Patent ID: 6050768
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
An automatic carrier control method employed in a semiconductor wafer cassette transportation apparatus includinga stocker system for storing a plurality of semiconductor wafer cassettes,a processing apparatus for applying a process on said semiconductor wafer cassette,an automatic carrier for carrying out a transportation task of said semiconductor wafer cassette between said stocker and said processing apparatus,an inter-stocker transport device for carrying out a transportation task of said semiconductor wafer cassette between a source stocker and a destination stocker, anda host computer for providing control of said stocker, said inter-stocker transport device, said automatic carrier and said processing apparatus,wherein said stocker includes an automatic carrier related inlet port for entry of said semiconductor wafer cassette by said automatic carrier,said automatic carrier control method comprising the steps of:transporting said semiconductor wafer cassette from said processing apparatus to said automatic carrier related inlet port using said automatic carrier under control of said host computer,determining whether there is a preceding semiconductor wafer cassette at said automatic carrier inlet port, andwhen there is a preceding semiconductor wafer cassette at said automatic carrier related inlet port, waiting for a predetermined time for said preceding semiconductor wafer cassette to be entered.