Patent ID: 7896602
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A stocker for storing a plurality of flat substrates, each flat substrate comprising two opposite flat surfaces and a peripheral edge, the stocker comprising a storage compartment for holding the flat substrates, the storage compartment designed for allowing access to the substrate by the peripheral edge without extending to the flat surfaces; an integrated substrate handler comprising an edge grip handler for transferring the substrates in and out of the storage compartment, the edge grip handler handling a substrate by the peripheral edge without extending to the flat surfaces, the integrated substrate handler further comprising an end effector handler for handling a substrate by extending to a flat surface; a station for transferring substrates with the storage compartment and with a load port, wherein the substrates in the station can be handled by the integrated substrate handler by the edge grip handler and by the end effector handler; and a load port designed for allowing access to the substrate by an end effector extending to the flat surfaces, wherein the edge grip handler is designed to access substrates in the storage compartment and in the station, and wherein the end effector handler is designed to access substrates in the load port and the station.