Patent ID: 9218994
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of exchanging transport carriers between an automated transport system and a process tool of a manufacturing environment, the method comprising: supplying a first substrate carrier to a first transfer place of a two-dimensional array of transfer places, each of said transfer places being accessible by a vehicle of said automated transport system, wherein said automated transport system comprises first and second rails configured to convey the vehicle to different subsets of the transfer places of said two-dimensional array; transferring said first substrate carrier to a first one of a plurality of load ports of said process tool, wherein the number of said plurality of buffer places is higher than the number of said plurality of load ports; transferring a second substrate carrier from a second one of said plurality of load ports to said first transfer place of said two-dimensional array; and picking up said second transport carrier from said first transfer place by a vehicle of said automated transport system.