Patent ID: 6135168
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A standard mechanical interface wafer pod gas filling system, comprising:a main frame;a port assembly, mounted on said main frame, carrying a wafer pod which has a pod cover and a wafer pod base with wafers and further comprising;a platform, having an upper side, to which guide rails are attached for positioning said wafer pod, a lower side, a central opening, accommodating said wafer pod base with said wafers, and lateral sides, with several nozzles mounted on one of said lateral sides, said nozzles having widening ends and being tilted upward,a port, centrally located in said opening and carrying said wafer pod base with said wafer, being movable inside said opening in a vertical movement with a topmost position, with lateral gaps opening between said platform and said port below said topmost position of said port, one of said lateral gaps being located opposite to said nozzles and being wider than any other of said lateral gaps, so as to take in a large quantity of gas flowing out of said nozzles;a pod hold-down latch mechanism, mounted on said platform inside said guide rails, holding said pod cover;a port door up/down mechanism, driving said port to perform said vertical movement;a charging box, mounted on said lower side of said platform, enclosing said port door up/down mechanism, accommodating said vertical movement of said port, tightly connected to said platform, forming a sealed space, and having at least one exhaust outlet located opposite to said nozzles;a pod door lock/unlock mechanism, for opening a locking mechanism between said wafer pod base and said pod cover, so as to separate said wafer pod base and said pod cover; anda gas supply unit, having a supply pipe connected to said nozzles and an exhaust pipe connected to said at least one exhaust outlet, allowing inert gas to flow into said wafer pod and into said charging box and to take air out of said wafer pod and said charging box.