Patent ID: 6629813
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for operating a fabrication tool comprising:providing a fabrication tool which requires transfer of a lot of substrates from a storage carrier to a process carrier when fabricating the lot of substrates within the process carrier within the fabrication tool, the fabrication tool having associated therewith a transfer apparatus for transfer of the lot of substrates from the storage carrier to the process carrier and an input/output station for receiving the storage carrier and positioning the same with respect to the transfer apparatus; providing a first lot of substrates within a first storage carrier upon the input/output station; transferring, while employing the transfer apparatus, the first lot of substrates from the first storage cater to a first process carrier, removing the emptied first storage carrier from the input/output station and storing the same in a storage facility provided external to the fabrication tool; processing, for a first process time interval, the first lot of substrates within the first process carrier within the fabrication tool while: providing a second lot of substrates within a second storage carrier upon the input/output station; transferring, while employing the transfer apparatus, the second lot of substrates from the second storage carrier to a second process carrier; and removing the emptied second storage carrier from the input/output station and storing the same in the storage facility provided external to the fabrication tool.