High density Tec-Cell carrier
The invention disclosed relates generally to handling substrates and wafers. In an example embodiment, to an improved wafer and substrate carrier or carrier system, method or apparatus. More specifically, to a carrier with improved abilities which may provide high density carriers, improved efficiency and other abilities such as increased cleanliness and reduced contamination to wafers during handling, storage or processing as well as higher density storage and better stocking, storage and handling abilities.
1. A substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system comprising:
one or more carriers; and
a plurality of stations; wherein
each of the one or more carriers holds a single substrate;
each of the one or more carriers is configured to be vertically stackable and key into a different carrier in a manner in which the single substrates held does not touch above or below substrates or carriers;
the plurality of stations include:
one or more storage or stocker stations that include storage or stocking containers or compartments in which the one or more carriers are housed;
one or more opener stations that are able to transfer the one or more carriers from a high density configuration to a low density configuration and vice versa; and
one or more transfer robots that are able to move the one or more carriers or substrates from one area, position, location or station to another either individually or as a stack;
each of the one or more opener stations includes:
a belt; and
a pulley that drives the belt;
the belt includes a plurality of tangs which notch into corresponding notches in an individual carrier; and
the belt is driven by the pulley such that one of the plurality of tangs interlocks with the individual carrier to move or separate the one or more carriers and open the stack by separating the carriers.
2. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 1 , wherein a membrane is located between each of the stacked carriers and its corresponding substrate.
3. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 2 , wherein the membrane isolates each of the carriers and its corresponding substrate from other carriers or substrates in the stack to prevent contamination if one carrier or substrate is contaminated or breaks.
4. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 1 , wherein internal to the carrier structure is a cavity or recess in which a purge gas is able to flow from a source to the substrate.
5. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 4 wherein the purge gas affects each substrate in a laminar flow.
6. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 4 , wherein the carriers are structured such that the cavity or recess transfers the purge gas from one carrier to a next carrier through the stack such that all or some of the carriers receive purge gas to purge the substrate.
7. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more storage or stocker stations accepts the carriers when stacked or individually in a high density configuration for a high density and clean storage.
8. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stations includes a transfer station or port which includes accessibility by exterior systems of the carriers, stacks of carriers, or substrates.
9. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 8 wherein the storage or stocking containers or compartments with carriers and substrates include overhead transport (OHT) abilities.
10. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more transfer robots have multiple effectors.
11. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 1 wherein each of the one or more transfer robots includes:
at least one substrate effector to unload or move at least one substrate or stack, and
at least one carrier effector to unload or move at least one carrier or carrier stack with or without the substrate.
12. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of stations includes a sorting station; and
a robot takes carriers and substrates from one stack or multiple stacks and reorganizes them, stacks them, or otherwise sorts them.
13. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 12 wherein the robot is able to sort stack to stack, sub stack to sub stack, individually, or any combination or permeation.
14. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 1 wherein the opener station is able to access carrier and substrate stacks in the storage or stocker station through at least one robot, such that the opener station is able to accept and opens the stack.
15. The substrate manufacturing, processing, transfer or storage system according to claim 14 , wherein
the same or another robot is able to access and remove one or more carriers and substrates in the opener station; and
the opener station closes the stack into high density configuration to be returned to the storage or stocking station.