Patent ID: 7318697
Filing Date: 2008-01-15
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A reticle transfer system that is adapted for transferring reticles used in integrated circuit (“IC”) fabrication between reticle cassettes and/or reticle holders having differing configurations, each reticle cassette or reticle holder being respectively carried within a sealed Standard Mechanical InterFace (“SMIF”) pod that is adapted for receiving and holding a reticle cassette or reticle holder having a particular configuration, each reticle cassette or reticle holder enclosed respectively within a sealed SMIF pod carrying at least one reticle, the SMIF pods including a cassette-type encoder formed by a block of material that is pierced by at least one hole to thereby establish a unique, machine-readable code for specifying a particular type of reticle cassette or reticle holder that the SMIF pod is adapted to receive and hold, the cassette-type encoder being affixed to a base of the SMIF pod, the reticle transfer system comprising: a. at least two SMIF pod openers that are respectively adapted for: b. a robotic arm mechanism which includes an end effector that is adapted for supporting and clamping a reticle, the end effector including: c. the robotic arm mechanism at various times being positionable within the reticle transfer system adjacent to an opened SMIF pod that is present within either of the pod openers for: whereby the reticle transfer system effects automatic transfer of reticles through the controlled environment maintained within the reticle transfer system between a pair of reticle cassettes and/or reticle holders; and d. the end effector further including a thru-beam sensor which, when the reticle transfer system is ascertaining which particular type of reticle cassette or reticle holder the SMIF pod carries, passes a beam of light across the notch that pierces the end of the reticle-support blade furthest from the robotic arm mechanism when the robotic arm mechanism positions the end effector so the beam of light may pass through holes that pierce the block of material.