Patent ID: 7021882
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A FOUP opener for opening and closing a FOUP door which closes a front opening of a FOUP containing a plurality of semiconductor wafers oriented horizontally and vertically arranged at predetermined intervals, said FOUP opener comprising: a dock plate for carrying and positioning a FOUP; a dock moving mechanism for moving said dock plate to a position for detachment and attachment of the FOUP door; a port door including a detachment/attachment mechanism for detaching and attaching the FOUP door and a holder mechanism for holding the FOUP door; a port plate having an opening, the opening of said port plate being dosed by said port door, said port plate having a clean room side and a FOUP side; a sensor horizontal-movement mechanism, mounted outside and spaced from said port door, for horizontally and linearly moving a sensor bracket, independently of said port door, between a horizontally extended position within the FOUP and a horizontally retracted position withdrawn from the FOUP, said sensor bracket having a mapping sensor mounted on an upper portion of said sensor bracket and adapted to detect presence/absence, storage condition, and position of wafers contained in the FOUP; a port-door-and-sensor vertical-movement mechanism for vertically moving said port door and said sensor bracket with said port door holding the FOUP door; a drive for said sensor horizontal-movement mechanism; a drive for said port-door-and-sensor vertical-movement mechanism; a port door horizontal movement mechanism for moving said port door horizontally and independently of horizontal movement of said sensor bracket; and a drive for said port door horizontal movement mechanism.