Patent ID: 6053688
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: H01L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A wafer handling apparatus comprising:a carrier station including a plate for supporting a wafer carrier including a pod having slots for holding a plurality of wafers, wherein said wafer carrier has a door removably coupled thereto via at least one lock;a grounded panel supported by a ground surface and situated adjacently between said carrier station and at least one of a tester and a processor, said panel including an opening;a z-movement mechanism coupled to said carrier station and operative to move said carrier station and said wafer carrier in a z-direction;a door opening mechanism positioned to unlock and remove said door from said carrier through said opening in said panel; anda motor-driven handler mechanism including a wafer holding device, said wafer holding device operative to move into said wafer carrier at an aperture in said panel to load or unload a wafer between said wafer carrier and at least one of the tester and the processor.