Abstract:
A packaging system, hereinafter referred to as the Critical Packaging System, relates to critical issues that associate with sensitive articles such as IC wafers before, during and after shipment phases. The system employs a choice of two or more specialty designed containers, and any one selected design having choices of two or more methods by which to avoid, reduce and/or eliminate wafer damage from breakage, scratches and/or corrosion during shipment phases. For the purpose of maximizing product yield during packaging phases a special apparatus is used to insert wafers within containers without scratch damage. The following programs are used in packaging: (1) Quality Assurance/Certification, (2) Critical Factor Monitoring, and (3) a Recycle and Refurbish Program. These programs are specifically designed to achieve new levels of product yields, reduce product cost, and landfill impact.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to semiconductor wafer packaging and transportation system, and more particularly to a packaging system and method of packaging sensitive articles such as semiconductor wafers to prevent damage to the wafers before, during and after storage/shipment phases.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     To date, the semiconductor industry has been able to produce IC wafers increasing functional capabilities and increasing density without necessarily suffering losses during the transport processes, or at least having not realized the packaging media as a source for those losses. In general, present day transport media designed for packaging IC wafers are lacking the necessary features to address several problems common to advanced technology wafers during insertion and transport. This is especially true for 21 st  Century wafers higher speed with smaller geometries (and having elevated interconnect members including bond pads, caps, and balls. These problems can manifest themselves in the form of disfigured connectors that include wafer breakage, scratch damage as well as mobile ion induced parametric failures.  
         [0003]     Wafer shipping containers/boxes in combination with bags, outer cardboard type boxes, cushions and separators that are not functionally coordinated nor objectively systematized to address wafer movement, Airborne Molecular Contaminants (AMCs), and vapor leakage during transport can cause yield problems to the semiconductor wafers. Yield problems are associated with the following problems.  
         [0000]     Wafer Movement:  
         [0004]     Wafer boxes/containers currently utilize oversized vertical wall configuration to accommodate insertion of wafers without restrictions. The walls normally are unable to move inward to take up the slack after the box is fully loaded. The resulting wafer movement, when combined with wafers that utilize soft thin protective overcoats and elevated soft pads, caps and/or ground rings, can result in scratching during the wafer insertion and transport process. Stacked wafers with elevated features may also transfer structural damage to other associated wafers if improper materials are selected with too soft or too stiff a compressibility factor. Partial loading of a box changes the compressibility requirements of the system so that simply adding more cushions may not be the most appropriate solution.  
         [0005]     The movement of wafers within the transport media generate shaved particles that enhance scratch damage and promote slough particles.  
         [0006]     These particles, with the presence of AMCs, can further enhance the possibility for surface contamination. These contaminates may lead to corrosive damage and/or transistor inversion.  
         [0007]     AMCs are exceptionally small in size they are generally corrosive and they carry a charge. Through molecular migration, a charge build may occur over an active transistor node resulting in transistor inversion and a parametric failure. These type defects generally are latent in nature, may be identified at final test, but usually appear as field returns or through extended life test analysis. The failure mechanism will disappear upon removal of the encapsulation media, removing any evidence that may suggest the source of the contamination. There will be no clear path leading back to the transport media system as a source of the problem.  
         [0000]     Scratch Damage During Insertion  
         [0008]     A robotic and/or a manual system transferring a wafer through the insertion process allows some lateral movement of the inserted wafer. This movement (from direct drop or placement) transfers through the underlying separator and to the top surface of the covered wafer. The impact, depending on the weight of the wafer and the amount of trapped air, will result in some amount of uneven force as the two surfaces come in contact with each other. The allowed lateral movement during the insertion will result in scratch damage. These scratches are typically sub-micron in size and may further migrate through the passivation oxide when cushion compressive forces are developed while closing the box. This type of crazing damage is not necessarily catastrophic, and it is unknown if such forces act to create catastrophic failure during extended life testing. Nor is it understood if this sub-micron crazing can later become a point of entry for corrosive growth. It is known that such damage has been witnessed at the bevel edges of the wafers.  
         [0000]     Scratch Damage: Smeared or Scratched Circuit Lead Scratches  
         [0009]     During transport, lateral movement of wafers within containers/boxes will scratch wafer surfaces during shipment. The resulting scratches will cause damage to interconnect circuitry including smashing and disfiguring elevated connecting members such as ground rings, ball bond pads, and caps. These scratches can form shorts from one metalized area to another. The same lateral movement will also create shaving from the protective separators which further promotes scratch damage.  
         [0010]     Wafers packaged within boxes should have no allowance of lateral motion during shipment phases to avoid concerns of damaged elevated circuitry.  
         [0000]     Corrosive Damage  
         [0011]     Corrosive damage to wafer surfaces is generally caused by packaging materials such as containers, bags, cushions and separators that out-gas or chemically deplete excessive Airborne Molecular Contaminants or AMCs. Trapped moisture vapors within enclosures of containers and bags holding wafers will provide mobility for AMCs to move in the direction of wafer surfaces causing corrosive damage. Therefore, moisture barrier bags having a high Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate or MVTR when combined with excessive AMCs will create corrosive residues causing latent defects to wafer surfaces.  
         [0012]     The amount of corrosive damage that transfers to a surface depends upon the abundance of AMCs that associate with the packaging materials and barometric pressure, temperature and relative humidity that modifies the MVTR assigned to the boxes and bags containing the wafers. Evidence of corrosion entry include (1) edge &amp; bevel missing metal, (2) lifted pads, (3) stained pads, and (4) dark corroded pads.  
         [0013]     Within a finished 16/300 dip product, the molecular transfer of hydrogen and oxygen (H 2 O) molecules through the encapsulate occurs under 168 hours at room ambient and 50% RH. The finished product, when placed under bias, activates molecular movements of the ions which tend to migrate to various transistor nodes. Assuming no cracks or crazing have occurred to the passivation, the charge build that gathers above the transistor node may result in the transistor inverting, leading to a parametric circuit failure. The rate of mobilization depends on the bias voltage, time of on state, and content of AMCs within the vapor transfer at the passivation surface. Processes leading up to the encapsulation process do not normally impact the attachment of these charged ions on the surface of the passivation. Generally these AMCs have already attached themselves to the oxide so that saw and grind slurry and their respective cleanups accomplish little to achieve removal.  
         [0000]     Stained Bond Pads  
         [0014]     For wafers packaged within shipping containers, there are instances where bond pads and adjacent passivation coatings will accumulate contamination that appears as a stain. The stain appears to extend beyond bond pads under the passivation coated areas. This contamination condition seems to be traceable to a mismatch between photo-resist and the passivation coating usually found in the bond pad areas. Due to the mismatch of the passivation, a chemical reaction driven by the presence of moisture vapors combined with organic type AMCs, such as contaminating hydrocarbons, allows for the first stage of corrosion to begin.  
         [0015]     Clean rooms are teeming with AMCs that cannot be effectively removed by HEPA filters. When wafers are packaged within boxes having moisture vapors that have not been fully removed, those bags become carriers for AMCs, settling on all surfaces including bond pads and over-coating passivation. A small amount of chemical reaction takes place with the exposed aluminum or copper surface, thereby resulting in a corrosive stain in the area of bond pads as well as in any area where a mismatch between the photo-resist and the PO coating occurs.  
         [0000]     Corrosive Bond Pads  
         [0016]     Surfaces of bond pads that become excessively corroded while in transit from one location to another may become unnecessarily exposed to the condition of AMCs. This damage is normally restricted to bond pad surfaces only and normally is associated with the presence of moisture vapors. Sources within the transport system may include the out-gassing of cushions and/or separators. This out-gassing may be linked to inorganic and organic type AMCs resulting in the corrosive damage. Moisture vapors entrapped during the transport process react with residual hydrocarbons and create a heavily corroded pad. Poor selection of packaging materials such as open cell foam cushions and/or wafer separators treated with chemical additives that out-gas AMCs when combined with moisture vapors can cause bond pads to become contaminated.  
         [0000]     Wafer Breakage Due to Shock/Stress Energy:  
         [0017]     Present-day packaging technology can cause wafers to be damaged by cushion over-packaging and/or under-packaging. Wafer damage due to over-packaging is identified as resulting from stress-energy and will result in breakage usually during the packing process as the wafer box lid is attached or if the container is mishandled after closure. Wafers damaged due to under-packaging can be caused by shock-energy if the container receives a sudden impact. Both of these type failures may also be impacted by the size and thickness of the wafer and the resulting ability to withstand these kinds of forces.  
         [0000]     Lifted Ball Bond and Solder Bump Pads  
         [0018]     The term “Lifting of Gold and/or Solder Bumps” is a condition where elevated type bond pads tend not to adhere or stay adhered to assigned host substrate pads. In the past it has been suggested loose balls were created by interference or friction alone.  
         [0019]     Ball or pad separation may be a result of: (1) Movement of packaged wafers within shipping containers that generates friction between wafer surfaces and separators creating loose balls; and (2) AMCs within the atmospheric environment of shipping boxes when combined with moisture vapors not removed prior to shipment or due to MVTR (vapor leakage) through the bag form with AMCs to corrosively attack and break down the eutectic alloy, thereby causing the ball to release from the substrate, particularly those alloyed with copper.  
         [0020]     Movable wall transport boxes, controlled cushioning materials, low AMC separators, foams and boxes, as well as low moisture vapor transport rate bags should all be thought of as a part of a critical packaging system, not as commodity items to be procured on lowest cost basis. The environment under which the system is loaded for transport should also be outside of an area that is teaming with AMCs. HEPA filtration like that used in most front ends does not remove AMCs from the environment. Whereas the concepts of the a Critical Packaging System developed by the present invention addresses the concerns of shipping IC Wafers from one location to another location with the objective of improved product yields.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     The primary object of this invention is to provide a system to those having quality responsibility for packaging IC wafers within containers, from which choices can be made depending upon needs and requirements including economic, to correct critical problems that occur during shipment and/or storage, resulting in enhanced yields.  
         [0022]     The method of packaging called the Critical Packaging System hereinafter referred to as the CP System, is the consummate answer or correction for packaging IC wafers for shipment from one location to another location. The ACP System is exceedingly unique in that its main feature focuses on wafer-shipping boxes known as WEC BOXES. These boxes/containers come in two or more styles and are unique because they are designed in a manner to provide choices by which to systematize a solution for critical problems known to reduce product yields. This systematized concept is a fine-tuned method to simultaneously provide: (1) Pre-calculated Cushion System that automatically accommodates varying quantities of packaged wafers and eliminates the present-day requirement for foam cushions having different thickness, (2) Anti-Movement Wafer Concept designed to reduce scratch damage, (3) Absorb shock/stress energy that exceeds performance of present-day cushions, (4) Adsorb AMCs to reduce corrosive damage to bond pads during shipping phases, (5) Recycle &amp; Refurbish Program, (6) Quality Assurance Program, (7) Real Time Monitoring Program (8) Positive Locking System designed to provide the utmost security for packaged wafers and (9) Separators or interleafs having bump configuration designed to absorb excessive shock/stress energy between packaged wafers, (10) Purging System using a stripping method to removed trapped moisture vapors from the enclosure of containers and bags by which to avoid AMCs mobility that would otherwise cause the problems of: (a) Gold/Solder Bump Pad Damage, (b) Lead Damage, (c) Edge &amp; Bevel Contamination, (d) Lifting of Gold/Solder Bumps, (e) Stained Bond Pads, and (f) Corrosive Bond Pads  
         [0023]     Another object of the CP System invention is for packaging IC wafers within special containers which may have different configurations to accommodate different packaging requirements and special moisture barrier bags having combined features to optimize product yields during shipment phases. The CP System invention, as defined herein, provides a choice of specially designed containers from which to make a selection to address critical issues that become major problems for wafers during shipment phases. The selection within the concepts of the CP System is made to suit the critical issues by which to optimize yields of packaged wafers. A bag, in combination with a container of choice becomes the system for stripping moisture vapors from interior walls of both enclosures. In accordance with this invention, said container selection addresses at least three or more critical issues that cause damage to packaged wafers during shipment phases and said damages are but are not limited to: 1) corrosion, 2) breakage 3) scratches, (4) structural, (5) improper packaging and (6) particle contamination. The key component of the CP System invention is that all containers in combination with bags have the common design to minimize forces that create motion causing surface damage and minimize moisture vapors causing corrosive damage during shipping phases. Moreover, the features of the Critical Packaging System are specifically designed for the IC Wafers that have much smaller geometries with much faster speeds that require a different packaging methodology to address and correct critical issues during shipment phases. Therefore, the selection of the container in accordance with this invention is tailored to optimize the desired level of wafer protection during shipment.  
         [0024]     A further object of the invention is to provide a selection of at least two or more different and distinctly designed wafer shipping containers combined with two or more means/apparatuses by which said selection accommodates the objectives of CP System at a level that corrects critical problems and optimize the protection of packaged wafers during shipment phases. For an example, one variable design of the container utilized in the CP System in at lease one embodiment includes a special moisture barrier bag that becomes a total enclosure within the container, which in combination avoids damage problems caused by AMCs, oxidation, breakage and scratches during packaging and shipping phases.  
         [0025]     Another object of the invention is to provide methods within the Critical Packaging System that become the means to absorb or abate corrosive AMCs that decrease the quality of bond pad surfaces, reduce bond pad oxidation to increase bonding quality, restrict lateral motion of packaged wafers to decrease scratched surfaces and absorb shock energy to decrease breakage damage resulting in increased product yields.  
         [0026]     Another object of the invention is to provide a moisture barrier bag to hold said container and whereby said bag has a septum that communicates directly with a matching inlet valve on said container. This is the means to introduce a dry gas through film walls of said bag directly into the container interior by which becomes the means to strip moisture vapors. The moisture barrier bag that can be sealed after venting said stripped vapors from a container and becomes a means to enhance bonding ability for wafers packaged therein.  
         [0027]     A further object is to provide a box/container of choice within the CP System invention that provides a means to absorb or abate AMCs that associate with packaging materials, people, clean room contaminants and process equipment. Said means is at least one breakable glass vial holding absorption materials such as activated charcoal that becomes a “getter” to absorb or abate ionic contaminants. The vial(s) are mounted in the bottom cover of said container in a manner to become breakable when a floating receptacle is depressed prior to wafer packaging.  
         [0028]     A further object of the invention is to provide a box/container of choice that may include a unique polymer spring or a High Energy Absorption cushioning bag holding air that absorbs excessive stress and shock energy at the assigned spring rate while simultaneously accepting 1 to 25 wafers during shipment phases.  
         [0029]     The above mentioned objects are means and methods that may be used in various combinations to provide a one shipping container of choice that in combination with a shipping bag has the combined features to eliminate forces caused by handling, to eliminate or seriously minimize motion between wafer surfaces during shipment phases, while simultaneously eliminating or seriously minimizing corrosive AMCs and moisture vapors that corrode and oxidize bond pads in combination with the ability to absorb shock energy that breaks wafers caused by mishandling during the shipment phases. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a container having a locking ring with vertical finger members for locking and unlocking of top cover to bottom cover;  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a container showing the top cover and bottom cover of the container separated to show a floating receptacle, and vertical members with rubber bumpers;  
         [0032]      FIGS. 3, 3   a  and  3   b  show the details of the bumper members;  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the container taken along the lines of  1 - 1  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a container having a locking ring with vertical finger members for locking and unlocking of top cover to bottom cover;  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows the details of the bottom cover of the wafer carrier;  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the container showing a top cover, two film frames and a bottom cover having a floating receptacle recessed therein;  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional taken along the lines of  2 - 2  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the container or  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0040]      FIG. 11  shows a detail of the wafer rubber bumpers;  
         [0041]      FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view taken along the lines of  3 - 3  of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 13  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 14  shows the bottom cover of the embodiment of  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 15  is cross-section view taken through section  4 - 4  of  FIG. 14 ;  
         [0045]      FIG. 16  is a cross-section view of the container of  FIG. 13 , taken though section  4 - 4 ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 17  shows an isometric view of a another container that restricts wafer motion on the X-Y axis during shipment;  
         [0047]      FIGS. 18 and 19  show the details of the angled posts that restrict the motion of the wafer during shipment;  
         [0048]      FIG. 20  is across sectional view taken through section  5 - 5  of  FIG. 18 ;  
         [0049]      FIG. 21  is a cross sectional view taken through section  5   a - 5   a  of  FIG. 17 ;  
         [0050]      FIG. 22  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0051]      FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view taken through  6 - 6  of  FIG. 22 ;  
         [0052]      FIG. 24  is a detailed view showing the securing the edge of the wafer edge;  
         [0053]      FIG. 25  is a top view of a separator used between wafers;  
         [0054]      FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional view taken through section  8 - 8  of  FIG. 25 ;  
         [0055]      FIG. 27  is a cross section view taken through section  7 - 7  of  FIG. 22  showing multiple wafers;  
         [0056]      FIG. 28  is an isometric view of an embodiment having a locking top, shown in the locked position;  
         [0057]      FIG. 29  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 28 , showing the top in the unlocked position;  
         [0058]      FIG. 30  is a partial isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 28  showing details of the locking members;  
         [0059]      FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional view taken through section  9 - 9  of  FIG. 30 ;  
         [0060]      FIG. 32   a  shows the lock of  FIGS. 29-32  in the locking position;  
         [0061]      FIG. 32   b  shows the of  FIGS. 29-32  lock in the un-locked position;  
         [0062]      FIG. 33  (A-D) show the positions of the locking members;  
         [0063]      FIG. 34  is an isometric view of another embodiment of a secure locking container;  
         [0064]      FIG. 35  is a partial view of the locking mechanism of the container of  FIG. 34 ;  
         [0065]      FIG. 36  is a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 34 , taken through section  10 - 10 ;  
         [0066]      FIG. 37  shows an isometric illustration of another embodiment of a secure wafer container;  
         [0067]      FIGS. 38, 39  and  40  are partial cross-section views taken through section  11 - 11  of  FIG. 37 ;  
         [0068]      FIG. 41  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention for isolating wafers to prevent damage to the wafer;  
         [0069]      FIG. 42  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 41 , taken through section  12 - 12 ;  
         [0070]      FIG. 42   a  is a partial view of the cushion mechanism for securing the wafer;  
         [0071]      FIG. 43  is a wafer box similar to that of  FIG. 41  including a floater adaptor;  43 ;  
         [0072]      FIGS. 45-49  illustrate a wafer shipping box/container;  
         [0073]      FIG. 44  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 43  box/container to absorb airborne molecular contaminants;  
         [0074]      FIGS. 50 and 51  illustrate a shipping box with a device to absorb shock energy;  
         [0075]      FIGS. 52-54  show the use of a moisture vapor bag for holding wafer boxes;  
         [0076]      FIG. 55  is a Chart illustrating a Recycle and Refurbish Program for container reuse;  
         [0077]      FIG. 56  is a Chart illustrating a Quality Assurance/Certification Program for containers and packaging components;  
         [0078]      FIG. 57  is a Chart illustrating Critical Factor (AMCs) Monitoring Program for containers during shipment phases in real time; and  
         [0079]      FIGS. 58-60  illustrate an apparatus and method for insertion of wafers in a wafer shipping box. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0080]     The invention is a system hereinafter referred to the Critical Packaging System or CP System consisting of a box/container in combination with multiple means and methods including an apparatus.  
         [0081]     A first arrangement of the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 , and  4 . The box or container is referred to as WEC (Wafer Environmental Control) Smart Box that is designed to comply with all the features of the CP System. The box/container is molded of a synthetic resinous material such as ABS and is designed in a manner to accommodate and resolve critical issues such as contaminating Airborne Molecular Contaminants, directional forces during shipment phases that create motion for packaged wafers that cause surface damage and means to absorb shock energy caused by mishandling, all of which occur during shipment phase.  
         [0082]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1  shows a Box/container  15  with a top cover  16  and a bottom cover  17 .  
         [0083]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of box  15 , showing the basic components of the box/container. There is a bottom cover  17  onto which a foam cushion  19  is placed in cavity  23 . Floater plate  20  is placed in bottom cover  17  over a foam cushion  19 . Wafer W, with edges E, is placed in floater place  20 , and is held in position by several vertical member assemblies  21 , each assembly  21  has a rubber bumper  22  which is moved against wafer edges E to hold the wafer in an immovable position. A second foam cushion  18  is placed over the wafer and top cover  16  is placed over and, in conjunction with bottom cover  17 , encloses the floater plate and wafer, and cushions  19  and  18 .  
         [0084]     As shown in  FIGS. 3, 3   a  and  3   b , each vertical member  21  has a rubber bumper  22  has multiple fingers  22   f  ( FIG. 3   b ), each said finger  22   f  has an accordion shape. The ends of fingers  22   f  are moved against the edge E of the wafer W, flexing to hold the wafer W in place without damaging the edge of the wafer. Each vertical member has an extension arm  21   c  and a cam  24 . As will be described in relation to  FIG. 4 , each extension arm  21   c , pivotally attached to floater plated  20  at end  21   c , is movable to allow the fingers  22   f  of bumper  22  to move against wafer W.  
         [0085]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view, taken along section line  1 - 1  of  FIG. 1 , of box/container  15  with top cover  16  and bottom cover  17  assembled to each with wafer W packaged within floater plate  20 , and plate  20  supported by cushion  19 . Top cushion  18  and of top cover  16  apply a constant downward pressure on Wafer W, floater plate  20 , wafer  19  and bottom cover  17  to restrict motion in the Z axis”.  
         [0086]     Cam  24  has an angle similar to the interior wall  16   a  of top cover  16 . Extension arm  21  and pivot end  21   c  are pivotally attached to floater plate  20 . Vertical members  21  are moveable to allow bumpers  22  to contact edges E of said packaged wafers W when biased inward by top cover  16 . When top  16  is mounted down and over the bottom cover  17  and floater plate  20 , the vertical member assemblies  21  will actuate inward in a manner to cause intimately contact between rubber bumpers  22  and edges E of packaged wafers W, causing a gentle compression. This compression provides a means of “resiliency” by which to reduce or eliminate forces that create motion on the “X-Y” axis or “side to side motion” during shipment phases, thus reducing or eliminating surface damages such as “scratches  
         [0087]      FIGS. 5 through 8  show a Box/Container  30  having a purpose to restrict wafer motion on the X, Y and Z axis. Top cover  31  has in interior angled walls similar to  16   a  of  FIG. 4 , and a cushion similar to cushion  18  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 5  shows the wafer shipping container with a top cover  31  and a bottom cover  32 . The bottom cover  32 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , and further illustrated in exploded view in  FIG. 7 , differs from the bottom cover  17  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in that there is a wide flange  38  with multiple apertures  39  that are aligned with vertical members  34  or said plate  1 . 12   b . Bottom cover  32  has a broad flange  38  with multiple apertures  39  by which multiple cams  40  of cam plate  41  are movable apertures when mounted by means (not shown) of said bottom cover  32 . Cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8  taken along the lines of  2 - 2 , shows cams  40  protruding through apertures  39  of bottom cover  32  for the purpose of biasing cams  40  to cause rubber bumpers  35  of vertical members  34  to come in contact with edges E of packaged wafers W causing a gentle compression that provides a means of “resiliency” by which to reduce or eliminate forces that create motion on the “X, Y and Z” axis during shipment phases, thus reducing or eliminating surface damages such as “scratches”.  
         [0088]      FIGS. 9-12  illustrate another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 9  shows a container  45  with a top cover  46  and a bottom cover  47 . Positioned around the periphery of bottom cover  47  are several flexible rubber bumpers  47   a . Box/container  45  is used to provide an economical container to restrict wafer motion during shipment phrases only on the X-Y axis. Flexible bumpers  47   a  prevent shock to the packaged wafers when the container  45  is hit from the side, the bumpers  47   a  being flexible, absorb any shock.  
         [0089]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of container  45 . Bottom cover  47 , flexible bumpers  47   a , has multiple vertical post assemblies  52  having attached rubber type bumpers  50 . Each rubber bumper  50  has multiple fingers  51 , each finger  51  has an accordion type shape to directly contact edges E of packaged wafers W ( FIG. 12 ) with “resiliency” without damage. Bottom cover  47  has multiple vertical post assemblies  52  arranged in a circumferential manner to receive wafers W without restrictions or any kind of interference during hand or automated wafer-packaging. Each vertical post  52  is assembled with a rubber bumper  50  shown in sectional view  FIG. 11  becomes biased by top cover  46  interior wall cams  48  so as to flex or move inward causing intimate contact with edges E of packaged wafers W causing a gentle compression C that provides a means of “resiliency” by which to reduce or eliminate forces that create motion on the “X-Y” axis surface that damages such as scratches”. Polymer compression spring  49  is mounted over mounted wafers and under top cover  46 .  
         [0090]     In  FIG. 11 , post assembly  52  with rubber bumper  50  and fingers  51  are shown engaging the edge E of Wafer W.  
         [0091]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines of  3 - 3  of  FIG. 9 . Polymer type spring  49  holds wafer W securely against cushion  53  to protect packaged wafers W from structural damage caused by shock energy due to box mishandling such as sudden drop. Downward pressure is exerted on spring  49  by top cover  46  as it is lower and attached to bottom cover  47 . Spring  49  has the ability to automatically adjust and accept 1 up to 50 packaged wafers according to thickness without the concern shock energy transfer. When top cover  46  is placed over bottom cover  47 , the cams  48  inside top cover  46  move each vertical post  52 , and bumper  52  thereon against the edge E of wafer W.  
         [0092]      FIGS. 13-16  show an economic container  55  for restricting wafer motion in the X-Y axis during shipment. The box/container assembly  55 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13  shows top cover  56  and bottom cover  57 .  
         [0093]      FIG. 14  shows an isometric view of_the bottom assembly  57  which has a plurality of angled post  58 , whereas each post  58  consist of cam  60  and flexible member  57   a  (shown in  FIG. 15 ) by which combination is molded as an integral poly member of bottom cover  57 , includes a rubber bumper  59 .  
         [0094]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4   a - 4   a  of bottom assembly  57  with a wafer W placed upon cushion  61 . Angled posts  58  are angled outward and due to the flexibility of member  57   a  are movably inward when biased by interior of top cover. Angled posts  58  are arranged in a circumferential manner to receive wafers W without restrictions or any kind of interference during hand or automated wafer packaging. As illustrated in  FIG. 16  (a cross-sectional view taken through section  4 - 4  of  FIG. 13 ), each angled post  58  with rubber bumper  59  becomes bias inward by the top cover cams  60  on interior walls  56   a , causing bumpers  59  to move inward contacting edges E of wafers W, causing a slight compression of bumpers  59  against wafer edges E reducing or eliminating forces that create motion on the “X-Y” axis or “side to side motion” of the wafers W during shipping, reducing or eliminating surface damage such as “scratches”.  
         [0095]      FIGS. 17-21  show even another embodiment of the invention which provides the most economic method for restricting the motion of a wafer in the X-Y axis during shipping of the wafers.  FIG. 17  shows the enclosed container  62  with a top cover  63  and a bottom cover  64 .  
         [0096]      FIG. 18  shows an isometric view of the bottom cover  64  with a plurality of angled post  65 , whereas each post  65  has a cam  65   a , flexible face  65   b  by which combination is molded as an integral polymer member  65   c  of said bottom cover  64 . Whereas, FIGS.  20  and  21  are cross-sectional views taken through section  5 - 5  of  FIG. 17 . In  FIG. 20 , top cover  63  is not in place.  
         [0097]     In  FIG. 20 , wafer W resides on cushion  68  placed on the inside bottom of bottom cover  64 . Angled posts  65  tilt outward so as not to interfere with the placement of wafer W on cushion  68 .  
         [0098]      FIG. 21  shows a cross-sectional view taken alone the section line of  5 - 5  of  FIG. 17  with top cover  63  attached to bottom cover  64 . When top cover  63  is placed on bottom cover  64 , the inside wall  66  of top cover  63  moves against cams  65   a , moving angled posts  65  inward to engage with the edge E of wafer W thus reducing or eliminating side to side wafer movement thereby eliminating scratched surfaces. Whereas, compression spring  67  holds wafer W against cushion  68 .  
         [0099]      FIGS. 22-27  illustrated an advance packaging system for safely packing one or more wafers. When more than one wafer are to be packaged, then special separators are used between wafers as described below.  
         [0100]      FIG. 22  shows the basic enclosed container  70  having a top cover  71  and a bottom cover  72  having an assembly (not shown). A cross-sectional view taken through section  7 - 7  of  FIG. 22  is shown in  FIG. 23 .  FIG. 23  shows a single wafer. This packaging system at this point is essentially the same as the system illustrated in  FIG. 4 . A wafer is mounted in bottom cover  72  on cushion  75  and held in place by several vertical post assembly  73 . Each vertical assembly  73  includes a rubber bumper and a cam  73   a . Another cushion  76  is placed on top of wafer W. When top cover  71  is lowered over bottom cover  72 , vertical post assemblies  73 , shown in  FIG. 24 , are moved inward toward wafer W when the inside wall engages cams  73   a , moving rubber bumpers  74  to engage the edge E of wafer W. Vertical motion is prevented by the compression of cushions  75  and  76  on each side of wafer W. Horizontal motion is prevent by the engagement of rubber bumpers  74  with the edge E of wafer W.  
         [0101]      FIG. 25  is a top view of a special separator pad  78 . Separator pad has a circular outer embossment  78   a  associated with multiple stand alone individual embossments  78   b . A cross-section view of pad  78 , taken along section line  8 - 8 , is illustrated in  FIG. 26 . The embossments ( 78   a  and  78   b ) depths are adjustable in accordance with thickness of wafers being packaged. Separator  78  has the combined purpose to provide: (1) An electrical path to earth ground in the case of an ESD event within any surface area of packaged wafer; (2) Cushion wafers while being transported from one location to another location; and (3) A clearance that equals the height of the next packaged wafer having elevated members, such as bond pads and caps, that becomes the means to friction that would otherwise cause surface damage during shipment phases.  
         [0102]      FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  ( FIG. 22 ) that shows that wafers W are alternately packaged with special separators  78 . Edges E of wafers W are firmly held in place by the compression being applied against multiple rubber bumpers or cushions  74  when biased inward when top cover  71  is assembled to bottom cover  72 . Vertical motion of wafers W is prevented by the cushions  75  and  76 .  
         [0103]     The packaging system illustrated in  FIGS. 22-27  controls wafer motion on the X, Y and Z Axis with the additional features: to cushion the packaged wafers to avoid breakage; provide a resiliency means to avoid damage to edges of said packaged wafers; provide a separator with means to avoid friction on said packaged wafers having elevated members such as bond pads; and provide a means for electrical paths to earth ground to avoid ESD events. This embodiment is superior to boxes with vertical members having no resiliency, and separators with a center hole which have no means to physically support center areas of packaged wafer.  
         [0104]     Present-day boxes/containers designed for packaging and shipping IC wafers from one location to another location lack means by which to secure the top cover to the bottom cover that could possibly cause a loss in wafers. Present day wafer shipping boxes in general only have “snap-fit” arrangements which include a catch and latch arrangement by which to secure the top cover to the bottom cover. The top cover is normally the “catch” and the bottom cover is normally the “latch” and the combination becomes a means to “snap-fit” top and bottom cover to each other by which to achieve a degree of wafer security during shipment phases.  
         [0105]     Another shipping box on the market has a top and a bottom cover with a “screw-on” arrangement by which to achieve security. There is a jar that has a top cover that simply “snap-fits” to the bottom cover by which to achieve security for wafers packaged therein. In all cases, none of these designed containers feature a method by which to provide a secondary means to provide a positive locking method so as to assure that top and bottom cover become secure to each other in the case of situation causing and accidentally opening resulting in a catastrophic loss of wafer content.  
         [0106]     There are problems associated with all of these type-shipping boxes. For example, there are wafer shipping boxes which have a latch and catch arrangement that are normally mounted on the outside of bottom cover. This type of latch will not support “over-packaging” that causes the structure of the box to become stressed and therefore results in an uneven platform for packaged wafers. This unevenness caused by an “over-packaged” box will subject packaged wafers to breakage during shipping phases. In the case of the “screw-on” type box, the clock-wise and counter clock-wise turning of the top cover will transfer twisting motion to top packaged wafers to cause scratch damage. In the instance of the jar concept, the security of packaged wafers only extends to tension assigned to the top lid that fits the bottom cover.  
         [0107]      FIGS. 28-33  illustrate a first embodiment of a box/container method by which top and bottom covers of WEC Boxes can be secured to each other by positive means. Box  80  includes a top cover  81  and a bottom assembly  82 .  FIG. 28  shows box/container  80  in a latched condition and  FIG. 29  shows box/container  80  in an unlatched condition. Box/Container  80  has a locking ring  88  assembled to bottom cover  82 . Locking ring  88  is held in place by a retainer ring  90  and ring  90  has a vertical moveable member  89  that has the purpose to actuate ring  90  and whereby vertical member  89  is received within an elongated slot  84  that associates with flange  83  that is an integral part of top cover  81 . This arrangement provides means to lock and un-lock top cover  81  from bottom cover  82 . A simply hand motion can be applied to manipulate said locking ring  88  in the lock position by a simple hand motion using the index finger and thumb between fixed vertical member  87  and moveable vertical member  89 . A reverse movement is used for the un-locking the box/container.  
         [0108]      FIG. 30  through  FIG. 32   b  shows the locking mechanism and the means by which top and bottom covers become secured to each other. The function of the lock/unlock concept provided by locking ring  88  is illustrated starting with a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 31  taken along the line  9 - 9  of partial view  FIG. 30 .  FIG. 31  shows top and bottom covers,  81  and  82  respectively, secured to each other by a latch  83  and catch  86  arrangement, whereas  83  is an integral part of top cover  81  and whereas the catch  86  is an integral part of bottom cover  82 . Locking ring  88  has slotted areas  86  which moves latch  83  in either locked or un-locked position as illustrated in  FIGS. 32   a  and  32   b , respectively, causing the relationship to change between the top cover  81  being secured to bottom cover  82  or not secured as demonstrated in cross-sectional views A, B, C and D shown in  FIG. 33 .  
         [0109]     In  FIGS. 33   a - 33   d , Latch  83  of top  82  is moved downward into slot X, and then latch  83  is moved in to the locking position as illustrated in  FIG. 33   b . When top cover  81  is to be removed, latch  83  is moved to the unlocked position,  FIG. 32   b , released as shown in  FIG. 33   c  and moved upward as shown in  FIG. 33   d . When top cover  81  is latched to bottom cover  82 , the packaged wafers may be safely transferred from one location to another location.  
         [0110]      FIGS. 34-36  illustrate another latching method for securing the top cover to the bottom cover of the wafer packaging system.  FIG. 34  shows a packaging box/container  100  similar to previously described boxes/containers in as much there is a top cover  101  and a bottom cover  102 . Box  100  has an actuator  103  that becomes moveable in the down or up position by which to lock or unlock the top cover  101  from the bottom cover  102  hereinafter referred to as catch/latch means.  FIGS. 35 and 36  (cross-section through  10 - 10 ,  FIG. 34 ) illustrate that each actuator  103  is assembled to bottom cover  102  by means of latches  103 . Latch  103  is moved downward over latch part  104  which is an integral part of top cover  101 . When top cover  101  is placed over an moved downward over bottom cover  102 , latch part  105  “snaps” under edge  106  of bottom cover  102 . Latch  103  is them place over latch part  104  an moved downward, with projection  108  snapping in to opening  109  in top cover  101 . This prevents the movement of latch part  104  and the releasing of the top cover  101  from bottom cover  102 . To remove the top cover  101  from bottom cover  102 , latch  103  is moved upward and the tilted outward to flex latch part  105  from under edge  106  of bottom cover  102 , releasing top cover  101  from bottom cover  102 .  
         [0111]     The across-section view  FIG. 36  shows latch  103  in a downward latched position (on the left), and in an upward position (on the right).  
         [0112]      FIGS. 37-40  illustrate a shipping box/container  110 _in which the top cover  111  has multiple hingeable latches  113  designed to secure the bottom cover  112  to top cover  111 . The bottom cover  112  has multiple vertical members  114  that circumferential align to top holes  115  and whereas each said member  114  has a catch  116  and whereas said catch is designed in a manner so as to “snap-fit” into place on said top cover as shown in cross-sectional view  FIG. 38  taken along the line  11 - 11  and whereas said catch  116  is held into place by said latch  113  thereby securing said top cover to said bottom cover. Whereas said top cover  111  is removable by a simple hand procedure of lifting the hingeable latch  113  shown in cross-sectional view  FIG. 39  by which procedure overcomes front side under-cut  117  that is an integral part of catch  116 . Whereby another simple hand shown in  FIG. 40 , will totally disengage top cover by forcing said catch  116  away from the center of said Box/container  110  by which action clears the front side under-cut  117   118  of catch  116  while simultaneously clearing top cover alignment holes  115  and thus providing means for removing top cover  111  from bottom cover  112  as illustrated in  FIG. 40 .  
         [0113]      FIG. 41 ,  FIG. 42  and  FIG. 42   a  illustrate a packaging box/container for limiting or preventing motion of a wafer in the box/container. Box/container  120  shown in  FIG. 41 , has a top cover  121  and bottom cover  122 .  
         [0114]      FIG. 42  is a cross-sectional view taken alone the lines  12 - 12  that shows bottom cover  122  has a floater plate  129  that is supported by a cushion  123 . Floater plate  129  has multiple vertical members  126  holding rubber bumpers  125  which contact edges E of wafer W. Wafer(s) packaged in box/container  120  become sandwiched between top cushion  128 , a component part of top cover  121 , and bottom cushion  123  is under floater plate  129 .  
         [0115]      FIG. 42   a  is a partial view showing wafer on floater plate  129 , with vertical member  126  holding rubber bumper  125  against wafer W. The compression CM prevents the lateral motion of wafer W.  
         [0116]     Whereas  FIG. 43  is basically the same box/container as in  FIG. 41  with the exception there is provides a floater adapter  132  that provide for more an isolation feature as illustrated in cross sectional view shown in  FIG. 44  that is taken alone the lines of  13 - 13 . Whereas adapter  130  has several extending polymer bumpers  131  that are peripheral to outer side of the box/container and absorb any shock energy in the event of mishandling such as an accidental drop from a work a work or process bench. NOW, whereby this arrangement provides total isolation from shock energy that might occur due to WEC Box/container mishandling during shipment phases. Top cushion  129  is designed to automatically accept 1 to 25 wafers measuring in thickness from 5 to 32 mil with necessary resiliency to absorb any damaging shock energy that is being transferred from top and bottom cover box/container housing that travels alone the Z-Axis in the direction of packaged substrates. Rubber bumpers  125 , that are in contact with wafer edges, serve as isolators to absorb any shock energy that travels in the direction of said wafers on the X-Y Axis from the Box/container housing.  
         [0117]      FIGS. 45-49  illustrate wafer shipping boxes/containers designed to absorb or abate airborne molecular contaminants within the shipping box/container. A floater plate  143 , used in previous designs, is used in this design and is shown in  FIG. 48 .  FIG. 45  shows the shipping box/container  140  with top cover  141  and bottom cover  142 .  
         [0118]      FIGS. 46   a  and  46   b  show a breakable vial  150  that has the ability to hold a granular material  151  designed to absorb AMCs.  FIG. 46   b  is a cross-section view (taken alone the line of  14   a - 14   a ) of vial  150  showing the granular material  151 . Vials  150  are made of thin wall glass and are easily breakable, and are placed within the open-end  153  porous bag  152 , as shown in  FIG. 47   a , then bag  152  is sealed closed a shown in  FIG. 47   b . Bag  152 , hereinafter referred to as the Absorber Package  152 , has a first primary purpose to receive and capture ionic corrosive gasses or AMCs trapped within the wafer shipping boxes through its porous walls, and has a secondary purpose to retain both glass pieces and granular material  151  when the glass vials are broken.  
         [0119]      FIG. 48  shows a bottom cover  147  with a compressible cushion  149 . Cushion  149  has an opening H in it center in which one or more sealed absorber package  152  are placed. Floater plate  143  with is placed in bottom cover  147  around cushion  149 .  
         [0120]     Floater plate  143  is moveable and becomes the means by which downward pressure, when it is placed in bottom cover  147 , can be applied either by manual or automatic means to break vials  150  within Absorber Package  150 . When vials  150  are broken, absorber material  151  absorbs corrosive gasses that are associate with wafers packaged within enclosures such as a box/container.  
         [0121]      FIG. 49  shows the closed shipping package with floater plate  142  over cushion  149  and absorber package  150 . Wafer W is held in place by cushion  155  and rubber bumper  156  on vertical members  157 . Top cover  141  encloses and seals the wafer(s) W within the shipping box/container  140 .  
         [0122]      FIGS. 50 and 51  illustrate a shipping box/container having a special method to absorb shock energy caused by poor handling procedures.  
         [0123]     Fragile Wafers, packaged within boxes/containers, can easily receive shock energy in any and all directions. These thin fragile wafers within shipping boxes must have means to absorb shock energy on every possible axes that would otherwise transfer at any point to damage the fragile thin substrate. Cushions packaged within enclosures will normally be inefficient if the box/container is accidentally dropped from a height of 30″ or more. Therefore, those that have packaging and shipping responsibilities must depend on other means by which to absorb excess shock energy. Thus, the method that is now prominently used is that the container holding wafers are packaged within cardboard box having foam strategically placed on the inside by which to absorb excess energy during shipment phases. The issues of breakages must include the time that wafers are packaged and being handled prior to shipment phases as compared to packaged wafers within cardboard boxes having added packaging by which to provide extra protection against shock energy. Except for external cushion arrangements, the Box Assembly  160 , shown in  FIG. 50-51 , is designed to protect fragile wafers from breakage during drop tests of 30″, has much the same design and features described and shown in  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 25-27  and  FIG. 37-40 . Where the parts of the box/container assembly are the same as the prior configuration, the same numbers have been used for same parts.  FIG. 9-12  show a top and bottom cover,  46  and  47  respectively, whereby bottom cover  47  has multiple rubber bumpers  50  shown in  FIG. 11  becomes biased by top cover  46  interior wall cams  48  so as to flex or move inward causing intimate compression C that provides a means of “resiliency” to reduce or eliminate “shock energy” caused by mishandling such as an accidental drop and/or provides a means of “resiliency” to reduce or eliminate “forces” that create motion on the “X-Y” axis surface of wafers that causes damage such as “scratches”.  FIG. 25-27  shows a Cushioned Bump Leafs or separators  78  having multiple stand alone individual embossments taken either shape and/or both shapes demonstrated in design  78   a  and  78   b  shown in cross sectional view  FIG. 26 . The separators  78  are alternately placed between each wafer shown in cross-sectional view of  FIG. 27  which provides a means of “resiliency” between packaged wafers. The “resiliency” that absorbs “shock energy” traveling in the direction of the fragile packaged wafers, is a product of air trapped within each and every stand alone embossments of  78   a  and  78   b . Embossments  78   a  and  78   b  are exceptional unique in performance in that the trapped air will expand plastic embossments to become “shock absorbers” when any g-force creates “shock energy” that transfers in the direction of wafer W substrate to cause breakage. This would be particular true if said “shock energy” was created alone the lines of y-axes. Whereas  FIG. 37-40  shows a latch and catch arrangement,  114 ,  116  and  117  respectively and said arrangement is firmly and positively held in place by locking means  113 . Wafers W are packaged within a WEC Box_shown in  FIG. 50-51  with alternating Cushion Bump Leafs  78  having “resiliency” that has the function to absorb energy on the Y-Axis, and wafers W are compressed C between multiple rubber bumpers  50  having “resiliency” and the box/container bottom cover  112  has built in multiple side bumpers  47   a  having “resiliency” by which to absorb internal shock energy. Box/Container assembly  160  has a top absorption plate  161  that is independent of top cover  110  that communicates with a foam pad  162  with “resiliency” and whereas bottom cover  112  has multiple stand along foam cushion pads  164  collectively having resiliency and whereas said wafers W are securely packaged between a top and bottom High Energy Absorbing (HEA) Cushions,  162  and  164  respectively.  
         [0124]     Moisture vapors are an extreme critical issue for IC wafer, particular for wafers having faster speed, smaller geometries, thinner substrates and alloyed with copper. The problem lies in the fact, that if not removed from enclosures of bags and boxes/containers holding packaged wafers, they become conveyors to mobilize any presence of excessive AMCs to move in the direction of bond pads to cause corrosive damage.  
         [0125]     Water vapors molecules that are polarized with unsymmetrical distribution of charges will causes a firm attachment or “sticking” to interior surfaces of boxes and bags enclosures holding packaged wafers to cause corrosive damage during shipment phases. Vapors are catalysis for AMCs, and, if not satisfactorily removed from said enclosures, will become corrosive residues by which to corrode bond pads during shipment phases.  
         [0126]     The present day method for removing or reducing moisture vapors from surfaces enclosures of bags and boxes/containers holding packaged wafers is by methods having vacuum means. The problem with this concept is that air movement caused by said vacuum means would do little or nothing in neutralizing the charges of vapors that maximizes removal. The amount of vapors removed will only equal the amount vacuum applied. The prominent means by which to remove any remaining vapors that stick to enclosure interior wall is by using getters or desiccants that have water absorption capability. The required amount of desiccant measured in units will equal the desired dryness measured in RH, the MVTR assigned to the bag enclosure, the area of bag enclosure and the desired time by which to achieve said dryness. The problem that associates with desiccants can be found in the fact that they absorb corrosive residues made of AMCs that are extremely small in size, corrosive residues, have charges and remain in motion and provide a corrosive background for packaged wafers.  
         [0127]     The better solution is to use a nitrogen source to “strip” moisture vapors from the walls of enclosures and the surfaces of wafers. Whereas nitrogen (N 2 ), having no polarization of charges, will remove moisture vapors when the nitrogen collides with moisture vapors having polarization with unsymmetrical distribution of charges. This then becomes an enhanced method by which to remove vapor molecules from enclosures of bags and boxes/containers holding packaged wafers.  
         [0128]      FIG. 52  shows a moisture barrier bag  170  having a MVTR if at least 0.02 that is prepared to receive shipping box/container  171  and whereas said bag  170  has a bag septum  172  that is female and the said box/container has a male septum  174 . The bag septum  172  and male septum  174  can be matched when box/container  171  is placed and sealed in bag  170 , as shown in  FIG. 53 .  
         [0129]      FIG. 54  is a cross section view showing the enclosed wafer package and the system whereby moisture vapors are “stripped” from walls of enclosures using a nitrogen source  175  and a vacuum source  176  which both communicate with a probe  177  having hollow needles,  178  and  179  respectively. Needle  178  communicates directly with nitrogen source  175  and needle  179  communicates directly with vacuum source  176 . Needle  178  passes directly through bag septum  172  into box/container male septum  174 , and needle  179  passes only through bag septum  172 . When nitrogen gas and a vacuum is applied simultaneously within the enclosures of both bag  170  and box/container  171 , the pressure of the nitrogen goes directly to the box/container  171  and collides with moisture vapors “sticking” on interior surfaces. The applied nitrogen causes a drying action by changing the structure of each moisture molecule resulting in a “stripping” action of both container and bag by means of evacuation through bag septum  172 .  
         [0130]     Present day boxes/containers designed for wafer shipment are low cost and therefore are not refurbished and recycled for reuse. The problem with this practice is there short supply of land fills on a world wide bases. Fabrication companies that ship finished wafers to end customer give minor consideration to the problems associated with land-fills in regards to disposition of boxes/containers made of a polymers. Even thought there are regulations in place that specify recycle of plastic by re-grinding methods, this does not satisfy the demands of packaging of sensitive articles in the sense that it is an extended process using resins that no longer would be an engineered grade resulting in controlled levels of chemical. There are programs whereby fabrication companies specify shipping boxes/containers to be recycled for reuse and this presents a unique problem of certifying that the box/container polymer remains within acceptable use in term of ionic contamination.  
         [0131]     In accordance with the concept of the CP System of the present Invention, all boxes/containers are designed in manner whereby all component part that are designed to address the issues of wafer motion, moisture vapors, breakage and/or AMCs are certifiable to remain with the Maximum AMC Limits establish to avoid the issues of ionic contamination. All wafer boxes/containers of the present invention are recycled and refurbished in accordance with the “Recycle &amp; Refurbish Flow Chart” shown in  FIG. 55 .  
         [0132]      FIG. 55 , in accordance with the Recycle and Refurbish Program, shows that WEC Boxes/Containers can be recycled and refurbished multiple times for the purpose or reducing cost and landfill impact. The Wafer fabrication company receives the wafer box/container and packages wafers certified for shipment. The Fabrication customer receives wafers and removes the wafers for further processing. The empty wafer boxes/containers are recycled cleaned and refurbished with certified component parts, which includes new cushions, separators and bumpers. The wafer box/container is certified and then shipped to the wafer fabrication company for reuse.  
         [0133]      FIG. 56  shows a method and procedure, a Quality Assurance/Certification Program, for the production and certification of wafer shipping boxes/containers and packing material. Referring to  FIG. 56 , the packaging materials for wafer boxes/containers are shipped to production facility. The separators, cushions and bumpers are converted and then certified in a laboratory, which includes a wet extraction test. The packaging materials are certified by lot number and then shipped, along with a wafer box/container, to a wafer fabricator company which receives wafer boxes/containers and packaging material that has a traceable record.  
         [0134]     Wafers being shipped in boxes/containers from one location to another location using present day methodology can and will elevate to a new level of corrosive damage that was added during the period of transportation. Any added levels of corrosive AMCs that occur during shipment phase can equate to the problem of wafers shipped not necessarily being in the same pristine condition fabricated. Excessive moisture vapors combined with excessive AMC&#39;s that become trapped within enclosures holding IC wafers is a formula for increased Cost of Ownership that generally is not well understood by those that manufacturer and fabricate IC Wafer. This is because there is a complacency in regards to a lack of understanding or appreciation for the concerns of: (1) Packaging materials that have excessive AMCs that are normally caused by “chemical additives” to achieve required surface resistivity or SR to avoid ESD events, (2) Moisture vapors not removed prior to shipment/storage, (3) The Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate or MVTR assigned to said enclosures and (4) Enclosures lacking adequate MVTR will cause transition vapors to also become conveyors of AMCs to mobilize and cause corrosive damage to bond pads during shipment phases.  
         [0135]     The solution to the problem must start with certifiable knowledge of ionic contaminant levels of packaging materials such as cushion and separators specified used for packaging wafers within coin stacked shipping boxes so as to compare with known levels of ionic contaminants that corrode bond pads. The levels must be expressed in terms of Maximum Limits that AMC are allowed within said boxes that associate with packaging material supplied, and the limits must be established by the individual manufacturer that fabricates the wafer thus satisfying established specification that address the issue of ionic contamination for packaging materials used for packaging wafers within shipping boxes.  
         [0136]     The Quality Assurance Program, according to the present invention, is designed in a manner whereby boxes/containers, and each and every original part to including cushions, bumpers and separators can be certified by a qualified laboratory to guarantee that AMC Maximum Limits will not be exceeded under a Warranty Program and that all like items by Lot Number will be replaced. Each Lot Number is traceable to original date of production.  
         [0137]     The certification is based on the product being randomly removed from a production line as a sample to be tested and will represent a quantity by which said confidence level is established. Each sample is tested by wet extraction methods using at least 85° C. for not less than one (1) hour to obtain impurities using a solution diluted by a factor greater than or less than one (1). In accordance with the CP System Invention, test results by said wet extraction method will not exceed AMC Maximum Levels shown in TABLE 1 below. The measurements are made in parts per billion (ppb) and recorded in either μg/g or μg/cm2 depending upon the reporting requirements that is specified by the end customer. The recording can then be certified to satisfy the end customer with a Quality Assurance Program that boxes/containers and all parts to include replacement parts being used in the Refurbished and Recycled Program, remain relatively free of corrosive contaminants that would otherwise reduce wafer yields during shipment phases.  
                                                                                   TABLE 1                           MAXIMUM LIMIT AMC&#39;S ALLOWED                Maximum Limit (μg/g)                Typical   For WEC Boxes &amp; Components                Contaminants   Bumpers   Cushions   Separators                            Fluorine (F)   &lt;2   &lt;1   &lt;2           Chloride (Cl)   &lt;4   &lt;2   &lt;2           Nitrite (NO2)   &lt;4   &lt;2   &lt;2           Bromide (Br)   &lt;4   &lt;2   &lt;4           Nitrate (NO3)   &lt;4   &lt;10   &lt;2           Phosphate (PO4)   &lt;2   &lt;0.5   &lt;2           Sulfate (SO4)   &lt;4   &lt;2   &lt;2           Sodium (Na)   &lt;4   &lt;4   &lt;0.7           Ammonium (NH4)   &lt;20   &lt;0.6   &lt;20           Potassium (K)   &lt;4   &lt;4   &lt;0.5           Calcium (Ca)   &lt;4   &lt;4   &lt;3                      
 
         [0138]      FIG. 57  shows a Critical Factor Monitoring Program designed to protect sensitive articles from damage, contamination, or any event that may compromise final yields or quality of the end product that has certified documented properties, can have a sensor that can be used to track and provide data to end customers. This allows a comparison to known data prior to shipment. Any container can only provide protection within certain bounds of its environment and conditions. For instance, if a container and packaging system is designed to provide protection from breakage at a maximum impact force of 10G, it would be good information if the receiver of the shipment had information relating to the forces the container was subject to during shipment. There may be reason to take additional steps in the next process step if it is known the container was subjected to a force of 12G even though there is no evidence of damage. In a similar respect, if a container had documented specifications that out gassing AMC contaminants would be with acceptable levels over a specific range of temperature, humidity and pressure, being able to provide the data to the customer as to the environmental conditions the shipment was subject too could have a considerable impact on decisions required for final process.  
         [0139]     The objective of the present invention is to provide a shipping container for sensitive articles that contains sensors, a real time clock and a memory device that can store all conditions said container has been subjected to during transport. This information, along with software that contains all the parameters of the container capabilities, can be used to make decisions regarding the next steps in reducing Cost of Ownership that relates directly to increase yields. There are already commercially available sensor devices for recording: 1) g-force; 2) AMCs and 3) combinable humidity, temperature and pressure. These devices can be arranged as a module to adapt to wafer shipping boxes. The arrangement becomes the basis for a Quality Assurance Program for wafers packaged within bags/boxes/containers being transported from one location to another location as demonstrated in  FIG. 57 .  
         [0140]     The certification Laboratory prepares a certified sensor module for recording various parameters. The sensor is assembled to a wafer shipping box/container which has an assigned serial number, and is shipped to the wafer fabrication company. The status and environmental condition of one or more wafers package in the wafer box/container is recorded and then shipped to the down stream wafer customer. The recorded data is evaluated to see what can be done to reduce costs and prevent wafer damage. The down stream customer removes the wafers from the wafer box/container removes the sensor module and down loads the data collected during shipment. This date is forwarded to the wafer fabrication company to compare to the data to the data as shipped. This evaluation helps to determine conditions during shipment so that cause of damage, if any, can be determine and eliminated.  FIGS. 58-60  illustrate an apparatus and method for the insertion of wafers within a wafer shipment box/container without scratching the wafers. Semiconductor wafers need to be transported from facility to facility for test and/or packaging. In doing so they are packaged in protective containers, usually with protective anti static separators between wafers. When placed in the container manually with a vacuum pickup device, it is difficult for the operator to determine the proximity of the transported wafer to the bottom of the container, or the previously inserted wafer. As a result, if the wafer is dropped too soon by releasing the vacuum, the wafer becomes air borne during distance of the fall, often in an erratic motion, which results in scratching the wafer.  
         [0141]     The present invention detects the moment of contact of a silicon wafer being inserted into a shipping container by manual or automatic means. Either or both means has an end-effecter that is conductive to sense a “touch” contact between packaged separator S and wafer W being inserted into bottom cover  190  as shown in  FIGS. 58-59 . The manual system shown in the views of  FIG. 58  and  FIG. 59 , consist of a vacuum wand  191 , controller  193 , bottom cover  190 , and vacuum source  194 . Wand  191  has a conductive end-effecter  192  which is connected to controller  193  by hose  191   a . Controller  193  connects to vacuum source by hose  194   a . Controller  193  has a solenoid valve ( FIG. 60 ) which shuts off vacuum source  194  when wafer W touches separator S.  
         [0142]     Prior art end-effecters are connected to a vacuum source that can be vented to atmosphere when it is desired to release said wafer during inserting procedures. However, this method results in scratch damage due to the erratic free fall of said wafer to contact the next surface of the packaged separator in a rubbing manner. In comparison,  FIG. 60  shows a schematic drawing having said wand  191  has a conductive end-effecter  192  that communicates directly with controller  193  having very low input current requirements. A regulated source of voltage (not shown) is connected to the wand  191  through a sense resistor, the voltage drop of which is applied differentially to the input of the amplifier. Current limiting resistors are connected either side of the differential amplifier to protect wafers from currents any greater than 1 μa in the event of a component failure. Whereby there will be an instant release of wafer W held by the end-effecter  192  of wand  191  that cause the vacuum source  194  to vent to the atmosphere. This occurs instantaneously when wafer W comes in contact with previously inserted separator S that alternately combines with previously inserted wafers W which retains a SR ranging from &gt;10E5 to &lt;10E11. These are typical resistivity values which provide conductivity to complete the circuit by which said wafer W is released from said wand  191 . The instant release of the wafer W occurs when the very low voltage circuit communicates directly to the ground button  195  of the bottom cover  190  holding said wafers W with alternate separators S where a small current will flow generating a voltage across the sense resistor which is amplified by the instrumentation amplifier within wand  191  to a level consistent with detection by a voltage comparator that is also a component part of said controller  193 . The voltage comparator triggers a solenoid driver that switches the wand from vacuum to atmosphere, thereby releasing the wafer at the instant of contact. As a matter of selection, and in accordance with the concepts of this invention, said bottom cover can be designed to be completely conductive to complete earth ground that could be same as controller  193  having earth ground to provide the same instant release of wafer W being held by wand  191 .