Cassette light

An apparatus for the convenient viewing of scribed numbers upon selected wafers is disclosed. The apparatus supports a wafer cassette and raises predetermined wafers and illuminates the identification numbers scribed thereon.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for wafer handling. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Modern integrated circuits are typically fabricated upon silicon wafers. 
The wafers are usually quite thin and easily susceptible to breakage. To 
reduce the risk of breakage and simplify wafer handling, wafers are 
frequently transported in cassettes. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates 
cassette 11 with a plurality of wafers 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. Typically, 
a cassette may hold 25 wafers. As illustrated in FIG. 1, wafer 12 is 
supported in cassette with its flat side 17 protruding through the bottom 
19 of cassette 11. 
Often it is desirable to be able to read small numbers which may be scribed 
on the upper portion of wafers. For example, in FIG. 1, scribed numbers 
20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 are positioned on the upper portion of wafers 12, 
13, 14, 15, and 16 respectively. When the cassette is filled with wafers, 
unfortunately, it may be difficult to read the small numbers which are 
scribed upon the top edges of the wafers. 
In the past, practitioners have placed the bottom of cassette 11 upon a 
solid wedge. The solid wedge forces the wafers upward through the cassette 
and makes viewing numbers 20-24 somewhat easier. On other occasions, a 
flashlight is placed under the cassette (without a wedge) to aid in number 
identification. However, as wafers become larger and scribed numbers 
become smaller, there remains a continuing need for methods and apparatus 
for easier viewing of scribed numbers upon wafers. (Only a 
partially-filled cassette has been shown for convenience.) 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These concerns are addressed by the present invention which illustratively 
includes: 
a base supporting a cassette and at least one raised protrusions contacting 
the base. The protrusion is positioned beneath a predetermined wafer, 
thereby raising the wafer slightly from the other wafers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In FIGS. 1 and 2 reference numeral 31 denotes an apparatus for supporting a 
cassette filled with wafers which facilitates the easy reading of scribed 
numbers 20-24 upon wafers inside the cassette. Base 33 of the inventive 
apparatus support legs 25 and 26 of cassette 11. Back plate 35 of the 
apparatus contacts the back 27 of cassette 11. Channels 37 and 39 in back 
plate 35 engage the back of cassette 11 and serve to hold cassette 11 in 
place. 
Walls 41 and 43 protrude vertically upward from base 33. Transparent or 
translucent plate 45 fits over walls 41 and 43 and together therewith 
defines a channel or cavity 47. The bottom edge 17 of wafers such as wafer 
12 may rest upon plate 45. 
Fluorescent tube 49 is contained within and extends within cavity 47. Light 
from fluorescent tube 49 shines through plate 45 and upward into cassette 
11, thereby illuminating the scribed numbers 20-24 on the wafers within 
the cassette. Switch 51 is connected to electrical circuitry which turns 
on light 49. Switch 51 operates to turn on light 49 when it is depressed 
by contact with lower leg 25 of cassette 11. 
Raised protrusions 53, 55, and 57 upon plate 45 contact predetermined 
wafers within cassette 11 and raise these wafers slightly. The protrusions 
may be also made from transparent or translucent plastic. Scribed numbers 
may be viewed very conveniently upon the three wafers which are raised 
slightly above the rest of wafers within the cassette. A variety of plates 
45 may be provided in accordance with the invention. Each plate 45 may 
have a plurality of raised protrusions corresponding to different wafer 
positions within cassette 11 for facilitating the reading of the scribed 
numbers upon wafers in predetermined locations within the cassette 11. 
Alternatively, a plurality of movable protrusions may be placed upon plate 
45 for facilitating reading of numbers upon predetermined wafers within 
cassette 11. 
Front plate 61 contains electrical connections to fluorescent bulb 49. 
Movable plate 63 is attached via adjustable thumb screw 65 to front plate 
61. Vertical adjustment of plate 63 and securing of plate by thumb screw 
65 tilts apparatus 31 and easy viewing of the entire apparatus 31 and 
viewing of selected wafers which have been raised and illuminated. 
Front edge 67 of front plate 61, together with back plate 35 of apparatus 
31 serve to closely hold cassette 11. Consequently, protrusions 53, 55, 
and 57 are precisely and squarely positioned beneath the desired 
predetermined wafers whose scribed numbers are to be viewed. 
Thus, in operation, one merely places a cassette 11 having a plurality of 
wafers within it upon apparatus 31. Activation of switch 51 by lower edge 
25 of cassette 11 causes light 49 to turn on. Light shines through 
transparent or translucent plate 45, thereby illuminating the numbers 
scribed upon the wafers within the cassette. Certain predetermined wafers 
are automatically raised from the others by contact with protrusions 
53-57. Furthermore, the entire apparatus 31 may be tilted slightly away 
from the viewer by proper adjustment of thumb screw 65 and plate 63.