Patent ID: 6398631
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
A system for facilitating transfer of a semiconductor wafer into or out of a machine for removing material from said wafer, the machine having a wafer carrier for holding said wafer and for guiding motion of the wafer relative to an underlying abrading member while a face of the wafer engages said abrading member, the wafer carrier including at least one opening for receiving the wafer, the opening having an outer rim that generally circumscribes a peripheral edge margin of the wafer, the system comprising:a wafer transport suitable for placement above said wafer carrier of the machine, the transport having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one open cavity therethrough with an internal edge wall, the cavity having a size and shape suitable for registering alignment with said at least one opening of the wafer carrier when the edge wall of the cavity is positioned above the outer rim of the opening and the bottom surface rests on the wafer carrier, the cavity and opening together forming a compartment having an open top wherein the edge wall and outer rim define a bounded perimeter, the compartment being adapted to receive and hold the wafer, and a liquid delivery conduit associated with the wafer transport to deliver liquid to a position generally beneath said transport for moving the wafer between a first position resting on the abrading member and a second position in the cavity, the liquid delivery conduit having an outlet located above said abrading member when the wafer transport is positioned above the carrier in the machine.