Patent Publication Number: US-2010107975-A1

Title: Apparatus for transferring wafer carrier and system for fabricating semiconductor having the same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments relate to an apparatus for transferring a wafer carrier and a system for fabricating a semiconductor using the wafer transferring apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A semiconductor device is fabricated to have a plurality of thin films that are formed on a wafer by selectively repeatedly performing a variety of processes such as an etching process, a diffusing process, a chemical vapor deposition process, an ion implanting process, a metal deposition process, and the like. 
     In order to grow the thin films on the wafer, a variety of apparatuses such as a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) apparatus, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus, an electron beam deposition apparatus, a physical vapor deposition (PVD) apparatus, a plasma laser deposition (PLD) apparatus, a dual-type thermal evaporator, a sputtering apparatus, a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) apparatus, and the like may be used. 
     In the growing apparatuses, the wafer is loaded or unloaded on a wafer carrier (or a susceptor). The wafer carrier is transferred to a process chamber or the like by a transferring apparatus. The semiconductor thin films are formed on the wafer in the process chamber into and from which a variety of gases are supplied and discharged. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Embodiments provide a wafer carrier transferring apparatus that is designed to replace only end portions of a transferring arm by coupling replaceable pocket ends to the opposite ends of the transferring arm, and a semiconductor fabricating system having the wafer carrier transferring apparatus. 
     Embodiments provide a wafer carrier transferring apparatus that is designed to protect a transferring arm from external impact by coupling fragile pocket ends to the opposite ends of the transferring arm, and a semiconductor fabricating system having the wafer carrier transferring apparatus. 
     Embodiments provide a wafer carrier transferring apparatus that is designed to protect a transferring arm from external impact by making an inner surface of an arm pocket portion of the transferring arm inclined so that a wafer carrier can be supported on the inner surface of the arm pocket, and a semiconductor fabricating system having the wafer carrier transferring apparatus. 
     Technical Solution 
     An embodiment provides a wafer carrier transferring apparatus comprising: an arm pocket portion supporting a wafer carrier and a pocket end portion detachably coupled to opposite ends of the arm pocket portion. 
     An embodiment provides a wafer carrier transferring apparatus comprising: an arm pocket portion supporting the wafer carrier; a pocket end portion coupled to opposite ends of the arm pocket portion and formed of a glass material; and a fixing portion for coupling the pocket end portion to the opposite ends of the arm pocket portion. 
     An embodiment provides a semiconductor fabricating system comprising: at least one load lock chamber in which a wafer carrier is stored; at least one process chamber in which a thin film is grown on a wafer loaded on the wafer carrier; and a transfer chamber comprising a wafer carrier transferring apparatus transferring the wafer carrier between the load lock chamber and the process chamber. 
     The wafer carrier transferring apparatus comprises an arm pocket portion supporting a wafer carrier; and a pocket end portion detachably coupled to opposite ends of the arm pocket portion. 
     ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS 
     According to the embodiments, a problem that an end of the transferring arm is drooped down can be solved. 
     According to the embodiments, even when external impact is applied, only the pocket ends are damaged and the affection of the external impact on the motor or the transferring arm can be minimized. 
     According to the embodiments, since an inclined surface is formed inside the arm pocket portion of the transferring arm, the movement of the wafer carrier supported on the inclined surface of the arm pocket portion can be minimized when the external impact is applied, thereby protecting the wafer carrier. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a semiconductor fabricating system according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plane view of a transferring apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an inner pocket portion of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are front and side-sectional views of the inner pocket portion of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an outer pocket portion, pocket end portion, and fixing portion of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled top plane view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled rear view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is an assembled cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is an assembled longitudinal sectional view of the outer pocket portion and pocket end portion of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of a modified example of the outer pocket portion, pocket end portion, and fixing portion of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of another modified example of the outer pocket portion, pocket end portion, and fixing portion of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 12  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the pocket end portion of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a semiconductor fabricating system according to a first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a semiconductor system  100  comprises one or more load lock chambers  101 , a transfer chamber  102  comprising a transferring apparatus  110 , and one or more process chambers  103 . 
     The load lock chambers  101  function as a buffer for storing wafer carriers (or susceptors). That is, the load lock chambers  101  function as a buffer that can temporarily store the wafer carriers when the wafer carriers are loaded in or unloaded from the process chambers  103 . The load lock chambers  101  are arranged along a circumference of the transfer chamber  102 . 
     In the process chambers  103 , the semiconductor thin films are grown on the wafer loaded on the wafer carrier by supplied gases through predetermined processes. 
     Here, a variety of apparatuses such as a metal organic chemical vapor deposition 
     (MOCVD) apparatus, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus, an electron beam deposition apparatus, a physical vapor deposition (PVD) apparatus, a plasma laser deposition (PLD) apparatus, a dual-type thermal evaporator, a sputtering apparatus, a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) apparatus, and the like may be used to grow the thin films on the wafer. However, the present embodiment is not limited to them. 
     The transfer chamber  102  comprises the transferring apparatus  110 . The transferring apparatus  110  takes the wafer carrier out of the load lock chamber  101  and loads the wafer carrier into the process chamber  103  or takes the wafer carrier out of the process chamber  103  and unloads the wafer carrier to an external side or the load lock chamber  101 . The transferring apparatus  110  may be referred to as a transferring robot. For the descriptive convenience, it will be referred to as a transferring apparatus in the following description. In addition, in this embodiment, although the transferring apparatus  110  is comprised in the transfer chamber  102 , the transferring apparatus  110  may be installed on a cassette stage or a standby loader chamber. The number of the transferring apparatuses and the installing location of the transferring apparatuses may vary but are not specifically limited. 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed top plane view of the transferring apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the transferring apparatus  110  comprises a motor  112 , a motor controller  114 , and a transferring arm  120 . 
     The motor  112  drives the transferring arm  120  in accordance with the control of the motor controller  114 . 
     The motor  112  is connected to the transferring arm  120  by a link unit  116  that transfers torque of the motor  112  to the transferring arm  120 . This torque transferring structure may vary but is not limited to the above configuration. The structure of the motor  112  and motor controller  114  may not be comprises in the transferring apparatus  110  or the transfer chamber  102  of  FIG. 1  and it not specifically limited. 
     The transferring arm  120  comprises a supporting portion  130 , an arm pocket portion  150 , a pocket end portion  160 , and a fixing portion  170 . 
     The supporting portion  130  supportably connects the link portion  116  to the arm pocket portion  150 . The supporting portion  130  comprises a body  131  connected to the link unit  116  and a plurality of supports  132 ,  133 , and  134  branched off from the body  131 . 
     The body  131  transfers the torque from the link unit  116  to the supports  132 ,  133 , and  134 . The supports  132 ,  133 , and  134  uniformly transfer the torque from the body  131  to the arm pocket portion  150 . 
     The body  131 , supports  132 ,  133 , and  134 , and arm pocket portion  150  may be integrally formed of metal such as stainless steel. 
     The support  133  may be referred to as center support branched off from a center of the body  131 . The supports  132  and  134  may be referred to as side supports branched off from both sides of the body  131 . However, the supports are not limited to these configurations. 
     The side supports  132  and  134  are obliquely formed with respect to the center support  133 . That is, distances between the side support  132  and the center support  133  and between the side support  134  and the center support  133  increase as they goes away from the body  131 . 
     The arm pocket portion  150  comprises an inner pocket portion  151  and an outer pocket portion  155 . An outer circumference of the wafer carrier  108  is supported by the arm pocket portion  150 . The pocket end portions  160  are coupled to extreme ends of the arm pocket portion  150 . The inner pocket  151  is supported by not only the center support  133  but also the side supports  132  and  134 . The inner pocket  151  may be formed in a semicircular shape, a bow shape, or a bent shape (e.g., V-shape). However, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. That is, the inner pocket  151  has a center formed at a connecting portion of the center support  133  and bent toward ends of the side supports  132  and  134  at a predetermined angle or with a predetermined curvature. 
     An interior angle θ 1  of the inner pocket  151  may be 100-130° within which an outer circumference of the wafer carrier  108  on which the wafer  108 A is loaded can partly contact the inner pocket  151 . Here, a plurality of the wafers  108 A may be loaded on the wafer carrier  108 . However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. 
     The outer pocket portion  155  extends from a connecting portion of the inner pocket portion  151  and the side supports  132  and  134 . Here, the inner portion of the outer pocket portion  155  may be formed to have a curvature corresponding to an outer circumference of the wafer carrier  108 . Here, an inner curvature of the outer pocket portion  155  is equal to or less than a curvature of an outer circumference of the wafer carrier  108 . 
     The pocket end portions  160  are coupled to the extreme ends of the pocket outer portion  155  in parallel with each other. The pocket end portions  160  are spaced apart from each other by a distance less than a diameter of the wafer carrier  108 . 
     The coupling portions of the outer pocket portion  155  and the pocket end portions  160  are formed in corresponding shapes (e.g., stepped shapes or groove and protrusion shapes). In addition, the extreme ends of the outer pocket portion  155  and first ends of the pocket end portions  160  are respectively provided with corresponding stepped structures or groove and protrusion structures. 
     The pocket end portions  160  are detachably mounted on the both ends of the aim pocket portion  150  or the extreme ends of the outer pocket portion  155  so that it is replaceable. The pocket end portions  160  may be formed of a material that can be broken when impact higher than a predetermined intensity. For example, the pocket end portions  160  may be formed of quartz. 
     The fixing portion  170  is designed such that the pocket end portions  160  are respectively coupled to the extreme ends of the outer pocket portion  155 . The fixing portion  170  may be formed of an adhesive member such as an adhesive or viscosity material or a coupling member such as a screw or rivet. 
     Inclined surfaces  152  are formed on inner surfaces of the inner pocket  151  and the outer pocket portion. Inclined surfaces  161  are formed on inner surfaces of the pocket end portions  160 . The inclined surfaces  152  and  161  are provided in the form of an extending state. The inclined surfaces  152  and  161  are formed at an angle that can contact the outer circumference of the wafer carrier  108  as large as possible. 
     By disposing the pocket ends  160  formed of a glass material on the opposite ends of the transferring arm  120  or on the opposite ends of the arm pocket portion  150 , the pocket end portions  160  can be easily broken when the pocket end portions  160  or the transferring arm  120  collides with a wall or other objects. That is, since the pocket end portions  160  are broken by external impact, the affect of the external impact on the motor  112  or the transferring arm  120  can be minimized. In addition, even when the pocket end portions are broken, the carrier transferring apparatus can be used by simply replacing the pocket end portions. 
     Further, when the pocket end portions  160  or the wafer carrier  108  collides with the wall or other stations, the wafer carrier  108  is pushed rearward and the pocket end portions  160  may be broken. At this point, the movement of the wafer carrier  108  supported on the inclined surface  152  of the arm pocket portion  150  is minimized. That is, the inclined surface  152  protects the wafer carrier  108 . Therefore, the wafer carrier  108  and the transferring arm  120  can be protected. 
     Further, when the external impact is applied to the wafer carrier  108  or the arm pocket portion  150 , the transferring arm  120  stops in an interlock state by its sensor. 
     Even when the transferring arms  120  are used for many hours, the problem that the ends of the transferring arm  120 , i.e., the pocket end portions  160  droop can be solved. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an inner pocket portion of  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are respectively front and side-sectional views of the inner pocket portion of  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the inner pocket portion  151  is designed such that the inclined surface  152  is formed between the top surface  154  and the inner surface  153 . The inclined surface  152  is formed at a predetermined angle θ 2  of, for example, 30-60° with respect to an extending line of the top surface  154  as shown in  FIG. 4B . That is, the inner inclined surface  152  of the inner pocket portion  151  is formed at an angle which can be contacted a part of the outer circumference of the wafer carrier. 
     A width of the top surface  154  or inner surface  153  of the inner pocket portion  151  may vary in accordance with the inclined angle of the inclined surface  152  of the inner pocket portion  151 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the outer pocket portion, pocket end portion, and fixing portion of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 6  is an assembled top plane view of  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 7  is an assembled rear view,  FIGS. 9A and 9B  are assembled longitudinal-sectional view, and  FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the extreme end  154   a  of the outer pocket portion  155  and the first end  160 A of the pocket end portion  160  are correspondingly coupled to each other. That is, the extreme end  154   a  and the first end  160 A are stepped in the vertical direction or formed to have a groove and a protrusion. Here, the extreme end  154 A of the outer pocket portion  155  has an upper portion that is cut and the first end  160 A of the pocket end portion  160  has a lower portion that is cut. The stepped locations, stepped structure, and stepped shape of the outer pocket portion  155  and pocket end portion  160  may change with each other and are not limited to the embodiment. 
     The extreme end  154 A of the outer pocket portion  155  is coupled to the first end  160 A of the pocket end portion  160  by closely contacting the first end  160 A of the pocket end portion  160 . 
     The outer pocket portion  155  is provided with first and second screw holes  158  and  159  and the pocket end portion  160  is provided with third and fourth screw holes  166  and  167 . The first screw hole  158  is formed through the top surface  154  of the outer pocket portion  155  and the second screw hole  159  is formed through the undersurface  156  of the outer pocket portion  155 . The third screw hole  166  is formed through the top surface  164  of the pocket end portion  160  and the fourth screw hole  167  is formed through the undersurface  165  of the pocket end portion  160 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , a first fixing plate  171  closely contacts the top surfaces of the outer pocket portion  155  and the pocket end portion  160  and a second fixing plate  175  closely contacts the under surfaces of the outer pocket portion  155  and the pocket end portion  160 . 
     The first fixing plate  171  is provided with fifth screw holes  172  corresponding to the first and third screw holes  158  and  166  and the second fixing plate  175  is provided with sixth screw holes  176  corresponding to the second and fourth screw holes  159  and  167 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  8 , first screws  173  are coupled to the first and third screw holes  158  and  166  through the fifth screw holes  172  of the first fixing plate  171 . That is, the first fixing plate  171  is fixed on the top surface  154  of the outer pocket portion  155  and the top surface  164  of the pocket end portion  160  by the first screws  173 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 8 , second screws  177  are coupled to the second and fourth screw holes  159  and  167  through the sixth screw holes  176  of the second fixing plate  175 . That is, the second fixing plate  175  is fixed on the undersurface  156  of the outer pocket portion  155  and the undersurface  165  of the pocket end portion  160  by the second screws  177 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the first and second fixing plates  171  and  175  integrally clamp the outer pocket portion  155  and the pocket end portion  160 . Here, the first and second fixing plates  171  and  175  and the first and second screws  175  and  177  are exemplarily provided for the fixing portion  170  of  FIG. 2 . However, the fixing portion  170  may be provided in an attaching structure using an adhesive or viscosity material or formed in a combination structure of the attaching structure and the coupling structure. For example, the upper portions of the outer pocket portion  155  and the pocket end portion  160  may be attached to each other by the adhesive and the lower portions of the outer pocket portion  155  and the pocket end portion  160  may be coupled to each other by the fixing plate and screws. The fixing portion may variously provided. That is, the fixing portion is not limited to the above-described configurations. In addition, instead of fixing the upper and lower portions of the outer pocket portion  155  and the pocket end portion  160 , the front and rear portions may be fixed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a width T 1  of the top surface of the pocket end portion  160  may be identical to or different from a width T 2  of the first fixing plate  171 . A width T 3  of the outer pocket portion  155  may be identical to or different from a width T 4  of the second fixing plate  175 . The widths are not specifically limited. 
     The first and second fixing plates  171  and  175  may be formed of metal such as stainless steel or a glass material. When the pocket end portion  160  is broken by the external impact, the fixing plates  171  and  175  formed of the metal is not damaged but the fixing plates  171  and  175  formed of the glass material are broken. 
       FIG. 9  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the outer pocket portion and the pocket end portion. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9A , a portion  152 A between the top surface  154  and inner surface  153  of the outer pocket portion  155  is stepped or inclined. Here, an angle θ 3  between the top surface  154  and the inner surface  153  of the outer pocket portion  155  may be 90° or less. 
     A portion  161  between the top surface  164  and inner surface  163  of the pocket end portion  160  may be stepped or inclined. Here, an angle θ 3  between the top surface  164  and the inner surface  163  of the pocket end portion  160  may be 90° or less. The angle θ 3  may be identical to or different from the angle θ 2  of the inclined surface  152  of the inner pocket portion  151  of  FIG. 4B . 
     By coupling the pocket end portions  160  formed of the glass material to the opposite ends of the outer pocket portion  155 , the damage or bending of the transferring arm  120  can be prevented as the pocket end portions  160  is easily broken when colliding with the wall or other objects. Even when the pocket end portion  160  is broken, the apparatus can be used by simply replacing the pocket end portion  160 . 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of a modified example of the outer pocket portion, pocket end portion, and fixing portion of  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a fixing portion  170 A comprises fixing plates  171  and  175  and a protrusion  154 B, and a groove  160 B. The protrusion  154 B is formed on a top surface of the extreme end portion  154 A of the outer pocket portion  155 . The groove  160 B corresponding to the protrusion  154 B is formed on an undersurface of the end portion  160 A of the pocket end portion  160 . The protrusion  154 B formed on the top surface of the extreme end portion  154 A of the outer pocket portion  155  and the groove  160 B formed on the undersurface of the end portion  160 A of the pocket end portion  160  are engaged with each other to minimize the movement of the pocket end portion  160 . The forming locations and shapes of the protrusion  154 B and the groove  160 B may vary and are not limited to the above-described configuration. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of another modified example of the outer pocket portion, pocket end portion, and fixing portion of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 12  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the pocket end portion of  FIG. 11 . In the description of this modified example, parts same as those of  FIG. 5  will refer to  FIG. 5  and a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , an inclined surface  152 B is formed between the top surface  154  and inner surface  153  of the outer pocket portion  155 . An inclined angle of the inclined surface  152 B may be 30-60° with respect to the top surface  154  of the outer pocket portion  155 . 
     An inclined surface  161 A is formed between the top surface  164  and inner surface  163  of the pocket end portion  160 . At this point, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the inclined angle θ 4  of the inclined surface  161 A may be 30-60° with respect to the top surface  164  of the pocket end portion  161 . At this point, the angle of the inclined surface  152 B of the outer pocket portion  155  may be identical to or different from the angle θ 4  of the inclined surface  161 A of the pocket end portion  160 . 
     As described above, by disposing the pocket end portions  160  formed of the glass material on the opposite ends of the outer pocket portion  155 , the damage or bending of the transferring arm  120  can be prevented as the pocket end portions  160  is easily broken when colliding with the wall or other objects. Even when the pocket end portion  160  is broken, the apparatus can be used by simply replacing the pocket end portion  160 . 
     While the present disclosure has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers the modifications and variations of this disclosure that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     Embodiments can solve a problem that an end of the transferring arm is drooped down. 
     According to the embodiments, even when external impact is applied, only the pocket ends are damaged and the affection of the external impact on the motor or the transferring arm can be minimized. 
     Since embodiments form the inclined surface on an inner surface of the arm pocket portion of the transferring arm, the movement of the wafer carrier supported on the inclined surface of the arm pocket portion can be minimized when the external impact is applied, thereby protecting the wafer carrier.