.
[0075] In addition, a docking mechanism that may be used with
buffer apparatus 20 may include blind attachments for electrical
power, electrical signals, and fluid power transfer. Such a docking
mechanism allows the buffer apparatus 20 to be located in a
accurate and repeatable manner adjacent any processing system load
port 29 or other desired location; thus the need for the
horizontally moving mechanisms 23A-23C to be aligned or "taught" to
the processing system load port is negated. The lack of alignment
allows the buffer apparatus to be quickly reconfigured, exchanged
or field replaced without affecting the operation of the processing
system. Field service may be performed while buffer apparatus 20 is
docked, from the front, by removing a cover 55 (also called "front
cover") of a housing in which the mechanisms are enclosed.
[0076] In FIG. 7A, a carrier 38 is transported by an OHV 39 and
positioned above load port 43. At this stage, load port 43 is
unpopulated (i.e. there is no carrier). Next, as shown in FIG. 7B,
the carrier 38 is lowered and deposited onto the unpopulated load
port 43 by way of the OHV 39. The OHV 39 is then retracted upward
as in FIG. 7C. At the same time buffer apparatus 32 extends a
horizontally moving mechanism 33A to pick up carrier 38 from the
buffer load port 43 (see FIG. 7D). Note that when buffer apparatus
32 is empty, any of mechanisms 33A-33C can be used. The
just-described acts can be repeated up to two times, to store three
carriers in buffer apparatus 32.
[0077] When it is time for processing system 45 to process
substrates in a carrier, vertically moving mechanism is moved
appropriately, e.g. to place carrier 38 adjacent to the processing
system load port 44 (see FIG. 7E) as described previously.
Horizontally moving mechanism 33C is then extended (see FIG. 7F) to
drop off carrier 38 at processing system load port 44, and
thereafter retracted, thereby to leave carrier 38 on load port 44
(FIG. 7G). In the mean time additional carriers may be received at
buffer load port 43 (FIG. 7H) and stored in buffer apparatus 32
(FIG. 7I). When a carrier 38 is present at processing system load
port 44, one of mechanisms 33A-33C may be kept vacant, so that
carrier 38 can be picked up when processing is completed and
returned to buffer load port 43 for removal by OHV 39. In the
example illustrated in FIG. 7J, horizontally moving mechanism 33B
was kept vacant for this reason and is shown being used in this
manner.
[0078] If one of mechanisms 33A-33C is available, buffer apparatus
32 can be operated to transfer a carrier 38 from buffer load port
43 directly to the processing system load port 44 without holding
carrier 38 in storage. Such a transfer without storage is useful
when a "hot lot" (i.e. a carrier with substrates that needs to be
processed immediately) needs to be processed ahead of any other
carriers previously stored in buffer apparatus 32. After
substrates, stored in a hot lot carrier 38 are processed by the
processing system 45, buffer apparatus 32 reverses its acts, to
deposit the carrier 38 back onto unpopulated buffer load port 43
followed by removal by the OHV 39.
[0079] Likewise, if only one position within the buffer system is
available, meaning 33A-33C are not available and the box
opener/loader has a carrier present, the buffer apparatus 32 can
"shuffle" or move a "hot lot" to the box opener/loader. "Shuffling"
requires moving carriers to temporary locations in order to move
the "hot lot" to the box opener/loader.
[0080] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C show a buffer apparatus 100 in detail,
from routine engineering rather than in abstraction. In FIG. 8A, a
perspective view is shown of the buffer apparatus 100. A control
panel 131 is placed at an ergonomic height in order to manually
operate the buffer apparatus 100. In FIG. 8B, a side view of the
buffer apparatus 100 is shown with an extended horizontally moving
mechanism 117. At the bottom of the buffer apparatus 100, a
facilities panel 132, part of the docking mechanism 129, can be
seen where the blind connections for electrical power, electrical
signals, and fluid power transfer. The facilities panel 132 is
attached to the floor via the docking mechanism 129.
[0081] FIG. 8C depicts an exploded view of the buffer apparatus
100. A single buffer load port 113 is shown attached to the frame
114 of the buffer apparatus 100. Various pieces of the frame 114
can be seen in the view. The frame 114 is provides structure and
support for the buffer apparatus 100, where the sheet metal parts
allow for multiple parts to be incorporated into a single part.
Sheet metal parts can replaced multiple machined parts that need to
be attached to each other via fasteners. A number of horizontally
moving mechanisms 117 are attached to part of the vertically moving
mechanism 126c and are supported by a structural member 126d. The
vertically moving mechanism includes a set of linear bearings 126a,
a fixed member 126b, a moving member 126c, a lead screw 127a, a
belt/pulley combination 127c (belt not shown), an electric motor
127b fixedly mounted to the frame 114, and a cable track 128.
[0082] The set of linear bearings 126a are captured between the
fixed member 126b and the moving member 126c within raceways
incorporated into the fixed member 126b and the moving member 126c.
Interfacing with the bottom of the frame 114, the docking mechanism
129 consists of moving member 129a attached to the frame 114, a
fixed member 129b fixedly mounted to the floor, and a moving
mechanism 130 consisting of casters or skids used for translation
and leveling of the buffer apparatus. The moving member 129a slides
into the center of the fixed member 129b in a tab and slot
configuration, thus rigidly fixing/clamping the buffer apparatus in
place.
[0083] In FIGS. 9A-9F, a horizontally moving mechanism 117 is
depicted. A guide mechanism 135 in horizontally moving mechanism
117 includes a telescopic mechanism 122 consisting of three stages
120a, 120b and 120c. The first stage 120a incorporates a carrier
receiver 120a (e.g. a forked end effector) and a male raceway 135a.
The male raceway 135a interacts with one set of linear bearings
135e. The linear bearings 135e slide on an opposing female raceway
135b of member 120b. On the outside of member 120b, a set of male
raceways 135c interacts with a second set of linear bearings 135f.
The linear bearings 135f slide on a female raceway 135d of member
120c. The lateral drive mechanism 136 of the horizontally moving
mechanism 117 includes two independent drive mechanisms 136 and
137, one for each stage of the telescopic mechanism 122.
[0084] As in FIG. 9E, member 120a is driven in and out relative to
member 120b via the drive mechanism 136. Drive mechanism 136
consists of twin lead screws 136a, a coupling drive belt 136b, an
electric motor 136c, three pulleys 136d, and a base plate 136e
fixedly mounted to member 120b. The second drive mechanism 137
allows member 120b to drive in and out relative to member 120c.
Drive mechanism 137 includes twin lead screws 137a, three coupling
drive belts 137b, an electric motor 137c, five pulleys 137d, and a
base plate 137e fixedly mounted to member 120c. The twin lead
screws 136a and 137b allow for balanced extension forces used to
extend and retract the telescopic mechanism 122 without unstable
loading of the mechanism.
[0085] Although one specific implementation of a buffer apparatus
is described above in reference to FIGS. 8A-8C and 9A-9F, other
implementations for a buffer apparatus of the type described herein
will be apparent to the skilled mechanical engineer, in view of the
disclosure. Examples of a vertical guide mechanism that may be used
in other implementations include, but are not limited to, an
integrated slide and carriage a telescopic slide, or a scissors
mechanism. Also, linear bearings (not shown) for a vertical guide
mechanism include, but are not limited to, ball bearings, slider
bearings, aerostatic bearings, or roller bearings. Furthermore, a
vertical drive mechanism used in a buffer apparatus may include,
but is not limited to, a lead screw driven by an electric motor, a
pneumatic cylinder, a cable and pulley mechanism driven by an
electric motor, a linear servo motor, or a belt driven by an
electric motor with the appropriate motion control system.
[0086] Similarly, examples of a horizontal guide mechanism may
include, but are not limited to, a telescopic mechanism, or a
scissors mechanism. The linear bearings for a horizontal guide
mechanism include, but not limited to, ball bearings, slider
bearings, aerostatic bearings, or roller bearings. A horizontal
drive mechanism may include, but is not limited to, a lead screw, a
pneumatic cylinder, a cable and pulley drive, a linear servomotor,
or a belt drive with the appropriate control system.
[0087] Although buffer apparatus 200 has been described as
interacting with OHVs, a buffer apparatus can also interact with
guided vehicles. Specifically, a carrier can be deposited by a
guided vehicle 210 (FIGS. 10A and 10B) on an unpopulated buffer
load port 213 or alternatively on an unpopulated processing system
load port 225. Subsequently carriers 218 and 219 can be picked up
by and stored in unpopulated horizontally moving mechanisms,
waiting to be deposited on an unpopulated processing system load
port 225 for immediate processing by a processing station (not
shown) serviced by buffer apparatus 200.
[0088] As noted above, buffer apparatus 200 has a moving mechanism
(e.g. consisting of casters or skids) that allows apparatus 200 to
be placed in front of and adjacent to a processing system load port
225 in order to provide a temporary increase WIP, as illustrated in
FIG. 11. In an additional embodiment, the buffer apparatus can be
moved to another processing system load port (not shown), based on
reconfiguration requirements. The reconfiguration requirements may
be driven by, for example, a temporary overload in WIP at a
processing station, or by a change in the semiconductor fabrication
process.
[0089] In another aspect of the invention, two or more buffer
apparatuses (FIGS. 12A and 12B) are used for storing and
transferring carriers to and from load ports of a single processing
station. If the processing station has two box opener/loaders
adjacent to each other (FIG. 12A) then two buffer apparatuses can
be placed on the outer sides of the assembly of processing station
and box opener/loaders, with each buffer apparatus being physically
adjacent to one box opener/loader. Note, however, that as shown in
FIG. 12B, the two box opener/loaders can be separated from one
another, and each box opener/loader may have two buffer apparatuses
on either side thereof, so that an array of four buffer apparatuses
services the processing station. The use of an array of buffer
apparatuses for a single processing station ensures that a nearly
continuous supply of unprocessed substrates is available for
processing and the processing station does not sit idle. Such an
array of buffer apparatuses allows for servicing or field
replacement of an individual buffer apparatus, while the remaining
buffer apparatuses provide carriers to the processing station,
eliminating system down time.
[0090] In FIG. 12C a combination of arrayed buffer systems 238 is
the item depicted schematically, comprising arrayed buffer systems
239a-239c, OHV system 230 and movable buffer apparatuses 231a-231b.
The schematic representation depicts the hierarchy and
relationships of each component with respect to the depicted item.
Various interactions occur between the combination of arrayed
buffer systems 238 and the OHV system 230 and movable buffer
apparatuses 231a-231b. A vertical arrow (arrow D) indicates the
interaction between the OHV system 230 and the arrayed buffer
system 239b where a carrier 235a is transferred to and from the OHV
system 230 and the arrayed processing system 239b. Two vertical
arrows (arrows B and C) indicate the interaction between movable
buffer apparatuses 231a-231b and the arrayed buffer systems 239a
and 239c where carriers 235b are transferred to and from arrayed
processing systems 239a and 239c and movable buffer apparatuses
231a-231b.
[0091] Additionally as illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B, arrayed
buffer systems 242a-242c can be "dense packed" as described in the
following: SEMATECH "I300I Factory Guidelines: Version 5.0" (which
is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as background).
See section 2.12 and 7.12; Intel Corporation "Factory
Considerations for High Volume Manufacturing Using 300 mm Wafer,"
STS97, Gargini and Pillai, (which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety as background). See page 60 of STS97.
[0092] Dense packing allows for the EFEMs of adjacent processing
systems 244a-244c to be placed one maintenance width 245 apart
while placing the buffer apparatus 243a and 243b of two adjacent
arrayed buffer systems 242a and 242b directly next to each other
without being separated by maintenance width 245. In the United
States, the maintenance width is dictated to be three feet by OSHA.
In other countries, the maintenance width may be one meter. A
maintenance width is not required by a buffer apparatus due to the
ability to be serviced from the front of the buffer apparatus.
[0093] FIG. 13C depicts two movable buffer apparatuses 337 and 351,
both without buffer load ports, with movable buffer apparatus 337
transferring a carrier 318 directly into a buffer apparatus without
buffer load port 301.
[0094] FIG. 13C also depicts a buffer apparatus 345 where a buffer
load port has been removed (or alternatively retracted horizontally
into apparatus 345, or folded into a vertical position) to allow
OHV 346 to directly transfer a carrier 347 to the processing system
load port 348. Direct placement of carriers onto the box opener
allows for hot lots to bypass the buffer apparatus. If the buffer
load port is removed, the buffer apparatus is utilized in a manner
identical to a magazine feed apparatus, for example, an automatic
nail gun or a paper stapler.
[0095] FIG. 13C further depicts a buffer apparatus 349 where an
operator 350 has accessed the buffer apparatus 349 to perform
periodic maintenance or service to the buffer apparatus 349; FIG.
13C also depicts a movable buffer apparatus 351 used to increase
the WIP of a processing system 352 that is not equipped with an
arrayed buffer system.
[0096] As would be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of this
disclosure, a number of modifications and adaptations may be made
to a buffer apparatus of the type described herein. For example,
the buffer apparatus may be provided with wheels, and may be guided
during travel on the floor of a cleanroom by one or more rails.
Moreover, two or more buffer apparatuses may be attached to one
another to provide increased storage capacity. Also, in other
embodiments a buffer apparatus may be physically attached to a box
opener/loader, to form a combination apparatus that stores as well
as opens carriers.
[0097] Additionally, one aspect of the invention reduces the
footprint of the environmental front-end mechanism (EFEM) 270a and
270b resulting in decreased EFEM complexity by removal of the EFEM
robot track. The resulting footprint savings is 50%. In another
aspect of the invention, dense packing is achieved by placing a
number of buffer apparatuses adjacent to each other, and EFEMs that
share a common maintenance corridor/width. The utilization of dense
packing allows for a reduction in cleanroom footprint. The
footprint reduction between area 272a used in the prior art
configuration as shown in FIG. 1B, and area 272b used in accordance
with the invention as shown in FIG. 13B results in a savings of
25%.
[0098] FIG. 13D depicts a column of space 251a (shown dashed)
adjacent to buffer apparatus 253a and a second column of space 251b
(shown dashed) adjacent to a second buffer apparatus 253b. Each of
the two columns of space 251a and 251b represents an independent
pathway for loading and unloading of carriers from a buffer system
250 that includes two buffer apparatuses 253a and 253b adjacent to
their respective load ports 255a and 255b. As illustrated in FIG.
13D, each column of space (also called "pathway") extends
vertically from its respective load port 256a or 256b upward to the
track 257 of the OHV 254. As would be apparent to the skilled
artisan, each pathway 251a and 251b has a cross-sectional area that
is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of a carrier
thereby to accommodate vertical movement of the carrier by OHV
254.
[0099] At any given moment in time, either pathway 251a or 251b may
be used by OHV 254 to load or unload the buffer system 250. Note
that use of two pathways 251a and 251b provides redundancy, e.g. to
support non-stop wafer processing by a processing system 252.
Specifically, in the event that a pathway 251a is not available for
some reason, an OHV 254 may still deliver carriers to the
processing system 252 via the other pathway 251b, thereby to enable
processing system 252 to continue to operate. Hence, multiple
pathways into a buffer system 250 of certain embodiments allow for
the processing system 252 serviced by the buffer system 250 to
maintain operation in the event that access to one of the pathways
is prevented due to service, failure, or another occurrence.
[0100] The amount of work in process ("WIP") that a buffer system
of certain embodiments can store therein in a failure situation is
one half of the original storage capacity. Specifically, in one
exemplary embodiment, buffer system 250 has an original capacity of
8 carriers, of which four carriers are held in each of buffer
apparatuses 253a and 253b (and are transferred thereto via the
respective pathways 251a and 251b). When one pathway 251a of the
buffer system 250 is blocked, access to buffer apparatus 253a is
blocked. However, because buffer system 250 has a second pathway
251b that still allows buffer apparatus 253b to be loaded and
unloaded in the normal manner, processing system 252 can still
access carriers delivered to the buffer system 250 (i.e. via
pathway 251b). With such access to carriers, processing system 252
can continue processing wafers in order to make semiconductor
devices. The resulting storage capacity of buffer system 250 is one
half of the original or 4 carriers. For this reason, when a load
port 256a fails, OHV 254 uses the other load port 256b at twice the
normal rate of usage that would be used if both load ports are
normal.
[0101] FIGS. 13E-13H illustrate a method of redeploying a buffer
apparatus 270 from one processing system 290a to another processing
system 290c. FIG. 13E depicts a section of a semiconductor
fabrication bay 269 employing three buffer systems 272a-272c, which
are located adjacent to the respective processing systems
290a-290c. As depicted in FIG. 13F, buffer apparatus 270 is removed
or undocked (e.g. by unbolting a repeatable mount of the type
illustrated in FIG. 6E and described above) from buffer system 272a
in the direction indicated by arrow E. At about the same time, a
box opener/loader 280 is removed from the processing system 290c in
a similar manner (in the direction indicated by arrow F).
Thereafter, box opener/loader 280 is moved away (direction not
shown) from the processing system 290c, as illustrated in FIG. 13F.
Then, as indicated in FIG. 13G, the buffer apparatus 270 is moved
toward the spot (in the direction indicated by arrow G) vacated by
the box opener/loader 280 and docked so that apparatus 270 can now
interact with processing system 290c.
[0102] FIG. 13H shows the buffer apparatus placed adjacent to
buffer system 272c, i.e. apparatus 270 is now located in the space
previously occupied by the box opener/loader 281. In its new
location, buffer apparatus 270 is now capable of interacting with
the box opener/loader 281. To easily redeploy a buffer apparatus, a
docking mechanism (not shown) is required at each location where a
buffer apparatus is potentially required. Such a docking mechanism
has been described above, in reference to FIG. 6E. The ability to
easily redeploy a buffer apparatus allows the operators of a
semiconductor fabrication facility to adjust to changes in
capacity, throughput and processing needs. Flexibility of a
redeployable buffer apparatus is highly valuable during changes in
production capacity where processing is generally unstable and not
well characterized.
[0103] FIG. 14 illustrates an extended, arrayed buffer system 353
where the buffer apparatus 354a-354b extends below the floor 355
through a hole 356. The hole 356 is shown larger than necessary for
clarity.
[0104] As in FIGS. 15A-15C, one or more buffer apparatus(es) can be
used with additional features and/or subtraction of features as a
guided vehicle such as a PGV 357 or RGV 359 or AGV 361.
Specifically, a robot arm 220 (FIG. 10B) may be removed from
vehicle 210, and the above-described shelf may be removed from a
buffer apparatus. Thereafter, a number of buffer apparatuses (e.g.
four) are placed within a volume defined by wall 211 (FIG. 10B).
The typical arrangement of multiple buffer apparatus consists of
creating one to two rows of buffer apparatus and placing them
adjacent to each other such that one row 362a serves as one side of
the guided vehicle and the other row 362b serves as the opposite
side of the guided vehicle, as in AGV 361 illustrated in FIG.
15C.
[0105] Additionally, in FIG. 12C, one half of a fabrication bay
225a is depicted with one half 226a of an AGV 231a shown
interacting with an arrayed buffer system 239a. The opposite half
226b of the AGV 231a can interact with the opposite side of the
fabrication bay 225b. By arranging a guided vehicle in two rows
facing opposite directions, the need for turning a larger vehicle
around or having a robot capable of servicing both sides of the
vehicle is no longer necessary, reducing complexity. Therefore, a
buffer apparatus replaces an automated robotic arm 220 that is
otherwise required by existing guided vehicles, as described in but
not limited to, U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,990 that is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety. Use of a buffer apparatus, as a
part of a guided vehicle, results in increased guided vehicle
capacity, and decreases complexity, due to removal of a robot from
the guided vehicle.
[0106] PGV 357 (FIG. 15A) is obtained by one or more of the
above-described modifications, and has a handle 358 used for
manually pushing the PGV 357. The PGV 357 shown in FIG. 15A
includes only one buffer apparatus, but it need not be limited to
one buffer apparatus. The number of buffer apparatuses typically
used in PGV 357 can vary one to twelve depending on the capability
of the operator required to push the PGV 357 or the power-assist
system employed. A rail 360 guides RGV 359 in FIG. 15B. The RGV 359
shown consists of two buffer apparatuses, but it is not limited to
two buffer apparatuses. The number of buffer apparatuses typically
used in RGV 359 can vary from one to twelve. In FIG. 15C the AGV
361 is guided by an autonomous system (not shown). The AGV 361
shown consists of four buffer apparatuses, but it is not limited to
four buffer apparatuses. The number of buffer apparatuses typically
used in the AGV 361 can vary from one to twelve. As depicted in
FIG. 15C, the AGV 361 is arranged with two rows of buffer apparatus
362a and 362b. The arrangement of buffer apparatus in rows fully
utilizes the available vertical space within a fabrication bay
while minimizing the use of horizontal space, resulting in fewer
vehicles being required within the fabrication bay. Currently,
conventional guided vehicles that are known to the inventors do not
buffer carriers. They provide only transport for carriers from
processing system to processing system.
[0107] Note that a guided vehicle may be obtained by replacing a
moving mechanism built into one embodiment of a buffer apparatus
with a driven wheeled mechanism or a freewheeling mechanism of the
type used in a guided vehicle.
[0108] FIG. 16 depicts a control system diagram for a buffer system
400. Two buffer apparatus 401a and 401b with 401a shown in detail.
The buffer controller 405a of buffer apparatus 401a is the master
controller between the two buffer apparatus 401a and 401b. The
equivalent buffer controller 405b through 405n with their
corresponding buffer apparatus 401b through 401n, act as slaves to
the buffer controller 405a. The master buffer controller 405a
communicates with the processing system controller 403, which in
turn communicates with AMHS 402 and the environmental front end
mechanism 404. Typically, one or two box opener/loaders would
communicate with the processing system controller 403 when used in
a buffer system 400.
[0109] Also, FIG. 16 depicts the detailed control system of a
buffer apparatus 401a. At the center of the control system is the
buffer controller 405a. The buffer controller 405a outputs
information to be displayed on the buffer user interface 406 (also
called "UI"). In addition, the buffer controller 405a receives and
sends information to the bar code reader 408, used to identify a
carrier within a buffer apparatus. In addition to the above
mentioned components, the buffer controller 405a receives signals
from a variety of sensors which include: buffer load port carrier
presence sensor 407a; buffer load port carrier seated sensor 407b;
upper transfer position, top sensor 417a; upper transfer position,
bottom sensor 417b; lower transfer position, top sensor 418a; a
lower transfer position, bottom sensor 418b; vertically moving
mechanism home sensor 421; and a safety sensor 423. The buffer
controller 405a also interacts with the buffer facilities panel 422
for communication and power. Power is supplied to the buffer
apparatus 401a via a power connection 419 from the fab. The
facilities panel 422 also connects the buffer apparatus 401a to the
processing system controller 403. Lastly, the buffer controller
405a controls the vertically moving mechanism motor 420.
[0110] The control system of a single horizontally moving mechanism
(also called "HMM") consists of a single slave controller 414a-c. A
single HMM controller 414a-c controls the twin motors 410a-c and
412a-c for a single HMM. In addition the HMM controller 414a-c
receives sensor inputs, which include: carrier seated in end
effector sensor 409ac; HMM outer stage retracted sensors 411a-c;
HMM inner stage retracted sensors 413a-c; cassette presence sensor
415a-c.
[0111] Several of the embodiments described herein utilize
available space adjacent to a processing station load port, thereby
increasing the storage capability of the processing station without
increasing the footprint of the processing station (area occupied
by the processing station measured in terms of floor space) as
depicted in FIGS. 6E, 7A-7J, 12A-12C, 13A-13D, and 14.
[0112] Depending on the embodiment, the processing system that a
buffer apparatus (of the type described herein) services could have
just a single process chamber, or it could be a device, such as a
chemical mechanical polisher, that does not include any processing
chambers as in, but not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,435,682;
6,267,853; 6,298,685; 6,336,845; or 6,339,730, all incorporated by
reference herein in their entirety. In addition, the processing
system could perform metrology or inspection instead of or in
addition to the fabrication steps. Finally, the processing system
could perform transfer steps such as transfer of substrates from
one carrier to another or from one carrier to a processing system
as in, but not limited to, wafer sorters, cassette transfer devices
as depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,062 with it incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
[0113] Although a load port 21 has been described above as being
part of buffer apparatus 20, in other embodiments such a shelf may
be part of another apparatus that is used in combination with
buffer apparatus 20. In certain embodiments, the above-described
arrangement of shelves is reversed, wherein a box opener/loader has
a shelf at the upper transfer position, and buffer apparatus has a
shelf at the lower transfer position. In various embodiments, both
shelves may be included in a box opener/loader, or alternatively
both shelves may be included in a buffer apparatus, depending on
the embodiment.
[0114] Although a buffer apparatus 20 has been described being
rigidly mounted to the cleanroom floor, in alternative embodiments
the buffer apparatus maybe rigidly mounted to the cleanroom wall,
the processing system front face, or the cleanroom ceiling.
[0115] In another embodiment, an arrayed buffer system comprising
one or more buffer systems used to transfer carriers to and from a
processing system comprising a process apparatus to perform a
fabrication step on a substrate comprising an interface wall
separating the processing apparatus from a cleanroom; an opening in
the interface wall; a box opener/loader; an EFEM capable of
transferring the substrate through the opening between the box
opener/loader and the processing apparatus as in FIGS. 12A-12B.
[0116] Yet another embodiment, an arrayed buffer system comprising
one or more buffer systems used to transfer said carriers to and
from a processing system comprising a metrology apparatus to
perform a metrology step on a substrate comprising an interface
wall separating the metrology apparatus from a cleanroom; an
opening in the interface wall; a box opener/loader; an EFEM capable
of transferring the substrate through the opening between the box
opener/loader and the metrology apparatus as in FIGS. 12A-12B.
[0117] In an additional embodiment, an arrayed buffer system
comprising one or more buffer systems used to transfer said
carriers to and from a processing system comprising a substrate
transfer apparatus to perform a transfer step on a substrate
comprising an interface wall separating the substrate transfer
apparatus from a cleanroom; an opening in the interface wall; a box
opener/loader; an EFEM capable of transferring the substrate
through the opening between the box opener/loader and the substrate
transfer apparatus as in FIGS. 12A-12B.
[0118] Yet, in another embodiment, an arrayed buffer system capable
of receiving a carrier from and presenting a carrier to an overhead
vehicle or a conveyor system onto the uppermost buffer load ports
as in FIGS. 12C, 13A, 13C.
[0119] In another embodiment, an arrayed buffer system capable of
receiving a carrier from and presenting a carrier to a personal
guided vehicle, an automated guided vehicle, or a rail guided
vehicle onto a buffer load port or the box opener/loader as in
FIGS. 12C, 13A, 13C.
[0120] Still, in another embodiment, an arrayed buffer system
capable of simultaneously receiving a carrier from and presenting a
carrier to an overhead vehicle on the uppermost load port and to
one the following: a personal guided vehicle, an automated guided
vehicle, or a rail guided vehicle, onto a remaining buffer load
ports or the box opener/loader as in FIG. 13C.
[0121] In another embodiment, an arrayed buffer system comprising
one or more buffer systems where said buffer systems share one set
of load ports consisting of one box opener/loader and a set of
buffer load ports as in FIG. 12B.
[0122] Further, in an embodiment, an arrayed buffer system capable
of being serviced at a minimum from the front of the buffer
apparatus while being docked as in FIG. 13C.
[0123] Still, in another embodiment, a combination of arrayed
buffer systems comprising a plurality of adjacent arrayed buffer
systems capable of sharing a single, EFEM, maintenance width as in
FIGS. 13B and 13D.
[0124] Additionally, a combination of arrayed buffer systems
capable of being serviced from the front of the combination of
arrayed buffer systems while docked is an embodiment as in FIG.
13C.
[0125] A further embodiment consists of a combination of arrayed
buffer systems comprising a plurality of adjacent arrayed buffer
systems capable of receiving a carrier from and presenting a
carrier to an overhead vehicle or a conveyor system onto the
uppermost buffer load ports as in FIGS. 12C, 13A, 13C.
[0126] Another embodiment consists of a combination of arrayed
buffer systems comprising a plurality of adjacent arrayed buffer
systems capable of receiving a carrier from and presenting a
carrier to a personal guided vehicle, an automated guided vehicle,
or a rail guided vehicle onto a buffer load port or said processing
system load port as in FIGS. 12C, 13A, 13C.
[0127] In yet another embodiment, a combination of arrayed buffer
systems comprising a plurality of adjacent arrayed buffer systems
is capable of simultaneously receiving a carrier from and
presenting a carrier to an overhead vehicle on said uppermost load
port and to one the following: a personal guided vehicle, an
automated guided vehicle, or a rail guided vehicle, onto said
remaining buffer load ports or said processing system load port as
in FIG. 13C.
[0128] A further embodiment consists of a buffer apparatus used to
store carriers and transfer carriers to and from a load port, said
buffer apparatus comprising, a vertically moving mechanism such
that said vertically moving mechanism comprises a plurality of
horizontally moving mechanisms for storing and transferring a
corresponding plurality of carriers to and from a load port; one or
more buffer load ports comprising a set of buffer load ports
lateral to the vertically moving mechanism used to charge or
uncharge said vertically moving mechanism; a fixedly mounted frame
supporting said vertically moving mechanism and said buffer load
port where said frame is adjacent and coupled by means of a docking
mechanism to the cleanroom floor, cleanroom wall, processing
system, or cleanroom ceiling; and an opening in the floor allowing
for said vertically moving mechanism to index below the floor level
as in FIG. 14.
[0129] Additionally, a movable buffer apparatus guided by a human,
rail or automated system, capable of transferring carriers to and
from a load port fixed to an adjacent apparatus comprising: one or
more vertically moving mechanisms such that said vertically moving
mechanism comprises a plurality of horizontally moving mechanisms
for storing and transferring a corresponding plurality of carriers;
a fixedly mounted frame supporting said vertically moving mechanism
where said frame is attached to a foot with a driven wheeled
mechanism 371, 373, or 375 attached to the perimeter of said foot
371, 373 or 375 as in FIGS. 15A-15C respectively.
[0130] In a final embodiment, the buffer load ports may be pivoted
out of the way to remove them from the path vertically above the
box opener/loader allowing a carrier to be placed directly on the
box opener/loader.
[0131] Accordingly numerous such modifications and adaptations of
the embodiments, implementations and examples described herein are
encompassed by the attached claims.
* * * * *