Patents Assigned to Fortrend Engineering Coirporation
  • Patent number: 6013920
    Abstract: A load port interface (20) receives, opens and closes a wafer carrier (22). A bulkhead (24) carries a changeable mating plate (92) that is pierced by a window (94). Changing the mating plate (92) adapts the load port interface (20) for use with different sizes of carriers(22). A table (32) of the load port interface (20) receives the carrier (22), advances the carrier (22) until it abuts and seals to the bulkhead (24). An end-effector (42), located on an opposite side of the bulkhead (24) from the carrier (22), actuates latch keys (54) to unlatch a door (48) from the carrier (22). The load port interface (20) then moves the unlatched door (48) rectilinearly, first horizontally away from the bulkhead (24) and then vertically downward, to expose semiconductor wafers (48) present within the carrier (22). The end-effector (42) includes sensors (86, 104) for collecting data about wafers (82) within the carrier (22) by detecting edges (118) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Fortrend Engineering Coirporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Gordon, Cyril M. Kindt, Kenneth A. Hardy, Steven A. Bumgardner, William E. Wegener, Eric Meyhofer