Patent ID: 6533531
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A semiconductor wafer handling device comprising:a track assembly mounted on a device platform to support the handling of semiconductor wafers, wherein the track assembly includes a center track positioned along a longitudinal axis of the platform and at least one gripper rail longitudinally aligned with the center track; at least one semiconductor wafer gripper formed with a gripper electromagnet that is slideably mounted to the gripper rail; a carriage slideably mounted on the gripper rail that is adapted to selectively push-and-pull the semiconductor wafer gripper along the longitudinal axis of the platform, wherein the carriage is formed with at least one carriage plate for selective magnetic coupling to the gripper electromagnet; and a logic unit in communication with the carriage for controlling movement of the carriage to different positions along the platform, wherein the logic unit includes signal lines connected to each gripper electromagnet and carriage plate for their selective actuation, and wherein the carriage plate may be magnetically coupled to the gripper electromagnet of a selected semiconductor wafer gripper so as to push-and-pull the semiconductor wafer gripper together as the carriage moves along the platform.