Abstract:
A carrier for radio-frequency identification (RFID) operation in a fab. A carrier body comprises a plate inscribed with permanent information corresponding to the carrier. A RFID tag is mounted on the carrier body, and stores the permanent information.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The invention relates to manufacturing control in a semiconductor manufacturing environment, and particularly to an apparatus facilitating RFID operation therein.  
         [0002]     Integrated circuit (commonly abbreviated as “IC”) dies are manufactured by performing a number of steps on a semiconductor wafer in a fabrication system (commonly abbreviated as “fab”). In a conventional fab, a wafer carrier is equipped with a smart tag storing information pertaining to the carrier (such as carrier identification number and carrier clean due date), wafers loaded therein (such as lot number), and process for the loaded wafers (such as recipe information). Information stored in a smart tag is retrieved by a tag reader mounted on a load port of a processing tool. The retrieved information is relayed to a control center, and the control center issues commands accordingly to direct operation of the processing tool. A carrier attached with a smart tag is further equipped with a display screen, providing visible access for operators to the information stored in the smart tag.  
         [0003]     Recently, the radio-frequency identification (RFID) technique has been introduced into semiconductor manufacturing environments. For example, in a 300-mm fab, wafers are enclosed in carriers referred to as front-opening unified pods (FOUPs), wherein a RFID tag storing corresponding carrier identification information is attached to each FOUP. Information stored in a RFID tag is retrieved by a RFID reader mounted on a load port of a processing tool. The retrieved information is then relayed to a control center, and the control center issues commands accordingly to direct operation of the processing tool. Information stored in a RFID tag, however, cannot be recognized visually by an operator. Thus, a handheld RFID reader enabling operators to recognize the carrier ID stored in the RFID tag is desirable. Generally, there are thousands or more handheld RFID readers in a certain fab. The enormous number of handheld RFID readers adds additional cost to RFID operation. Additional costs are also incurred by managing this portable equipment.  
         [0004]     Hence, there is a need for an apparatus that addresses problems arising from the existing technology and facilitates RFID operation.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     An embodiment of the invention provides a carrier facilitating radio-frequency identification (RFID) operation in a fab. The carrier comprises a carrier body and a RFID tag mounted thereon. The carrier body comprises a plate inscribed with permanent information corresponding to the carrier, wherein the permanent information is stored in the RFID tag.  
         [0006]     Another embodiment of the invention provides a processing system. The processing system comprises a processing tool, a carrier, and a controller center. The processing tool, used to process a workpiece, is mounted with a RFID reader. The carrier carries a workpiece processed in the processing system. The carrier comprises a carrier body and a RFID tag mounted thereon. The carrier body comprises a plate inscribed with permanent information corresponding to the carrier, wherein the permanent information is stored in the RFID tag. The control center provides fabrication information according to the permanent information and controls the processing tool accordingly.  
         [0007]     A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Embodiments of the invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a processing system according to embodiments of the invention; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a transport system according to embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     The invention is now described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which in general relate to manufacturing control in a semiconductor manufacturing environment.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a processing system according to embodiments of the invention. A processing system  10  performs manufacturing steps for processing semiconductor products. The processing system  10  comprises a processing tool  11 , a carrier  13 , a control center  15 , and a transport device  17 .  
         [0013]     Processing tool  11  performs manufacturing steps to fabricate wafers. Processing tool  11  is equipped with a load port mounted with a RFID reader  111 . Wafers are loaded in the processing tool  11  via the load port.  
         [0014]     Carrier  13  holds wafers transferred between stations in processing system  10 . Carrier  13  is transported via transport device  17 . According to this embodiment, carrier  13  is a front opening unified pod (FOUP), and transport device  17  is an overhead hoist transport (OHT) system. Carrier  13  comprises a carrier body  137  and a RFID tag  135  mounted thereon. The RFID tag  135  stores information for identifying the carrier  13 , such as a carrier identification number. The carrier body  137  comprises a plate  131  inscribed with the carrier identification number.  
         [0015]     When carrier  13  is transported to processing tool  11 , the carrier identification number stored in RFID tag  135  is received by RFID reader  111 . The carrier identification number is then relayed to control center  15  via a tool controller  113 . According to this embodiment, control center  15  is a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system. Control center  15  receives the carrier identification number and retrieves processing parameters and other information pertaining to operation of the processing tool  11  from a database  151 . The retrieved information is then sent to tool controller  113 , thus, tool controller  113  controls processing tool  11  accordingly. An operator can read the inscribed carrier identification number and make any necessary adjustments.  
         [0016]     Additionally, carrier  13  may hold reticles transferred between stations in processing system  10 . In this case, carrier  13  is a reticle pod, and processing tool  11  is a work station performs photolithography processes.  
         [0017]     Another embodiment of the invention provides a transport system implementing RFID tags to facilitate transport control. A transport system  20  transfers wafers between separate processing systems, such as fabs. The transport system  20  comprises a transfer station  21 , a carrier  23 , a control center  25 , and a transport device  27 .  
         [0018]     Transfer station  21  relays wafers between fabs. Transfer station  21  is equipped with a load port mounted with a RFID reader  211 . Wafers are loaded in transfer station  21  via the load port.  
         [0019]     Carrier  23  holds wafers transferred between fabs. Carrier  23  is transported via transport device  27 . According to this embodiment, carrier  23  is a front opening shipping box (FOSB). Carrier  23  comprises a carrier body  237  and a RFID tag  235  mounted thereon. The RFID tag  235  stores information for identifying the carrier  23 , such as a carrier identification number. The carrier body  237  is a front opening box, comprising a plate  231  inscribed with the carrier identification number.  
         [0020]     When carrier  23  is transported to transport station  21 , the carrier identification number stored in RFID tag  235  is received by RFID reader  211 . The carrier identification number is then relayed to control center  25  via a station controller  213 . Control center  25  receives the carrier identification number and retrieves information pertaining to operation of the transport station  21  from a database  251 . The retrieved information is then sent to station controller  213 , thus station controller  213  controls transport station  21  accordingly. An operator can read the inscribed carrier identification number and make any necessary adjustments to the transport operation.  
         [0021]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.