Abstract: An apparatus includes an inner container having a baseplate and a cover, an outer container having a pod dome and a pod door, and a first set of pins and a second set of pins disposed on the pod door. The pod door has a locked state and an unlocked state. The first set of pins and the second set of pins are configured to support the baseplate. When the pod door is in the unlocked state and the first set of pins contacts the baseplate, a clearance is formed between the second set of pins and the baseplate. When the pod door is in the locked state, the first set of pins and the second set of pins contact the baseplate.

Abstract: A spacer for parts of a reticle pod includes spacer contacts configured to contact alignment features of a cover and a baseplate of the reticle pod such that the cover and baseplate are separated by a gap. The spacer includes a frame connecting at least two of the spacer contacts. The frame can include a spring arm allowing deformation such that the spacer contacts can be moved relative to one another to facilitate interfacing with the alignment features. The spacer contacts can be configured to surround pins included in the alignment features. The spacer contacts can be configured to be inserted into lead-in portions of channels included in the alignment features.

Abstract: A pod for transporting reticles includes an inner cover and an inner base plate. The inner base plate cooperates with the cover to establish a space for mounting a reticle. The inner base plate includes a hole having a perimeter and first and second flanges extending inward from the perimeter. A window assembly is mounted in the hole. The window assembly includes a transparent plate, a seal and a retainer. The seal contacts the outer or side planar surface of the transparent plate and the perimeter of the hole to seal an interface between the window assembly and the hole. The retainer contacts the second flange to retain the seal and transparent plate within the hole.

Abstract: Reticle containers include a cover and a baseplate having contact surfaces configured to contact one another when the reticle container is assembled. Relief areas are provided adjacent to at least one of the contact surfaces. The relief areas are such that plating provided on in those relief areas do not contact the other of the cover or the baseplate when the reticle container is assembled. The relief areas can include structures such as beveled regions, depressions, and radiused regions. The relief areas can optionally further serve as a robber during an electroplating process.

Abstract: Spacers include a base configured to be placed within depressions of one of a cover or a baseplate of a reticle pod, and a contact surface configured to contact the other of the cover and the baseplate. The spacers are configured to space the cover and the baseplate apart from one another such that sealing surfaces of the cover and the baseplate are separated by a gap. The depressions can be gripper pockets of the baseplate. Multiple spacers can be used in a reticle pod to provide the gap between sealing surfaces. The spacers can be installed to prepare a reticle pod for shipment.

Abstract: Reticle containers include a cover and a baseplate, with magnetic particle traps included in at least one of the cover or the baseplate. The cover and baseplate each include sealing surfaces, and at least one of the sealing surfaces includes magnetic material that can be attracted by the magnetic particle traps. The sealing surfaces can be selected such that particulate generated by wear at the sealing surfaces is primarily the magnetic material. The magnetic particle traps can further be configured to be cleaned by reduction of the attraction of the particulate matter to the magnetic particle traps.

Abstract: Reticle containers include a magnetic latch to close the container and clamp the reticle contained within. The magnetic latch includes at least one magnet and another ferromagnetic material, which can be either another magnet or a magnetically attractable material. At least one of the magnets and the other ferromagnetic material can be manipulated to secure or open the container. The manipulation can include at least one of sliding of a housing, rotation of a magnet, or application of an external magnetic field to change the attraction of the magnet and the other ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: Reticle containers include a rotating latch including a spring. The spring provides force bringing the segments of the reticle container towards one another such that a reticle in the container is clamped between the container segments. The rotating latch can include a head as part of an assembly on one of a cover or a baseplate of the reticle container, with a slot configured to accommodate the head provided on the other of the cover or baseplate. The head can be disposed at an end of a shaft, with the shaft connected to a base, which is contacted by spring providing force such that the contact of the head with the other of the cover or baseplate provides clamping force to a reticle stored between the cover and baseplate.

Abstract: Shipping containers for covers or baseplates of reticle pods include a first shell including first fixing features and a second shell including second fixing features. When the first shell and the second shell are joined, the shells define an internal space capable of accommodating a cover or a baseplate of a reticle pod, and the fixing features engage the cover or baseplate to prevent movement of the cover or baseplate in directions in plane with the first or second shells. The fixing features can be such that there are both rigid and elastic fixing features contacting the cover or baseplate. A method of storing a cover or baseplate can include placing the cover or baseplate between first and second shells and joining the first and second shells to one another.

Abstract: Reticle pod inner pods include a cover and a baseplate, with the cover and the baseplate contacting one another at contact surfaces. The contact surfaces of the cover and the baseplate each include different materials. The different materials can each be metals. The different materials can differ in hardness. The difference in hardness can be 50 Brinell hardness or greater. One of the different materials can be a ductile material, having elongation at break of 25% or greater. Methods can include providing the cover and the baseplate each including a first material, and providing a second, different material at the contact surfaces of one of the cover or the baseplate.

Abstract: A reticle pod includes an outer pod, an inner pod cover and an inner base plate. A reticle is supported on the base and is contained within the environment created by the inner pod cover and the inner pod base. The inner pod cover can include a plurality of reticle retainers configured to contact a side wall of the reticle and limit movement of the reticle in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: Reticle pods include inner pods where motion limiting features restrict translational motion of the cover and the baseplate relative to one another. The motion limiting features are in addition to gross alignment features included in the inner pod. The motion limiting features resist the translational motion before the gross alignment features would resist the motion. Motion limiting features can include elastic bodies providing friction against contact surfaces, or pins received on elastic contact surfaces or in diaphragms or motion limiting cups.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reticle pod. The reticle pod includes a baseplate having a first surface, a cover having a second surface, and a stand-off mechanism on at least one of the cover and the baseplate. The first surface includes a first sealing surface on a periphery of the baseplate. The second surface includes a second sealing surface on a periphery of the cover. The stand-off mechanism is configured to create a linear gap between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface when the cover is attached to the baseplate.

Abstract: Reticle pods include interfacing surfaces to secure segments of the reticle pod to one another. At least one of the interfacing surfaces is a ramped surface, such that when the reticle pods are secured to one another, the reticle is clamped between reticle contacts provided on the segments of the reticle pod. When the reticle pod is assembled and contains a reticle, a purge gas flow passage can be formed in the reticle pod. The height of the reticle contacts and the thickness of the reticle can be such that the reticle pod segments are spaced apart from one another by a gap, with the gap providing the purge gas flow passage. The reticle pod can be a stocker pod for the transportation and storage of reticles.

Abstract: A reticle pod includes an outer pod, an inner pod cover and an inner base plate. A reticle is supported on the base and is contained within the environment created by the inner pod cover and the inner pod base. The inner pod cover can include a plurality of reticle retainers configured to contact a side wall of the reticle and limit movement of the reticle in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A reticle pod includes an outer portion that includes a pod door and a pod dome, and an inner portion including a baseplate and a cover. One of the baseplate or the cover includes a reticle compartment wall extending towards the other of the baseplate or cover. The reticle compartment wall includes one or more retaining features. The pod door or the pod dome includes one or more actuating surfaces configured to contact the retaining features. The retaining features are configured to be moved by contact with the actuating surfaces. The retaining features may be in a position configured to secure a reticle within the inner portion of the reticle pod when the reticle pod is assembled by joining the baseplate and the cover, placing the joined baseplate and cover within the pod dome, and securing the pod door to the pod dome.

Abstract: A reticle pod includes an inner portion that includes a cover and a baseplate, and an outer portion including a pod dome and a pod door. The pod door includes a latch, and one or more movable posts that may be driven to move when the latch is operated. The baseplate includes movable reticle contacts that may be contacted by the movable posts. Contact between the movable posts and the movable reticle contacts moves the movable reticle contacts in the baseplate towards the cover. This movement can secure the reticle within the reticle pod.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reticle pod. The reticle pod includes a baseplate having a first surface, a cover having a second surface, and at least one layer. The first surface includes a first mating surface. The second surface includes a second mating surface. The at least one layer is bonded to one or more of at least a part of the first mating surface and at least a part of the second mating surface. The first surface and the second surface overlap at the first mating surface and the second mating surface when the cover is attached to the baseplate.

Abstract: This technical disclosure describes a device that includes a recital pod and the method of making and maintaining the pod. The device includes a pod that includes a cover including a cover body; a baseplate including a baseplate body; and one or more mating surfaces formed on one or both of the baseplate body and the cover body to assemble between the cover and the baseplate to each other. The one or more mating surfaces each includes an outermost coating configured to be wear-resistant and lubricating, the outermost coating includes a composite metal plating, and the composite metal plating includes a metal plating with a lubricant embedded therein and/or layered over the metal plating.

Abstract: A substrate container that utilizes a rocker linkage or a linear cam arrangement in latch mechanism that is actuated by a rotary cam. The rocker linkage or linear cam is mounted to an interior panel of a door of the substrate container and may be disposed proximate an edge portion of the interior panel. The rocker linkage or linear cam may be configured to exert an axial force component on a housing of the substrate container to seat the door against a seal member. The rocker linkage or linear cam also transfers the axial latching forces to the door to reduce transfer of forces to the cam. The rocker linkage or linear cam may be arranged to transfer axial forces in a radially outward direction when the latch mechanism is engaged, to prevent push back on the rotary cam.