EFEM, equipment front end module

Disclosed is an equipment front end module (EFEM) in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device where a wafer is stored and a process chamber. In addition, the EFEM generates gas flow in a wafer transfer chamber.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0038675, filed Apr. 3, 2018, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an equipment front end module (EFEM) in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device where a wafer is stored and a process chamber.

Description of the Related Art

In a semiconductor manufacturing process, wafers are processed in a clean room to improve yield and quality. However, as devices are highly integrated and circuits are miniaturized along with the adoption of larger wafers, it has become difficult to manage an entire clean room with respect to technique and cost.

Thus, a surrounding of wafers has been managed with respect to cleanness in recent years. Accordingly, a module known as an equipment front end module (EFEM) has been adopted for storing wafers in a closed storage pod known as a front-opening unified pod (FOUP) and for transferring the wafers between process equipment for wafers and the FOUP.

The EFEM is configured with a wafer transfer chamber provided with a wafer transfer device such that a side surface of the wafer transfer chamber is connected to a load port where the FOUP is coupled and an opposite side surface of the wafer transfer chamber is connected to process equipment. Accordingly, the wafer transfer device transfers wafers stored in the FOUP to the process equipment and transfers the wafers having been processed in the process equipment into a wafer storage device.

Korean Patent No. 10-1002949, which is referred to as “Patent Document 1” hereinafter, and Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2015-0009421, which is referred to as “Patent Document 2” hereinafter, disclose the EFEM described above.

EFEMs disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are configured such that when wafers stored in a FOUP coupled to a load port are transferred by a robot arm in a wafer transfer chamber, gases are supplied into the wafer transfer chamber, whereby cleanliness in the wafer transfer chamber is managed.

However, only one delivery unit for delivering gas is provided in the cases of Patent Documents 1 and 2. Thus, when wafers are introduced in the wafer transfer chamber, water particles, dust, gas, etc. may follow such that a contaminant degree in the wafer transfer chamber may be increased, and particles generated inside the wafer transfer chamber may adhere to inner surfaces of the wafer transfer chamber such that an inside of the wafer transfer chamber may be corroded or damaged.

DOCUMENTS OF RELATED ART

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present invention is intended to propose an equipment front end module (EFEM) being capable of controlling gas supply to a wafer transfer chamber, thus preventing contamination in the wafer transfer chamber.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an equipment front end module (EFEM), the EFEM including: a wafer transfer chamber in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device and a process chamber; a delivery unit disposed on the wafer transfer chamber and delivering gas into the wafer transfer chamber; and an exhaust unit disposed under the wafer transfer chamber and exhausting the gas from the wafer transfer chamber, wherein the delivery unit is divided into a center delivery region and a peripheral delivery region that is provided around the center delivery region.

In addition, the exhaust unit may be divided into a center exhaust unit and a peripheral exhaust unit provided around the center exhaust unit, and the center delivery region and the peripheral delivery region may be disposed at positions corresponding to the center exhaust unit and the peripheral exhaust unit respectively.

In addition, the center delivery region and the peripheral delivery region may independently exhaust gas from the wafer transfer chamber.

In addition, the center exhaust unit and the peripheral exhaust unit may independently exhaust gas from the wafer transfer chamber.

An equipment front end module (EFEM) includes: a wafer transfer chamber in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device and a process chamber; a delivery unit disposed on the wafer transfer chamber and delivering gas into the wafer transfer chamber; and an exhaust unit disposed under the wafer transfer chamber and exhausting the gas from the wafer transfer chamber, wherein the delivery unit is divided into a center delivery region and a peripheral delivery region that is provided around the center delivery region, the exhaust unit is divided into a center exhaust unit and a peripheral exhaust unit provided around the center exhaust unit, and the center exhaust unit and the peripheral delivery region are communicated with each other by a return line whereby gas exhausted from the center exhaust unit is delivered to the wafer transfer chamber through the peripheral delivery region.

In addition, the center delivery region and the peripheral delivery region may be disposed at positions corresponding to the center exhaust unit and the peripheral exhaust unit respectively.

An equipment front end module (EFEM) includes: a wafer transfer chamber in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device and a process chamber; a delivery unit disposed on the wafer transfer chamber and delivering gas into the wafer transfer chamber; and an exhaust unit disposed under the wafer transfer chamber and exhausting the gas from the wafer transfer chamber, wherein the delivery unit is provided with a plurality of supply modules, and the plurality of supply modules is controlled independently.

An equipment front end module (EFEM) includes: a wafer transfer chamber in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device and a process chamber; a delivery unit disposed on the wafer transfer chamber and delivering gas into the wafer transfer chamber; and an exhaust unit disposed under the wafer transfer chamber and exhausting the gas from the wafer transfer chamber, wherein the exhaust unit is provided with a plurality of exhaust modules, and the plurality of exhaust modules is controlled independently.

An equipment front end module (EFEM) includes: a wafer transfer chamber in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device and a process chamber; a delivery unit disposed on the wafer transfer chamber and delivering gas into the wafer transfer chamber; and an exhaust unit disposed under the wafer transfer chamber and exhausting the gas from the wafer transfer chamber, wherein the delivery unit is provided with a plurality of supply modules and the exhaust unit is provided with a plurality of exhaust modules, and the plurality of supply modules and the plurality of exhaust modules are controlled independently.

According to the EFEM of the present invention as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

Primary purification is implemented by an air screen generated by a peripheral delivery region, and secondary purification on an introduced wafer is implemented by a center delivery region, whereby desired cleanliness in a wafer transfer chamber can be maintained.

In addition, the air screen generated by the peripheral delivery region prevents particles generated inside the wafer transfer chamber during wafer transfer from adhering to wall surfaces of the wafer transfer chamber, whereby damage such as corrosion that may occur inside the wafer transfer chamber can be reduced.

In addition, gas delivered through the center delivery region is recycled and circulated through a return line and delivered to the peripheral delivery region whereby desired cleanliness in the wafer transfer chamber can be maintained and an amount of gas used for conventional EFEMs can be reduced.

Furthermore, a flow rate and flow velocity of gas supplied into the wafer transfer chamber can be controlled by independent controls of supply modules and exhaust modules, whereby various flows of gas supplied into the wafer transfer chamber can be generated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Contents of the description below merely exemplify the principle of the invention. Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the art may implement the theory of the invention and invent various apparatuses which are included within the concept and the scope of the invention even though it is not clearly explained or illustrated in the description. Furthermore, in principle, all the conditional terms and embodiments listed in this description are clearly intended for the purpose of understanding the concept of the invention, and one should understand that this invention is not limited to such specially listed exemplary embodiments and the conditions.

The above described objectives, features, and advantages will be more apparent through the following detailed description related to the accompanying drawings, and thus those of ordinary skill in the art may easily implement the technical spirit of the invention.

EFEM10According to a First Embodiment of the Present Invention

An EFEM10according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 9.

FIG. 1is a plan view showing a process chamber connected to an EFEM according to a first embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 2is an exploded view showing the EFEM according to the first embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 3is a perspective view showing the EFEM according to the first embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 4is an exploded view showing a delivery unit of the EFEM according to the first embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 5Ais a top plan view showing the delivery unit of the EFEM according to the first embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 5Bis a bottom plan view showing the delivery unit of the EFEM according to the first embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 6is a plan view showing an flow control plate of the EFEM according to the first embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 7is an exploded view showing an exhaust unit of the EFEM according to the first embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 8is a top plan view showing an exhaust duct of the EFEM according to the first embodiment of the present invention; andFIG. 9is a vertical cross-sectional view showing gas flow ofFIG. 3.

The EFEM10according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a wafer transfer chamber100in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device30and a process equipment20, a delivery unit200for delivering gas into the wafer transfer chamber100, and an exhaust unit300for exhausting the gas from the wafer transfer chamber100.

The gas in the EFEM10denotes to all gases in the EFEM10including inert gas that will be described. The inert gas denotes gas such as nitrogen, argon, etc.

As described inFIG. 1, a plurality of wafer storage devices30is arranged in connection to a front surface of the EFEM10.

Each of the wafer storage devices30includes a front-opening unified pod (FOUP)31storing a wafer and a load port on which the FOUP31is coupled and loaded.

The FOUP31is opened at a side thereof and a plurality of wafers is received through the open side and stored in a vertical arrangement in the FOUP31. Accordingly, when the wafers are transferred during each process in a wafer manufacturing process, the wafers can be easily transferred by the FOUP31.

The FOUP31is coupled to and loaded on the load port. Accordingly, when the load port is installed on the front surface of the EFEM10, the open side of the FOUP31communicates with a front wall opening formed in a front of the wafer transfer chamber100, whereby the FOUP31and the wafer transfer chamber100are connected and communicate with each other.

When the FOUP31and the load port are coupled to each other, gas is supplied into the FOUP31through a gas delivery unit of the load port, whereby cleanliness of the wafers stored in the FOUP31can be managed separately.

The process equipment20where the wafers are processed is connected to a rear surface of the EFEM10. In this case, a load lock chamber21of the process equipment20communicates with a rear wall opening formed in a rear wall of the wafer transfer chamber100, whereby the process equipment20is connected to the rear surface of the EFEM10.

A plurality of process equipment20may be connected to the rear surface of the EFEM10, and the process equipment20may be configured in various ways.

For example, the process equipment20is configured such that a process equipment transfer chamber22is installed adjacent to the load lock chamber21, and a plurality of process units23is installed adjacent to the process equipment transfer chamber22, the plurality of process units23processing wafers.

A load lock chamber door21amay be provided between the load lock chamber21and the rear wall of the wafer transfer chamber100. By opening or closing the load lock chamber door21a, the wafer transfer chamber100and the load lock chamber21communicate with or block each other.

A process equipment transfer chamber door22amay be installed between the process equipment transfer chamber22and each of the process units23. By opening or closing the process equipment transfer chamber door22a, the process equipment transfer chamber22and the plurality of process units23communicate with or block each other.

The process equipment transfer chamber22may be provided with a process equipment transport device24such that the wafer is transferred between the load lock chamber21and the plurality of the process units23by using the process equipment transport device24.

The wafer transfer chamber100serves to provide a space in which the wafer is transferred between the wafer storage device30connected to the front surface of the EFEM10and the process equipment20connected to the rear surface of the EFEM10.

A transport device110installed in the wafer transfer chamber100transfers the wafer.

As shown inFIG. 2, the delivery unit200is disposed on the wafer transfer chamber100.

An exhaust plate310of the exhaust unit300and an installation plate111on which the transport device110is installed are disposed under the wafer transfer chamber100, that is, the bottom of the wafer transfer chamber100. Accordingly, a bottom surface of the wafer transfer chamber100is configured by the exhaust plate310and the installation plate111.

The wafer transfer chamber100is provided with a plurality of walls provided as a circumferential surface of the wafer transfer chamber100. An opening is provided in one of the walls to which the wafer storage device30, the process equipment20, or a fume removal device is connected.

Hereinafter, a case where the plurality of walls provided as the circumferential surface of the wafer transfer chamber100includes the front wall, the rear wall, a left wall, and a right wall will be representatively described.

The front wall is provided at a front of the wafer transfer chamber100, the rear wall is provided at a rear surface of the wafer transfer chamber100, and the left and the right walls are respectively provided at left and right surfaces of the wafer transfer chamber100.

The wafer transfer chamber100is configured such that the circumferential surface thereof is formed by the front wall, the rear wall, the left wall, and the right wall, which are described above, and the bottom surface thereof is formed by the exhaust plate310.

The front wall is provided with the front wall opening connected with the FOUP31of the wafer storage device30, and the rear wall is provided with the rear wall opening connected to the load lock chamber21of the process equipment20.

Furthermore, the left wall and the right wall are provided with a left wall opening and a right wall opening, respectively.

At least one of the wafer storage device30, the process equipment20, and a separate fume removal device for removing fumes on wafers may be connected to the left wall opening or the right wall opening.

In addition, a left wall door and a right wall door may be respectively installed on the left wall and the right wall to open and close the left wall opening and the right wall opening. In this case, a pair of left wall doors and a pair of right wall doors may be provided such that both doors of the left wall doors and the right wall doors are opened and closed to open and close the left wall opening and the right wall opening.

As described above, the wafer transfer chamber100is provided with the front wall, the rear wall, the left wall, and the right wall, thereby having a structure in which the circumferential surface thereof substantially closed.

The delivery unit200is disposed on the wafer transfer chamber100and serves to deliver gas supplied from an external gas supply unit to a lower portion of the wafer transfer chamber100, and thus delivering gas to the wafer transfer chamber100, thereby generating downflow.

As shown inFIG. 4, the delivery unit200is provided with a delivery region, through which gas is delivered to the wafer transfer chamber100, at a bottom surface thereof. In addition, the delivery unit200is provided with a supply tube250for supplying gas at an upper surface thereof.

The delivery unit200is configured with a first delivery unit210and a second delivery unit220.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the delivery unit200is provided with a center delivery region230and a peripheral delivery region240at the bottom surface thereof.

The first and second delivery units210and220may have dome shapes. That is, the delivery unit200has the dome shape toward a center point thereof, where the supply tube250is provided.

The first delivery unit210and the second delivery unit220are configured in a same shape, but the first delivery unit210is smaller than the second delivery unit220.

The first delivery unit210is inserted into the second delivery unit220while an upper surface of the first delivery unit210, which is an outer surface of the first delivery unit210, faces a lower surface of the second delivery unit220, which is an inner surface of the second delivery unit220.

The second delivery unit220is provided with a space where the first delivery unit210is inserted, and the first delivery unit210is inserted into the space of the second delivery unit220while keeping a constant distance with the second delivery unit220.

That is, the outer surface of the first delivery unit210does not come into contact with inner surface of the second delivery unit220while the first delivery unit210is inserted into the second delivery unit220.

The first delivery unit210and the second delivery unit220are respectively provided with a first supply tube251and a second supply tube252through which external gas is supplied, at each upper surface thereof.

As shown inFIG. 5B, the first supply tube251is inserted into the second supply tube252integrally with the first delivery unit210. Here, a size of the first supply tube251is configured to be smaller than a size of the second supply tube252, that is, a radius of the first supply tube251is configured to be smaller than a radius of the second supply tube252. In addition, the radius of the first supply tube251is configured such that an outer surface of the first supply tube251does not come into contact with an inner surface of the second supply tube252.

The external gas supplied from an external supply unit is delivered through the first supply tube251and the second supply tube252separately, and delivered to the center delivery region230and the peripheral delivery region240respectively.

Gas supplied to the first delivery unit210through the first supply tube251is delivered to the center delivery region230, and gas supplied to the second delivery unit220through the second supply tube252is delivered into the wafer transfer chamber100through the peripheral delivery region240.

The gas supplied through second supply tube252is delivered by flowing into a space between the first delivery unit210and the second delivery unit220. That is, the gas flows along the upper surface of the first delivery unit210and is delivered to the peripheral delivery region240.

The first delivery unit210and the second delivery unit220guide gas to the center delivery region230and the peripheral delivery region240respectively by respective controllers.

The center delivery region230guides gas to a center region of an inside of the wafer transfer chamber100. That is, gas is delivered to a workspace of the transport device110, which is provided at the center region of the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100, whereby fumes introduced into the wafer transfer chamber100are removed by the gas.

The peripheral delivery region240is provided around the center delivery region230of the delivery unit200, and generates downflow along a peripheral region of the wafer transfer chamber100of the EFEM10, which is the front wall, the rear wall, the left wall, and the right wall of the wafer transfer chamber100.

A filter (not shown) is disposed at a lower portion of the delivery unit200and filters foreign substances contained in gas delivered through the delivery unit. In this case, a HEPA filter may be used as the filter.

The delivery unit200is provided with a flow control plate260at the lower portion thereof, the flow control plate260controlling flow of gas delivered through the center delivery region230and the peripheral delivery region240.

The flow control plate260is provided with a center flow control port261and a peripheral flow control port262, and the peripheral flow control port262is provided with a flow control blade263.

The center flow control port261guides gas delivered through the center delivery region230to flow to the center region of the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100.

As the peripheral flow control port262is provided with the flow control blade263, the peripheral flow control port262guides gas delivered to the peripheral delivery region240to flow to the peripheral region of the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100.

As shown inFIGS. 7 to 9, the exhaust unit300is divided into a center exhaust unit340and a peripheral exhaust unit350provided around the center exhaust unit340. Here, the center delivery region230and the peripheral delivery region240are disposed at positions corresponding to the center exhaust unit340and the peripheral exhaust unit350respectively. In addition, the center exhaust unit340and the peripheral exhaust unit350exhaust gas from the wafer transfer chamber100independently.

As shown inFIG. 7, the exhaust unit300includes the exhaust plate310, a communicating plate320, and an exhaust duct330.

The exhaust unit300is disposed on the lower portion of the wafer transfer chamber100and exhausts gas from the wafer transfer chamber.

The gas exhausted by the exhaust unit300includes gas delivered by the delivery unit200and fumes remaining on wafers.

The exhaust plate310forms a part of the bottom surface of the wafer transfer chamber100and is provided with a plurality of exhaust holes311.

The exhaust plate310is installed in an area where the transport device110is not installed on the wafer transfer chamber100, that is, the exhaust plate310is installed in the area while surrounding the transport device110.

The exhaust plate310is provided with the plurality of exhaust holes311, and each of the exhaust holes311is provided with an inclined portion. A plurality of inclined portions communicates with respective upper portions of the plurality of exhaust holes311.

The plurality of inclined portions are configured such that each diameter thereof gradually decreases toward the bottom of the exhaust plate310and has a streamlined shape being convex toward the bottom of the exhaust plate310. Due to the structure of the inclined portion, gas inside the wafer transfer chamber100can be easily guided to flow to the exhaust hole311, whereby harmful substances such as fumes, etc. are prevented from remaining in exhaust plate310.

The exhaust plate310is provided with a partition wall313, which partitions the plurality of exhaust holes311such that each exhaust hole is separated from another.

The partition wall313serves to guide downflow in the wafer transfer chamber100, that is, gas in the wafer transfer chamber100is guided to the respective exhaust hole311.

A plurality of partition walls313are provided among the plurality of exhaust holes311in front, rear, left, and right directions, respectively. Accordingly, the respective exhaust holes311are surrounded by the partition walls313whereby each of the exhaust holes311can be independently separated from another.

The communicating plate320is interposed between the exhaust plate310and the exhaust duct330, and a plurality of communicating holes321penetrating the top and bottom surfaces of the communicating plate320are provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of exhaust holes311.

The plurality of communicating holes321is provided in the same number as the plurality of exhaust holes311and allows communication of the plurality of exhaust holes311with the exhaust duct330.

As the communicating plate320is interposed between the exhaust plate310and the exhaust duct330, it is possible to prevent the exhaust hole311from being inserted into an exhaust duct hole of the exhaust duct330, thus enabling the exhaust plate310to be easily disposed above the exhaust duct330. In other words, the communicating plate320serves to assist an arrangement of the exhaust plate310and the exhaust duct330.

The exhaust duct330is positioned at a lower portion of the communicating plate320, and is provided with the exhaust duct hole at a center thereof.

The exhaust duct hole of the exhaust duct330communicates with the plurality of exhaust holes311and the plurality of communicating holes321.

In this case, an opening area of the exhaust duct hole is configured to be larger than an opening area of the exhaust hole311such that one exhaust duct hole can communicate with the plurality of exhaust holes311.

The exhaust duct hole may have a shape being sloped down toward a center of the exhaust duct330, that is, being curved at the bottom of the wafer transfer chamber100. Thus, gas having flowed into the exhaust duct hole can be exhausted easily.

The exhaust duct330is configured with the center exhaust unit340and the peripheral exhaust unit350that is provided around the center exhaust unit340.

As shown inFIG. 8, the peripheral exhaust unit350may be configured to be a U-shape around the center exhaust unit340. That is, the peripheral exhaust unit350is configured by surrounding three side surfaces of the center exhaust unit340.

The center exhaust unit340serves to exhaust gas delivered from the center delivery region230and the peripheral exhaust unit350serves to exhaust gas delivered from the peripheral delivery region240.

The exhaust unit300described above may be a plurality of exhaust units300according to use or size of the EFEM10.

For example, the exhaust units300may be disposed at each opposite side of the installation plate111. In this case, the installation plate111may be installed on a center of the wafer transfer chamber100, and the exhaust units300may be installed on a left side and a right side of the installation plate111respectively.

In other words, an opening portion of the U-shaped peripheral exhaust unit350is disposed to face the installation plate111with respect to a central imaginary line of the installation plate111.

As described above, gas is separately delivered to and exhausted from the central region and the peripheral region, in the wafer transfer chamber100. That is, a pair consisting of the center delivery region230and the center exhaust unit340, and a pair consisting of the peripheral delivery region240and the peripheral exhaust unit350are operated by different controllers respectively.

The center delivery region230and the peripheral delivery region240are operated by different controllers respectively, thereby serving different functions from each other in the wafer transfer chamber100.

The center delivery region230delivers gas to the center region of the wafer transfer chamber100, thus generating downflow, whereby fumes introduced into the wafer transfer chamber100are removed and thus cleanliness in the wafer transfer chamber is managed.

The peripheral delivery region240generates downflow along the peripheral region of the wafer transfer chamber100, which is the front wall, the rear wall, the left wall, and the right wall of the wafer transfer chamber100, whereby an air screen is generated, the air screen screening the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100from outside. In other words, the air screen is generated on the peripheral region of the wafer transfer chamber100due to the peripheral delivery region240.

The air screen generated by the peripheral delivery region240screens the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100from the outside thereof, and serves to prevent outside water particles, dust, gas, etc. from being introduced. Accordingly, when a wafer is pulled out from the FOUP31and put into the wafer transfer chamber100, primary purification is implemented by the air screen generated by the peripheral delivery region240and the wafer is implemented with secondary purification by the center delivery region230, whereby desired cleanliness in the wafer transfer chamber100can be maintained.

In addition, air screen generated by the peripheral delivery region240prevents particles generated in the wafer transfer chamber100during wafer transfer from adhering to wall surfaces of the wafer transfer chamber100, whereby the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100can be prevented from damage such as corrosion.

EFEM10′ According to a Second Embodiment of the Present Invention

Hereinafter, an EFEM10′ according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 10 to 13.

FIG. 10is an exploded view showing an EFEM according to a second embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 11is a perspective view showing a delivery unit, an exhaust duct, and a return line of the EFEM according to the second embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 12is a bottom plan view showing the EFEM according to the second embodiment of the present invention; andFIG. 13is a vertical cross-sectional view showing gas flow ofFIG. 11.

Except that the EFEM10′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention has different shapes of a delivery unit200, and a return line400for communicating the delivery unit200and an exhaust unit300with each other, the remaining elements and effects are the same as those of the EFEM10according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Therefore, the same elements can be replaced with the above descriptions and thus repeated descriptions may be omitted.

The EFEM10′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a wafer transfer chamber100in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device and a process chamber, a delivery unit200disposed on the wafer transfer chamber100and delivering gas into the wafer transfer chamber100, and an exhaust unit300disposed under the wafer transfer chamber100and exhausting the gas from the wafer transfer chamber100. In addition, the delivery unit200is divided into a center delivery region230and a peripheral delivery region240provided around the center delivery region230. The exhaust unit300is divided into a center exhaust unit340and a peripheral exhaust unit350provided around the center exhaust unit340. The center delivery region230and the peripheral delivery region240are disposed at positions corresponding to the center exhaust unit340and the peripheral exhaust unit350respectively. Furthermore, the center exhaust unit340and the peripheral delivery region240communicate with each other by the return line400whereby gas exhausted from the center exhaust unit340is delivered to the wafer transfer chamber100through the peripheral delivery region240.

As shown inFIG. 10, the delivery unit200is configured to have a width thereof tapering upward, and the delivery unit200is provided with the delivery region, through which gas is delivered into the wafer transfer chamber100, at the bottom surface thereof. In addition, the delivery unit200is provided with a supply tube250for supplying gas at the upper surface thereof.

The delivery unit200is configured with a first delivery unit210and a second delivery unit220.

The delivery unit200is provided with the center delivery region230and the peripheral delivery region240at a bottom surface thereof.

The delivery unit200may have a dome shape. That is, the delivery unit200has the dome shape toward a center point thereof, where the supply tube250is provided.

The first delivery unit210and the second delivery unit220are configured in a same shape, but the first delivery unit210is smaller than the second delivery unit220.

The first delivery unit210is inserted into the second delivery unit220while an upper surface of the first delivery unit210, which is an outer surface of the first delivery unit210, faces a lower surface of the second delivery unit220, which is an inner surface of the second delivery unit220.

The second delivery unit220is provided with a space where the first delivery unit210is inserted, and the first delivery unit210is inserted into the space of the second delivery unit220while keeping a constant distance with the second delivery unit220.

That is, the outer surface of the first delivery unit210does not come into contact with inner surface of the second delivery unit220while the first delivery unit210is inserted into the second delivery unit220.

The first delivery unit210is provided with the supply tube250at an upper surface thereof, the supply tube250configured to protrude outside and introducing gas delivered through the center delivery region230.

An upper surface of the second delivery unit220is connected to a second end of the return line400through which gas exhausted through the center exhaust unit340is introduced.

The center delivery region230and the peripheral delivery region240serve to exhaust gas supplied from an external gas supply unit downwardly. At this point, gas delivered through the peripheral delivery region240is supplied by the return line400that will be described below in detail, and the supplied gas is delivered to the peripheral delivery region240, flowing along the upper surface of the first delivery unit210in the second delivery unit220.

Gas supplied through the first and second delivery units210and220is delivered to the wafer transfer chamber100through the center delivery region230such that downflow is generated.

The exhaust unit300is configured with the center exhaust unit340and the peripheral exhaust unit350, the center delivery region230and the peripheral delivery region240are disposed at positions corresponding to the center exhaust unit340and the peripheral exhaust unit350respectively.

As shown inFIG. 10, the return line400is configured to connect the center exhaust unit340and the second delivery unit220at a side surface of the EFEM10′.

A first end of the return line400is connected to a lower surface of the center exhaust unit340and the second end thereof is connected to the upper surface of the second delivery unit220.

Gas supplied through the supply tube250is delivered to the center delivery region230through the first delivery unit210, and the gas delivered to the center delivery region230flows through the center region of the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100and is exhausted to the center exhaust unit340, which is disposed at the position corresponding to the center delivery region230.

At this point, the gas exhausted to the center exhaust unit340flows to the first end of the return line400, which is connected to the lower surface of the center exhaust unit340, that is, connected to the lower portion of the EFEM10′.

The gas flowing into the return line400is introduced into the second delivery unit220through the second end of the return line400, which is connected to the upper portion of the EFEM10′, that is, connected to the upper surface of the second delivery unit220. The gas introduced into the second delivery unit220is delivered through the peripheral delivery region240, flows to the peripheral region of the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100, and is exhausted to outside the EFEM10′ through the peripheral exhaust unit350disposed at the position corresponding to the peripheral delivery region240.

In other words, gas supplied to the EFEM10′ is circulated in an order of the first delivery unit210, the center delivery region230, the center exhaust unit340, the return line400, the second delivery unit220, the peripheral delivery region240, and the peripheral exhaust unit350.

Gas delivered through the center delivery region230is delivered to the center region of the wafer transfer chamber100such that fumes on a wafer introduced into the wafer transfer chamber100are removed.

Gas delivered through the peripheral delivery region240serves as an air screen screening the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100from the outside thereof, and serves to remove particles on the wall surfaces of the EFEM10′ and prevent particles from adhering to the wall surfaces of the EFEM10′.

Specifically, gas delivered through the center delivery region230serves to maintain desired cleanliness in the wafer transfer chamber100, and then is recycled and circulated through the return line400and is delivered through the peripheral delivery region240, serving as the air screen, removing particles, and preventing particles from adhering.

As described above, gas, which is delivered through the center delivery region230and exhausted through the center exhaust unit340, is recycled and circulated through the return line400and is delivered to the peripheral delivery region240, whereby the desired cleanliness of the wafer transfer chamber100can be maintained and an amount of gas used for conventional EFEMs can be reduced.

EFEM10″ According to a Third Embodiment of the Present Invention

Hereinafter, an EFEM10″ according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 14 to 18.

FIG. 14is an exploded view showing a delivery unit of an EFEM according to the third embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 15is an exploded view showing an exhaust unit of the EFEM according to the third embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 16is a perspective view showing a supply plate and a exhaust plate of the EFEM according to the third embodiment of the present invention; andFIG. 17shows gas flows in the EFEM according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Except that the EFEM10″ according to the third embodiment of the present invention has different shapes of a delivery unit200and an exhaust unit30, the remaining elements are the same as those of the EFEM10according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Therefore, the same elements can be replaced with the above descriptions and thus repeated descriptions may be omitted.

The EFEM10″ according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a wafer transfer chamber100in which wafer transfer is conducted between a wafer storage device and a process chamber, a delivery unit200disposed on the wafer transfer chamber100and delivering gas into the wafer transfer chamber100, and an exhaust unit300disposed under the wafer transfer chamber100and exhausting the gas from the wafer transfer chamber100. In addition, the delivery unit200is provided with a plurality of supply modules (SM) and the plurality of supply modules (SM) can be controlled independently.

Meanwhile, the exhaust unit300is provided with a plurality of exhaust modules (EM) and the plurality of exhaust modules (EM) can be controlled independently.

Meanwhile, the delivery unit200and the exhaust unit300are provided with a plurality of supply modules (SM) and a plurality of exhaust modules (EM) respectively, and the plurality of supply modules (SM) and the plurality of exhaust modules (EM) can be controlled independently.

As shown inFIG. 14, the delivery unit200includes a supply duct270, a supply plate290, and a first communicating plate280.

The supply duct270may have a dome shape. That is, the supply duct270has the dome shape toward a center point thereof where a supply tube250is provided.

The supply duct270is disposed above the first communicating plate280. That is, the supply duct270is disposed at the top of the delivery unit200, and the first communicating plate280and the supply plate290are sequentially disposed below the supply duct270.

The supply duct270is provided with a supply duct hole at the center thereof.

The supply duct hole of the supply duct270communicates with the plurality of supply modules (SM) and a plurality of first communicates holes281.

In this case, an opening area of the supply duct hole is configured to be larger than an opening area of the supply modules (SM) such that one supply duct hole can communicate with the plurality of supply modules (SM).

The first communicating plate280is interposed between the supply plate290and the supply duct270. In other words, the supply duct270is disposed on the first communicating plate280and the supply plate is disposed under the first communicating plate280.

The first communicating plate280is provided with the plurality of first communicating holes281at positions corresponding to the plurality of supply modules (SM), the first communicating holes281penetrating the top and bottom surfaces of the first communicating plate280.

The plurality of first communicating holes281is provided in the same number as the plurality of supply modules (SM) and serve to communicate the plurality of supply modules (SM) with the supply duct270.

As the first communicating plate280is interposed between the supply plate290and the supply duct270, it is possible to prevent the supply modules (SM) of the supply duct270from inserting into the supply duct hole of the supply duct270, thus enabling the supply plate290to be easily disposed under the supply duct270. In other words, the first communicating plate280serves to assist an arrangement of the supply plate290and the supply duct270.

The supply plate290is provided under the first communicating plate280and provided with the plurality of supply modules (SM). That is, the plurality of supply modules (SM) is provided to configure the supply plate290.

Each of the supply modules (SM) is provided with an inclined portion. A plurality of inclined portions are configured such that each diameter thereof gradually decreases toward the top and has a streamlined shape being convex toward the top of the supply plate290. Due to the structure of the inclined portion, gas introduced into the supply tube250can be easily guided to flow into the wafer transfer chamber100.

The supply plate290is provided with a partition wall313, which partitions the plurality of supply modules (SM).

A plurality of partition walls313is provided among the plurality of supply modules (SM) in front, rear, left, and right directions, respectively. Accordingly, each of the supply modules (SM) can be independently separated from another.

As shown inFIG. 15, the exhaust unit300includes an exhaust plate310, a second communicating plate322, and an exhaust duct330.

The exhaust plate310is provided above the second communicating plate322and provided with the plurality of exhaust modules (EM). That is, the plurality of exhaust modules (EM) is provided to configure the exhaust plate310.

A center region of the exhaust plate310is opened to be mounted with a transport device110.

Each of the exhaust modules (EM) is provided with an inclined portion. A plurality of inclined portions are configured such that each diameter thereof gradually decreases toward the bottom and has a streamlined shape being convex toward the bottom of the exhaust plate. Due to the structure of the inclined portion, gas inside the wafer transfer chamber100can be easily guided to flow to the exhaust modules (EM).

The exhaust plate310is provided with a partition wall313, which partitions the plurality of exhaust modules (EM).

A plurality of partition wall313is provided among the plurality of exhaust modules (EM) in front, rear, left, and right directions, respectively.

Accordingly, each of the exhaust modules (EM) can be independently separated from another.

The second communicating plate322is interposed between the exhaust plate310and the exhaust duct330. In other words, the exhaust plate310is disposed on the second communicating plate322and the exhaust plate is disposed under the second communicating plate322.

The second communicating plate322is provided with a plurality of second communicating holes323at positions corresponding to the plurality of exhaust modules (EM), the second communicating holes323penetrating the top and bottom surfaces of the second communicating plate322.

The plurality of second communicating holes323are provided in the same number as the plurality of exhaust modules (EM) and serve to communicate the plurality of exhaust modules (EM) with the exhaust duct330.

As the second communicating plate322is interposed between the exhaust plate310and the exhaust duct330, it is possible to prevent the exhaust modules (EM) of the exhaust duct330from being inserted into an exhaust duct hole of the exhaust duct330, thus enabling the exhaust plate310to be easily disposed on the exhaust duct330. In other words, the second communicating plate322serves to assist an arrangement of the exhaust plate310and the exhaust duct330.

The exhaust duct330is disposed under the second communicating plate322. That is, the exhaust duct330is disposed at the bottom of the exhaust unit300, and the second communicating plate322and the exhaust plate310are sequentially disposed on the exhaust duct330.

The exhaust duct330is provided with the exhaust duct hole at the center thereof.

The exhaust duct hole of the exhaust duct330communicates with the plurality of exhaust modules (EM) and the plurality of second communicating holes323.

In this case, an opening area of the exhaust duct hole is configured to be larger than an opening area of the exhaust modules (EM) such that one exhaust duct hole can communicate with the plurality of exhaust modules (EM).

Hereinbelow, gas flow, which may occur in the wafer transfer chamber100of the EFEM10″ according to the third embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference toFIGS. 16 to 18.

As shown inFIG. 16, the supply plate290provided with the supply modules (SM) and the exhaust plate310provided with the exhaust modules (EM) are disposed at positions corresponding to each other.

The plurality of supply modules (SM) on the delivery unit200and the plurality of exhaust modules (EM) on the exhaust unit300can be controlled independently.

Each of the plurality of first and second communicating holes281and323is provided with an opening and closing unit (not shown), the plurality of first communicating hole281allowing communication of the first communicating plate280and the supply modules (SM) with each other and the second communicating hole323allowing communication of the second communicating plate322and the exhaust modules (EM) with each other.

Some or all of the first communicating holes281and the second communicating holes323are opened or closed by using the opening and closing unit such that it is possible to control the supply modules (SM) and the exhaust modules (EM). Accordingly, a flow rate of gas supplied into the wafer transfer chamber100can be controlled.

In detail, as shown inFIG. 17A, when some of the supply modules (SM1, SM2, and SM3) are opened and all the remaining modules are closed, gas supplied through the supply tube250is delivered to the wafer transfer chamber100through the opened supply modules (SM1, SM2, and SM3).

At this point, when some of the exhaust modules (EMn−1, EMn) are opened at the lower portion of the wafer transfer chamber100, the gas delivered through the delivery unit200is introduced into the opened exhaust modules (EMn−1, EMn) and exhausted to outside the EFEM10″ through the exhaust duct330.

On the other hand, a controller (not shown) may be provided to control a flow rate and a flow velocity of gas supplied to the supply modules (SM) and exhausted from the exhaust modules (EM), whereby the supply modules (SM) and the exhaust modules (EM) can be controlled independently.

For example, mass flow controller (MFC) may be used for the controller, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

When using the controller, a flow velocity of gas can be controlled, in addition to a flow rate of gas supplied into the EFEM10″.

As shown inFIGS. 17B and 17C, various gas flows can be provided according to flow velocity of gas.

As shown inFIG. 17B, a peripheral portion of the supply plate290, that is, supply modules (SM1and SMm) may have a relatively fast flow velocity. On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 17C, a center portion of the supply plate290, that is, supply modules (SM2, SM3, and SMm−1) may have a relatively fast flow velocity.

Accordingly, a flow rate and flow velocity of gas supplied into the wafer transfer chamber100can be controlled by independent controls of the supply modules (SM) and the exhaust modules (EM) whereby various gas flows supplied into the wafer transfer chamber100can be generated.

Therefore, an air screen effect that screens the inside of the wafer transfer chamber100from outside can be obtained and a gas flow velocity at the center portion of the wafer transfer chamber100can be increased, thereby more easily removing introduced fumes on a wafer.

In addition, by generating various gas flow, particles in the wafer transfer chamber100can be more easily removed whereby cleanliness in the wafer transfer chamber100can be improved.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.