IP Library Granted Patent US 12,077,392
Granted Patent B2
US 12,077,392 · App. 17/315,423 · Granted Sep 3, 2024

Substrate transfer apparatus and substrate transfer method

Inventors: Hitoshi Hashima (Kumamoto, JP); Tohru Tochihara (Kumamoto, JP); Michiaki Matsushita (Kumamoto, JP); Hidekazu Kiyama (Kumamoto, JP)
Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
B65G47/90G03F7/162H01L21/67766H01L21/6838H01L21/68707H01L21/6875H05K9/0067
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,077,392
App. No.
17/315,423
Granted
Sep 3, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A substrate transfer apparatus includes: a non-conductive support with an upper surface that faces a substrate and supports the substrate; a mover that moves the support to transfer the substrate; a connector that connects the support and the mover while being grounded; a conductive contact that is provided on the upper surface of the support, and supports the substrate in contact with a lower surface of the substrate such that the substrate is not brought into contact with the support; a strip-shaped conductive path that is provided to connect the contact and the connector. The strip-shaped conductive path is provided with a bent portion such that an interval of the strip-shaped conductive path formed by the bent portion is at least twice a width of the strip-shaped conductive path.

Claims (24)

1. A substrate transfer apparatus comprising:

a non-conductive support having an upper surface that faces a substrate and is configured to support the substrate;

a mover configured to move the support and transfer the substrate;

a connector configured to connect the support and the mover while being grounded;

a conductive contact provided in a recess on the upper surface of the support, and configured to support the substrate in contact with a lower surface of the substrate such that the substrate is not brought into contact with the support; and

a strip-shaped conductive path configured to connect the contact and the connector, wherein the strip-shaped conductive path is provided with a bent portion such that an interval of the strip-shaped conductive path formed by the bent portion is at least twice a width of the strip-shaped conductive path.

2. The substrate transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support includes a cover formed by a conductive member in a region separated from the contact and connected to the connector,

the strip-shaped conductive path is configured to connect the contact and the cover, thereby connecting the contact and the connector, and

an interval between the cover and the contact is equal to or larger than the interval of the strip-shaped conductive path formed by the bent portion.

3. The substrate transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the strip-shaped conductive path is formed along the upper surface of the support and surfaces other than the upper surface, and

one end portion of the strip-shaped conductive path connected to the contact is provided on the upper surface of the support.

4. The substrate transfer apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the strip-shaped conductive path is formed by a conductive member provided on the surface of the support,

the strip-shaped conductive path constitutes a part of the conductive member provided on the upper surface of the support,

the upper surface of the support includes a first surface and a second surface closer to the substrate than the first surface, and

another portion of the conductive member is provided on the second surface, and the one end portion of the strip-shaped conductive path is provided on the first surface.

5. The substrate transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support further includes a guide configured to come into contact with a side wall of the substrate and regulate a position of the substrate with respect to the support,

a conductive path connecting the guide and the connector is provided on each surface of the support and the guide, and

a resistance value between the guide and the connector is higher than a resistance value between the contact and the connector.

6. A substrate transfer method comprising:

causing an upper surface of a non-conductive support to face a substrate, thereby supporting the substrate;

moving the support by a mover connected to the support via a connector that is grounded, thereby transferring the substrate;

supporting the substrate in contact with a lower surface of the substrate such that the substrate is not brought into contact with the support, by a conductive contact provided in a recess on an upper surface of the support; and

transferring electric charges of the substrate to the connector via a strip-shaped conductive path provided to connect the contact and the connector,

wherein the strip-shaped conductive path is provided with a bent portion such that an interval of the strip-shaped conductive path formed by the bent portion is at least twice a width of the strip-shaped conductive path.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2021
From: HASHIMA, HITOSHI; TOCHIHARA, TOHRU; MATSUSHITA, MICHIAKI; KIYAMA, HIDEKAZU
To: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 056182/0047 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-083452 · May 11, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210347584A1 · Nov 11, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,334,387