Mechanisms for wafer pod and pod door

Embodiments of mechanisms of a wafer pod including a pod door are provided. The pod lock includes a rotating element pivoted on the pod housing and having an anchor element disposed on the rotating body. The pod lock further includes a locking element including a locking body slidably disposed on the pod housing. The pod lock also includes an elastic element disposed on the locking body, and adjacent to the anchor element. When the rotating element is rotated, the rotating element pushes the locking element to move, and the elastic element applies an elastic force on the anchor element.

BACKGROUND

In the semiconductor industry, wafers are frequently transported to different semiconductor equipment to process different semiconductor processes. Therefore, wafers are contained in wafer pods to protect the wafers from pollution and damage. In general, the wafers are inserted into a cassette, which is disposed on a bottom plate of the wafer pod and covered by a shell.

When the wafer pod is disposed on semiconductor equipment, the bottom plate is unlocked, and the shell is taken away from the bottom plate. Therefore, the semiconductor equipment can take the wafers from the cassette or put wafers into the cassette. When the wafer pod is transported to other semiconductor equipment, the shell is locked on the bottom plate to cover the cassette. However, if the bottom plate is not accurately locked on the shell, the cassette may fall from the bottom plate, causing the wafers to break.

Further, some particles may be generated by some assembled parts of the wafer pod, and the particles may fall onto the wafers. Therefore, there are challenges to improving the structure of the wafer pods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the disclosure. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. Various features may be arbitrarily drawn in different scales for the sake of simplicity and clarity. Furthermore, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct or indirect contact.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a wafer pod1in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 2is an exploded view of wafer pod1in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Wafer pod1is used for containing wafers W1(as shown inFIG. 2). Wafer pod1includes a pod door10, a cassette20, and a pod shell30. Cassette20is disposed on pod door10and contains wafers W1. Pod shell30is detachably disposed on pod door10, and covers cassette20.

FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view of wafer pod1in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 4is a perspective view of pod door10in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Pod door10is a plate structure. Pod door10includes a pod housing11, outer retaining protrusions12, and inner retaining protrusions13. Outer retaining protrusions12and inner retaining protrusions13are disposed on a top surface111of pod housing11. In some embodiments, there are two outer retaining protrusions12and four inner retaining protrusions13inFIG. 2.

In some embodiments, outer retaining protrusions12are parallel to each other and extend along an extension direction D1. Inner retaining protrusions13are substantially between two adjacent outer retaining protrusions12. Namely, inner retaining protrusions13are respectively extended along axes AX1and AX2, which are between two adjacent outer retaining protrusions12. The distance between two adjacent outer retaining protrusions12exceeds that of two adjacent inner retaining protrusions13. In some embodiments, pod housing11, and outer retaining protrusions12and inner retaining protrusions13are formed as a single piece.

Cassette20includes a top portion21, a bottom portion22, and two side walls23. Side walls23are connected with top portion21and bottom portion22, and located between top portion21and bottom portion22. In some embodiments, top portion21and bottom portion22are substantially parallel to each other. Side walls23are substantially parallel to each other. Further, side walls23are substantially perpendicular to top portion21and bottom portion22.

In some embodiments, cassette20is a hollow structure. Cassette20is made of temperature-resistant materials, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), or polybenzimidazole (PBI). In some embodiments, the thermal tolerance of cassette20is in a range from about 150° C. to about 350° C. Therefore, wafer W1may be put into cassette20having a temperature greater than 100° C., without getting stuck in cassette20.

Side walls23have wafer slots231, and wafers W1may be received in wafer slots231. Wafer slots231are parallel to and distant from each other, and therefore wafers W1received in wafer slots231are parallel to and distant from each other, too. In some embodiments, only the edge of wafer W1contacts with wafer slots231. Therefore, the top and bottom surfaces within the edge of wafer W1may avoid becoming damaged when wafer W1is inserted into cassette20along wafer slots231.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, bottom portion22of cassette20includes a retaining plate221and a retaining rib222disposed on retaining plate221. In some embodiments, retaining rib222is extended along extension direction D1. The width of retaining plate221is substantially the same as the distance between two adjacent outer retaining protrusions12. The width of retaining rib222is substantially the same as the distance between two adjacent inner retaining protrusions13. Therefore, when cassette20is disposed on pod door10, retaining plate221is retained by outer retaining protrusions12, and retaining rib222is retained by inner retaining protrusions13.

If outer retaining protrusions12and inner retaining protrusions13are independent and assembled to pod housing11, some particles may be generated from outer retaining protrusions12and inner retaining protrusions13due to the movement between outer retaining protrusions12and pod housing11, and between inner retaining protrusions13and pod housing11.

Since outer retaining protrusions12, inner retaining protrusions13and pod housing11are formed as a single piece, the particles generated by the friction between outer retaining protrusions12, inner retaining protrusions13and pod housing11in wafer pod1are decreased. Further, outer retaining protrusions12and inner retaining protrusions13do not drop off from pod housing11to damage wafers W1.

Pod shell30includes a shell body31, handles32, a label element33, fixing protrusions34, and damping elements35. Handles32are disposed on an outer surface of shell body31. Wafer pod1may be carried by holding handles32. Further, a receiving chamber51is formed in shell body31, and cassette20is located in receiving chamber51. Label element33is disposed on an outer surface of shell body31. Label element33includes some information about wafers W1. In some embodiments, label element33has various colors for users to notably classify wafers W1.

Fixing protrusions34are disposed on an inner surface311of shell body31. Damping elements35are disposed on fixing protrusions34. When pod shell30is disposed on pod door10, damping elements35abut against top portion21of cassette20. Therefore, damping elements35may prevent cassette20from colliding with shell body31directly, and the vibration of wafer W1in cassette20may be decreased if wafer pod1is impacted or when wafer pod1is transported.

FIGS. 5 and 6are exploded views of pod door10in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 7is an exploded view of rotating element41in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 8is an exploded view of locking element42in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Pod housing11further includes a top cover14, a bottom cover15disposed on top cover14, and a shaft16connected to top cover14and bottom cover15.

In some embodiments, bottom cover15has a receiving groove151and a detachable device cover152covering receiving groove151. An electronic device (not shown) may be disposed on device cover152. Therefore, when pod door10is washed, the electronic device is easily detached from pod door10. In some embodiments, bottom cover15has a shaft hole153. One end of shaft16is located in shaft hole151.

Pod door10further includes a pod lock40disposed in pod housing10. Pod lock40includes a rotating element41, locking elements42, an elastic element43, and position elements44. In some embodiments, there are two locking elements42, and four position elements44disposed in pod housing11.

Rotating element41is pivoted on shaft16of pod housing11, and rotates about a rotation axis AX3. Rotating element41includes a rotating body411and anchor elements412disposed on a top surface414of rotating element41. In some embodiments, anchor element412is pivoted on rotating body411. Anchor element412is extended parallel to rotation axis AX3. Rotation axis AX3is located between two anchor elements412.

Rotating body411has rotating grooves413formed on top surface414of rotating element41. Rotating groove413has a first end4131, a second end4132, a recess side4133connected to first end4131and second end4132, and a curved opening4134located at top surface414. The distance between first end4131and rotation axis AX3exceeds the distance between second end4132and rotation axis AX3. In some embodiments, rotating body411is a disk structure. Rotation axis AX3is perpendicular to rotating body411and top surface414. Rotation axis AX3is located between two rotating grooves413. Recess side4133faces rotation axis AX3.

Rotating element41further has a protrusion portion415, a shaft hole416, and latch holes417. Protrusion portion415is disposed on top surface414. Shaft hole416passes through protrusion portion415and rotating body411, and shaft16passes through shaft hole416. Latch holes417are formed on a bottom surface418of rotating body411. In some embodiments, latch holes417are extended to protrusion portion415. Bottom cover15has through holes154. An external rotating mechanism (not shown) is inserted into latch hole417to rotate rotating element41.

Locking elements42are located at two opposite sides of rotation axis AX3. Each of locking elements42includes a locking body421, a pushing element422, a fixing element423, bolt portions424, sliding elements425, and wheel426. Locking body421is slidably disposed on pod housing11. In some embodiments, locking body421is a plate structure perpendicular rotation axis AX3. In some embodiments, locking body421is a Y-shaped plate structure.

Locking body421has guiding holes4211extended along a movement direction D2. Pod housing11has guiding protrusions17respectively disposed on top cover14and slidably located in guiding holes4211. Therefore, locking elements42are limited to moving along movement direction D2by guiding holes4211and guiding protrusions17. When rotating element41is rotated, rotating element41pushes locking element42moving along movement direction D2. In some embodiments, movement direction D2is perpendicular to rotation axis AX3.

Pushing element422is disposed on locking body421and is movably located in rotating groove413. In some embodiments, pushing element422is pivoted on locking body421. Since rotating groove413has curved opening4134, pushing element422is moved smoothly in rotating groove413when rotating element41is rotated. Fixing element423is disposed on locking body421. In some embodiments, fixing element423is fixed on locking body421. Pushing element422and fixing element423are located at two opposite sides of locking body421.

Bolt portions424are extended from locking body421. Sliding elements425are disposed on locking body421adjacent to bolt portions424. Sliding elements425are respectively slidably disposed on position elements44. In some embodiments, bolt portions424are respectively extended along movement direction D2. In some embodiments, sliding element425is a wheel pivoted on locking body421.

Wheel426is disposed on locking body421. When locking element42is moved, wheel426contacts with pod housing11to decrease the friction force between locking element42and pod housing11.

FIG. 9is a perspective view of pod door10without top cover14in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 10Ais a top view of pod door10without top cover14in an unlocked state in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 10Bis a cross-sectional view of pod shell30and pod door10without top cover14in the unlocked state in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Elastic element43is disposed on locking body421and adjacent to anchor element412.

Elastic element43includes end portions431, elastic portions432and position portions433. End portion431is fixed on fixing element423. Elastic portion432is connected to end portion431and position portion433, and located between end portion431and position portion433. Elastic portion432is a curved structure for providing an elastic force by elastic deformation. Position portion433is between two adjacent elastic portions432.

In some embodiments, elastic element43is a ring structure. A space S2(shown inFIGS. 5 and 6) is formed by end portions431, elastic portions432and position portions433. Anchor elements412and pushing elements422are located in space S2.

Each of position portions433has a first groove4331, a second groove4332, and a guiding protrusion4333between first groove4331and second groove4332. As shown inFIGS. 9,10A and10B, pod door10and pod lock40are in the unlocked state, and bolt portion424is located in pod housing11. Anchor element412is at second groove4332. Pushing element422is at second end4132.

In some embodiments, as shownFIG. 10A, when rotating element41is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, pushing element422is moved from second end4132to first end4131. Because of the locations of first end4131and second end4132, rotating element41pushes pushing element422moving along movement direction D2to put locking element42in a locked state.

FIG. 11Ais a top view of pod door10without top cover14in the locked state in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.FIG. 11Bis a cross-sectional view of pod shell30and pod door10without top cover14in the locked state in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. As shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B, pod door10and pod lock40are in the locked state. Bolt portion424is protruded out of pod housing31and inserted into a locking opening312of pod shell30. Anchor element412is at first groove4331. Pushing element422is at first end4131.

In some embodiments, as shownFIG. 11A, when rotating element41is rotated in a clockwise direction, pushing element422is moved from first end4131to second end4132via guiding protrusion4333. Because of the locations of first end4131and second end4132, rotating element41pushes pushing element422moving along movement direction D2to put locking element42in the unlocked state. The connection between rotating element41and locking element42is strengthened by the structure of rotating element41and locking element42.

Further, when rotating element41is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, anchor element412is moved from second groove4332to first groove4331via guiding protrusion4333. When rotating element41is rotated in the clockwise direction, anchor element412is moved from first groove4331to second groove4332.

Next, since guiding protrusion4333has a curved surface, and anchor element412is pivoted on rotating element41, the friction between anchor element412and guiding protrusion4333is very small (approaching to zero). When rotating element41is rotated by an user, and elastic element43contacts with guiding protrusion4333, guiding protrusion4333of elastic element43applies an elastic force on anchor element412, and the user is guided to rotate rotating element41to make anchor element412located in first groove4331or second groove4332by guiding protrusion4333. Therefore, the locations of locking element42in the locked and unlocked state are accurately determined according to first groove4331, second groove4332, and the elastic force. Pod door10is accurately locked on a pod shell30in the locked state.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 10B, position element44has a first position groove441and a second position groove442. When pod lock40is in the unlocked state, sliding element425is located at second position groove442. As shown inFIG. 11B, when pod lock40is in the locked state, sliding element425is located at first position groove441. Therefore, the locations of locking element42in the locked and unlocked state are also accurately determined according to first position groove441and second position groove442. Pod door10is accurately locked on pod shell30in the locked state.

In some embodiments, the distance between first position groove441and top surface111of pod housing11exceeds the distance between second position groove442and top surface111. As shown inFIG. 11B, due to the locations of first position groove441and second position groove442, bolt portions424abut against the bottom of locking opening312, and pod door10is clamped by pod housing31. Therefore, pod door10is prevented from separating from pod housing31in the locked state.

Embodiments of mechanisms for a wafer pod containing at least one wafer are provided. Retaining protrusions and a pod housing are formed as a single piece, and therefore the particles in the wafer pod are decreased. Due to the structure of a pod lock, a pod door is accurately locked on a pod shell, a cassette may not fall from the pod door and break wafers when the wafer pod is transported.

In some embodiments, a pod door of a wafer pod is provided. The pod door includes a pod housing, and a pod lock disposed in the pod housing. The pod lock includes a rotating element pivoted on the pod housing and having an anchor element disposed on the rotating body. The pod lock further includes a locking element including a locking body slidably disposed on the pod housing. The pod lock also includes an elastic element disposed on the locking body, and adjacent to the anchor element. When the rotating element is rotated, the rotating element pushes the locking element to move, and the elastic element applies an elastic force on the anchor element.

In some embodiments, a pod door of a wafer pod is provided. The pod door includes a pod housing, and a pod lock disposed in the pod housing. The pod lock includes a rotating element pivoted on the pod housing. The rotating element includes a rotating body having a rotating groove, and an anchor element disposed on the rotating body. The pod lock further includes a locking element including a locking body slidably disposed on the pod housing and a pushing element disposed on the locking body and movably located in the rotating groove. The pod lock also includes an elastic element disposed on the locking body, and adjacent to the anchor element. When the rotating element is rotated, the rotating element pushes the locking element to move along a movement direction, and the elastic element applies an elastic force on the anchor element.

In some embodiments, a wafer pod for containing at least one wafer is provided. The wafer pod includes a pod door including a pod housing and a pod lock disposed in the pod housing. The pod lock includes a rotating element pivoted on the pod housing and having an anchor element disposed on the rotating body. The pod lock further includes a locking element including a locking body slidably disposed on the pod housing. The pod lock also includes an elastic element disposed on the locking body, and adjacent to the anchor element. The wafer pod further includes a cassette disposed on the pod door and containing the wafers. The wafer pod also includes a pod shell detachably disposed on the pod door and covering the cassette. When the rotating element is rotated, the rotating element pushes the locking element to move and the elastic element applies an elastic force on the anchor element.