Patent ID: 8483866
Filing Date: 2013-07-09
Classification: B66F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing an automated materials handling system having a plurality of overhead hoist buffers (OHBs) for receiving a plurality of semiconductor wafer carriers; assigning each OHB to a respective one of a plurality of categories, each wafer carrier being associated with one or more of the plurality of categories; associating each respective category with at least one of a plurality of event trigger types; storing each of the plurality of wafer carriers in response to a respective trigger event, each trigger event having one of the plurality of event trigger types, each wafer carrier being stored in a respective one of the plurality of OHBs assigned to a respective one of the categories associated with the respective event trigger type of the trigger event causing that wafer carrier to be stored, each of the categories associated with a level or type of service.