Patent Publication Number: US-2022223449-A1

Title: Transport carrier docking device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/248,072, filed Jan. 7, 2021 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,302,553), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A semiconductor wafer may be processed in various semiconductor processing tools in a semiconductor fabrication facility to produce various integrated circuits and/or semiconductor devices. A semiconductor wafer may be transported throughout the semiconductor fabrication facility and/or between the semiconductor processing tools in the semiconductor fabrication facility. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example semiconductor processing environment described herein. 
         FIGS. 2A-2F  are diagrams of example implementations of a sealing component for forming an air-tight seal around a transport carrier described herein. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of an example chamber door described herein. 
         FIGS. 4A-4N  are diagrams of one or more example implementations described herein. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of example components of one or more devices of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are flowcharts of example processes relating to accessing a transport carrier. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. 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. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
     Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly. 
     A plurality of semiconductor wafers and/or other types of substrates may be transported throughout a semiconductor fabrication facility in a transport carrier. A transport carrier may include a wafer cassette, a front-opening unified pod (FOUP), a pod, a container, or a similar type of device. To transfer a semiconductor wafer from a transport carrier to a semiconductor processing tool, the transport carrier may be placed in and/or on a load port associated with the semiconductor processing tool. A transport tool included in an interface tool (e.g., an equipment front end module (EFEM) or similar type of interface tool) that is situated between the semiconductor processing tool and the load port may remove the semiconductor wafer from the transport carrier. The transport tool may transfer the semiconductor wafer from the transport carrier to the semiconductor processing tool through a chamber of the interface tool. The transport tool may perform the above-described process in reverse to transfer the semiconductor wafer from the semiconductor processing tool to the transport carrier after processing. 
     Semiconductor wafers may be exposed to contaminants (e.g., volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust, debris, and other types of contaminants) in the semiconductor fabrication facility during transfer of the semiconductor wafers between a load port and an associated semiconductor processing tool. These contaminants may cause semiconductor device failures, may cause defects to occur in the integrated circuits and/or semiconductor devices formed in the semiconductor fabrication facility, and may reduce manufacturing yield and quality, among other examples. Moreover, the impact of the contaminants in the semiconductor fabrication facility may continue to become more significant due to decreased tolerance to the contaminants as device and/or feature sizes of the integrated circuits and/or semiconductor devices, that are to be formed on semiconductor wafers in the semiconductor fabrication facility, continue to shrink. 
     Some implementations described herein provide a transport carrier docking device that can be positioned between a load port and an interface tool to reduce and/or minimize cross contamination of semiconductor wafers that are transferred between the load port and an associated semiconductor processing tool. The transport carrier docking device may be capable of forming an air-tight seal around a transport carrier while a front portion of the transport carrier is inserted into a chamber of the transport carrier docking device. In this way, semiconductor wafers in the transport carrier may be accessed by a transport tool while the air-tight seal around the transport carrier prevents and/or reduces the likelihood that contaminants in the semiconductor fabrication facility will reach the semiconductor wafers. Accordingly, the air-tight seal around the transport carrier may reduce defects of the semiconductor wafers that might otherwise be caused by the contaminants, may increase manufacturing yield and quality in the semiconductor fabrication facility, and/or may permit the continued reduction in device and/or feature sizes of integrated circuits and/or semiconductor devices that are to be formed on semiconductor wafers. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example semiconductor processing environment  100  described herein. The example semiconductor processing environment  100  may include, or may be included in, a semiconductor fabrication facility, a semiconductor foundry, a semiconductor processing facility, a semiconductor clean room, and/or another environment in which semiconductor wafers and/or devices are processed. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the example semiconductor processing environment  100  may include a semiconductor processing tool  102 , a load port  104 , an interface tool  106 , and a docking device  108 , among other tools and/or devices. 
     The semiconductor processing tool  102  may include one or more tools configured to perform one or more semiconductor processing operations on one or more semiconductor wafers and/or devices. For example, the semiconductor processing tool  102  may include a deposition tool (e.g., a semiconductor processing tool configured to deposit one or more layers onto a semiconductor wafer), a plating tool (e.g., an electroplating tool configured to deposit one or more metal layers onto a semiconductor wafer), an exposure tool (e.g., an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) tool, an electron beam (e-beam) tool), an etch tool (e.g., a wet etch tool, a dry etch tool), or another type of semiconductor processing tool. 
     The load port  104  may include a shuttle platform  110  configured to receive and support a transport carrier  112 . The transport carrier  112  may include a wafer cassette, a FOUP, a pod, a container, or a similar type of device configured to hold and/or store a plurality of semiconductor wafers. The load port  104  and the shuttle platform  110  may receive the transport carrier  112  from a transport robot, a transport cart, an overhead hoist transport (OHT), or another device configured to move transport carriers to and from various locations in the example semiconductor processing environment  100 . The transport carrier  112  may include a body  114  configured to rest on the shuttle platform  110 . The load port  104  may further include an exhaust  116  that is configured to vent the load port  104 . 
     The interface tool  106  may include an EFEM or another tool that includes a chamber  118 . Air may be provided to the chamber  118  through a filter  120  (e.g., a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or another type of air filter) configured to filter the incoming air of particles and other contaminants. The chamber  118  may further be vented through an exhaust  122 . 
     The interface tool  106  may further include a wafer transport tool  124  in the chamber  118 . The wafer transport tool  124  may include a robotic arm or another type of tool that is configured to transport semiconductor wafers between the transport carrier  112  and the semiconductor processing tool  102 . In some implementations, the wafer transport tool  124  transfers semiconductor wafers between the transport carrier  112  and a staging area of the semiconductor processing tool  102 . In some implementations, the wafer transport tool  124  transfers semiconductor wafers between the transport carrier  112  and a processing chamber of the semiconductor processing tool  102 . 
     The docking device  108  is a device that is configured to permit the transfer of semiconductor wafers between the transport carrier  112  and the semiconductor processing tool  102  in a manner that reduces the likelihood of exposure of semiconductor wafers to contaminants that may be present in the example semiconductor processing environment  100 . The docking device  108  may include an opening  126  at a first side (e.g., a first sidewall) of the docking device  108  and another opening  128  at a second side (e.g., a second sidewall) of the docking device  108 . The wafer transport tool  124  may access the transport carrier  112  (e.g., the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 ) through the opening  126  and the opening  128 . The wafer transport tool  124  may transport semiconductor wafers to and from the semiconductor processing tool  102  through an opening  130  between the interface tool  106  and the semiconductor processing tool  102 . In some implementations, the opening  126  and the opening  128  are on opposing sides (e.g., opposing sidewalls) of the docking device  108 . In some implementations, the opening  126  and the opening  128  are on opposing sides (e.g., opposing sidewalls) of the docking device  108 . 
     The docking device  108  may include a chamber  132 . The opening  126  may provide access to the chamber  132  for insertion of the transport carrier  112 , and the opening  128  may provide access to the chamber  132  for the wafer transport tool  124 . The chamber  132  may include a door frame  134 , a chamber door  136 , and a sealing component  138  to reduce, minimize, and/or eliminate the likelihood of exposure to contaminants that may be present in the example semiconductor processing environment  100  when a semiconductor wafer is transferred between the transport carrier  112  and the semiconductor processing tool  102 . 
     The door frame  134  may include a rigid or semi-rigid structure that extends from the top of the chamber  132  to the bottom of the chamber  132 , and that extends from one side of the chamber  132  to another (opposing) side of the chamber  132 . An opening may be provided through the door frame  134 , which may be sealed by the chamber door  136 . In particular, the chamber door  136  may be pressed against the door frame  134  to form an air-tight seal between the door frame  134  and the chamber door  136 . The door frame  134  and the chamber door  136  may form the air-tight seal when the chamber door  136  is in a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The air-tight seal may reduce, minimize, and/or eliminate the likelihood that contaminants in the example semiconductor processing environment  100  might travel through the opening  126  and through the opening in the door frame  134  when the transport carrier  112  is not inserted into the opening  126  and/or when no air-tight seal is formed around the transport carrier  112 . 
     In some implementations, the door frame  134  and/or the chamber door  136  may include a gasket, a strip, or another component to form the air-tight seal. The gasket of the door frame  134 , if included, may be formed around the opening in the door frame  134 . The gasket of the chamber door  136 , if included, may be formed in a shape that substantially fits around the opening in the door frame  134 . The gasket of the door frame  134  and/or the gasket of the chamber door  136  may be formed of a soft material and/or of a deformable material to permit the air-tight seal to be formed. For example, the gasket of the door frame  134  and/or the gasket of the chamber door  136  may be formed of a plastic material, a rubber material, a silicone material, or a similar material. In some implementations, the material of the gasket of the door frame  134  and/or the gasket of the chamber door  136  includes a gas impermeable material. 
     The sealing component  138  may be pressed against the door frame  134  on an opposite side of the door frame  134  as the chamber door  136 . One or more gaskets may be located between the sealing component  138  and door frame  134  to reduce, minimize, and/or prevent air (and contaminants carried by the air) from passing between the sealing component  138  and the door frame  134 . Moreover, the sealing component  138  may be pressed against the side (e.g., the sidewall) of the chamber  132  on which the opening  126  is located such that an air-tight seal is formed between the side and the sealing component  138 . 
     The sealing component  138  may include one or more portions (e.g., portion  138   a , portion  138   b , and/or one or more other portions) that are configured to form an air-tight seal around the transport carrier  112  when the transport carrier  112  is at least partially inserted into the opening  126 . For example, the shuttle platform  110  may slide or otherwise move the transport carrier  112  toward and at least partially into the opening  126 . With the transport carrier  112  at least partially inserted through the opening  126  and into the chamber  132 , the sealing component  138  may contract around the transport carrier  112  (e.g., around the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 ) to form the air-tight seal between the sealing component  138  and the transport carrier  112 . 
     In some implementations, the sealing component  138  (or the portions thereof) are formed of a relatively soft material (e.g., softer than the material of the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 ) to permit the air-tight seal to be formed around the transport carrier  112 . For example, the sealing component  138  (or the portions thereof) may be formed of a plastic material, a rubber material, a silicone material, a gas impermeable, or a similar material. In some implementations, the sealing component  138  (or the portions thereof) includes a gasket, a strip, or a similar component formed of a relatively soft material that is pressed against the body  114  of the transport carrier  112  to form the air-tight seal. 
     When the air-tight seal is formed between the sealing component  138  and the transport carrier  112 , the chamber door  136  may remove a carrier door  140  from the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 . After removing the carrier door  140 , the chamber door  136  may transition from the closed position shown in  FIG. 1  to an open position, which releases the air-tight seal between door frame  134  and the chamber door  136 . Here, the chamber door  136  (with the removed carrier door  140 ) may move backwards away from the door frame  134  toward the opening  128 , and may move downward into the chamber  132  (e.g., after moving backwards away from the door frame  134 ). In this way, the opening in the door frame  134  is cleared such that the wafer transport tool  124  is permitted to access the transport carrier  112  (e.g., the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 ) through the opening in the door frame  134  and the opening  128 . 
     The wafer transport tool  124  may transfer semiconductor wafers between the transport carrier  112  and the semiconductor processing tool  102  after the air-tight seal is formed around the transport carrier  112  by the sealing component  138 , and after the chamber door  136  is opened. For example, the wafer transport tool  124  may obtain and/or retrieve a semiconductor wafer from the transport carrier  112  through the opening in the door frame  134  and through the opening  128 , and may provide the wafer to the semiconductor processing tool  102  through the opening  130 . As another example, the wafer transport tool  124  may obtain a semiconductor wafer from the semiconductor processing tool  102  through the opening  130 , and may provide the semiconductor wafer to the transport carrier  112  through the opening  128  and the opening in the door frame  134 . 
     In this way, with the carrier door  140  removed and the chamber door  136  in the open position, air-tight seals are formed between the sidewall on which the opening  126  is located and the sidewall on which the opening  128  is located. In particular, an air-tight seal may be formed between the transport carrier  112  and the sealing component  138 , an air-tight seal may be formed between the sealing component  138  and the wall of the chamber  132  on which the opening  126  is located, an air-tight seal may be formed between the sealing component  138  and the door frame  134 , and an air-tight seal may be formed between the door frame  134  and the top, bottom, and sides of the chamber  132 . This provides an air-tight seal through the chamber  132  between the opening  126  and the opening  128 . The air-tight seal through the chamber  132  between the opening  126  and the opening  128  permits the transport carrier  112  to be accessed without exposing the semiconductor wafers that are between the transport carrier  112  and the semiconductor processing tool  102 . 
     As indicated above,  FIG. 1  is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 2A-2F  are diagrams of example implementations of the sealing component  138  for forming an air-tight seal around a transport carrier  112  described herein.  FIG. 2A  illustrates perspective views of example implementations  210  and  220  of the sealing component  138  in which the sealing component  138  includes two portions: a portion  138   a  and portion  138   b . Example implementation  210  illustrates an example of the sealing component  138  in an expanded configuration, where the portion  138   a  and the portion  138   b  are not contracted around the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 . In this configuration, the portion  138   a  and the portion  138   b  may spaced away from the body  114  of the transport carrier  112  at a distance that permits the door  140  and the body  114  of the transport carrier  112  to fit through the opening formed by the portion  138   a  and the portion  138   b.    
     As further shown in the example implementation  220  in  FIG. 2A , the sealing component  138  may transition to a contracted configuration, in which the portion  138   a  and the portion  138   b  are contracted around the body  114  of the transport carrier  112  to form the air-tight seal around the transport carrier  112 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates an elevation view of an example implementation  230 , which shows a first position  240  of the portions  138   a  and  138   b , and a second position  250  of the portions  138   a  and  138   b . The first position  240  may correspond to the expanded configuration illustrated in the example implementation  210  of  FIG. 2A , and the second position  250  may correspond to the contracted configuration illustrated in the example implementation  220  of  FIG. 2A . As shown in  FIG. 2B , in some implementations, the portion  138   a  and the portion  138   b  may each transition between the first position  240  and the second position  250  in a diagonal path of travel. For example, the portion  138   a  may move downward and inward in a diagonal path of travel from the first position  240  to the second position  250 , and may move upward and outward in a diagonal path of travel from the second position  250  to the first position  240 . As another example, the portion  138   b  may move upward and inward in a diagonal path of travel from the first position  240  to the second position  250 , and may move downward and outward in a diagonal path of travel from the second position  250  to the first position  240 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 2B , in the example implementation  230 , the portion  138   a  may cover substantially the entire top of the transport carrier  112  and substantially an entire first side of the transport carrier  112 . The portion  138   b  may cover substantially the entire bottom of the transport carrier  112  and substantially an entire second side of the transport carrier  112  opposing the first side. 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates an elevation view of an example implementation  260 . In the example implementation  260 , the sealing component  138  includes a plurality of portions: a portion  138   a  and a second portion  138   b . The portion  138   a  may cover substantially the entire top of the transport carrier  112 , a first portion of a first side of the transport carrier  112 , and a first portion of a second side of the transport carrier  112  opposing the first side. The portion  138   b  may cover substantially the entire bottom of the transport carrier  112 , a second portion of the first side of the transport carrier  112 , and a second portion of the second side of the transport carrier  112 . The first portion of the first side covered by the portion  138   a , and the second portion of the first side covered by the portion  138   b  may substantially encompass the entire first side of the transport carrier  112 . The first portion of the second side covered by the portion  138   a , and the second portion of the second side covered by the portion  138   b  may substantially encompass the entire second side of the transport carrier  112 . 
       FIG. 2D  illustrates an elevation view of an example implementation  270 . In the example implementation  270 , the sealing component  138  includes a plurality of portions: a portion  138   a  and a second portion  138   b . The portion  138   a  may cover substantially an entire first side of the transport carrier  112 , a first portion of the top of the transport carrier  112 , and a first portion of the bottom of the transport carrier  112 . The portion  138   b  may cover substantially an entire second side of the transport carrier  112  opposing the first side, a second portion of the top of the transport carrier  112 , and a second portion of the bottom of the transport carrier  112 . The first portion of the top covered by the portion  138   a , and the second portion of the top covered by the portion  138   b  may substantially encompass the entire top of the transport carrier  112 . The first portion of the bottom covered by the portion  138   a , and the second portion of the bottom covered by the portion  138   b  may substantially encompass the entire bottom of the transport carrier  112 . 
       FIG. 2E  illustrates an elevation view of an example implementation  280 . In the example implementation  280 , the sealing component  138  includes a plurality of portions: a portion  138   a , a portion  138   b , and a portion  138   c . The portion  138   a  may cover a first portion of the top of the transport carrier  112  and substantially an entire first side of the transport carrier  112 . The portion  138   b  may cover a second portion of the top side of the transport carrier  112  and substantially an entire second side of the transport carrier  112  opposing the first side. The portion  138   c  may cover the entire bottom of the transport carrier  112 . Other example implementations of the sealing component  138  having three portions may be used with the docking device  108 . 
       FIG. 2F  illustrates an elevation view of an example implementation  290 . In the example implementation  290 , the sealing component  138  includes a plurality of portions: a portion  138   a , a portion  138   b , a portion  138   c , and a portion  138   d . The portion  138   a  may cover substantially the entire top of the transport carrier  112 . The portion  138   b  may cover substantially the entire bottom of the transport carrier  112 . The portion  138   c  may cover substantially an entire first side of the transport carrier  112 . The portion  138   d  may cover substantially an entire second side of the transport carrier  112  opposing the first side. Other example implementations of the sealing component  138  having four portions may be used with the docking device  108 . 
     As indicated above,  FIGS. 2A-2F  are provided as examples. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to  FIGS. 2A-2F . In some implementations, the sealing component  138  may include five or more portions in various configurations different from those described herein. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of an example  300  of the chamber door  136  described herein. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the chamber door  136  may include an elongated body. Moreover, the chamber door  136  may include a mounting plate  302  attached, connected, and/or otherwise mounted to a support structure  304 . The support structure  304  may be attached, connected, and/or otherwise mounted to the elongated body of the chamber door  136 . The mounting plate  302  and the support structure  304  may be attached, connected, and/or otherwise mounted to a side of the elongated body of the chamber  132  that faces the door frame  134  in the chamber  132  of the docking device  108 . 
     The mounting plate  302  may be configured to remove the carrier door  140  from the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 , may be configured to hold and/or support the carrier door  140  of the transport carrier  112  when the chamber door  136  moves between the closed position and the open position, and/or may be configured to place the carrier door  140  onto the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 . The mounting plate  302  may include one or more vacuum holes  306  and one or more latch keys  308 . The vacuum holes  306  may be connected to tube(s), plumbing fixture(s), and/or one or more other components that are configured to pull air through the vacuum holes  306  to form a negative pressure on the face of the mounting plate  302  near the vacuum holes  306 . The negative pressure may form a suction or a vacuum seal between the mounting plate  302  and the carrier door  140 . The mounting plate  302  may hold and/or support the carrier door  140  based on the negative pressure generated through the vacuum holes  306 . 
     The latch key(s)  308  may be configured to unlatch the carrier door  140  from the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 . For example, the latch key(s)  308  may include a key, an elongated member, or another component that is configured to open a door latch and/or a door lock on the carrier door  14 . In some implementations, the mounting plate  302  includes a single latch key  308  (e.g., on a side of the mounting plate  302  or substantially near a center of the mounting plate  302 ). In some implementations, the mounting plate  302  includes a plurality of latch keys  308  substantially near one or more edges of the mounting plate  302 . 
     The support structure  304  may include a jack (e.g., a scissor jack, a hydraulic jack, a pneumatic jack, or another type of jack), a screw mechanism, a rail system, or another type of structure configured to extend the mounting plate  302  away from the elongated body of the chamber door  136  and contract the mounting plate  302  toward the elongated body of the chamber door  136 . In this way, the support structure  304  may extend the mounting plate  302  toward the carrier door  140  to remove the carrier door  140  from the transport carrier  112 , may contract the mounting plate  302  after removing the carrier door  140  so that the chamber door  136  may be moved to the opened position, and may extend the mounting plate  302  toward transport carrier  112  to place the carrier door  140  onto the transport carrier  112 . 
     As indicated above,  FIG. 3  is provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4N  are diagrams of one or more example implementations  400  described herein. The example implementation(s)  400  may include one or more example implementations illustrating various operations of the docking device  108  and other tools included in the example semiconductor processing environment  100 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , a transport carrier  112  may be placed on the shuttle platform  110  of the load port  104 . For example, a mobile robot, an OHT, or another transport tool may place the transport carrier  112  on the shuttle platform  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the shuttle platform  110  may slide or otherwise move toward the opening  126  in the docking device  108  such that the transport carrier  112  is at least partially inserted into the chamber  132  of the docking device  108  through the opening  126 . The shuttle platform  110  may slide or otherwise move toward the opening  126  in the docking device  108  such that the carrier door  140  of the transport carrier  112  is fully inserted into the chamber  132  of the docking device  108  through the opening  126 , and such that the body  114  of the transport carrier  112  is at least partially inserted into the chamber  132  of the docking device  108  through the opening  126 . 
     As shown in the close-up view  402  in  FIG. 4B , the carrier door  140  clears the width or thickness of the sealing component  138  when the transport carrier  112  is at least partially inserted into the chamber  132 . As further shown in the close-up view  402  in  FIG. 4B , the portions  138   a  and  138   b  of the sealing component  138  may be in the first position  240  (e.g., the expanded configuration) when the transport carrier  112  is at least partially inserted into the chamber  132  of the docking device  108  through the opening  126  to provide clearance between the transport carrier  112  and the sealing component  138 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4C , with the transport carrier  112  at least partially inserted into the chamber  132  through the opening  126 , the sealing component  138  may contract around the transport carrier  112  to form an air-tight seal around the transport carrier  112 . In particular, the air-tight seal may be formed between the sealing component  138  and the transport carrier  112 , and may be formed between the side of the chamber  132  (e.g., the sidewall) on which the opening  126  is located and the sealing component  138 . In this way, the opening  126  is sealed to reduce, minimize, and/or eliminate the flow of contaminants from the example semiconductor processing environment  100  through the opening  126  and into the chamber  132 . As shown in the close-up view  404  in  FIG. 4C , the portions  138   a  and  138   b  may contract around the transport carrier  112  by transitioning from the first position  240  (e.g., the expanded configuration) to the second position  250  (e.g., the contracted configuration). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4D , with the air-tight seal formed around the transport carrier  112  by the sealing component  138 , the chamber door  136  may remove the carrier door  140  from the transport carrier  112 . For example, the support structure  304  may extend the mounting plate  302  toward the carrier door  140  through the opening in the door frame  134 . The one or more latch keys  308  on the mounting plate  302  may unlatch the carrier door  140  from the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 . The vacuum holes  306  on the mounting plate  302  may form a vacuum seal between the carrier door  140  and the mounting plate  302 . With the vacuum seal formed, the support structure  304  may contract the mounting plate  302  (with the carrier door  140  supported and/or held thereon) toward the chamber door  136 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 4D , the chamber door  136  may slide and/or otherwise move backward away from the door frame  134  and toward the opening  128 , which removes the air-tight seal between door frame  134  and the chamber door  136 . In particular, the chamber door  136  may slide and/or otherwise move backward away from the door frame  134  and toward the opening  128  after removing the carrier door  140  from the transport carrier  112  and contracting the mounting plate  302  toward the chamber door  136 . The chamber door  136  may slide and/or otherwise move backward away from the door frame  134  a sufficient distance to permit the carrier door  140  to clear the door frame  134  when the chamber door  136  slides and/or otherwise moves downward into the chamber  132 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4E , the chamber door  136  may slide and/or otherwise move out of the way of the opening in the door frame  134  such that the wafer transport tool  124  is permitted to access the transport carrier  112  through the opening in the door frame  134 . In some implementations, the chamber door  136  slides and/or otherwise moves downward within the chamber  132 . In some implementations, the chamber door  136  slides and/or otherwise moves upward within the chamber  132 . In some implementations, the chamber door  136  slides and/or otherwise moves to a side within the chamber  132 . In some implementations, the chamber door  136  slides and/or otherwise moves in a combination of directions within the chamber  132 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4F , the wafer transport tool  124  of the interface tool  106  may retrieve and/or obtain a wafer  406  from the transport carrier  112  through the opening in the door frame  134  and through the opening  128 . In this way, the wafer transport tool  124  retrieves and/or obtains the wafer  406  from the transport carrier  112  while the air-tight seal is formed around the transport carrier  112  by the sealing component  138 . As shown in  FIG. 4G , the wafer transport tool  124  may retract the wafer  406  through the opening in the door frame  134  and through the opening  128  into the chamber  118  of the interface tool  106 . As shown in  FIG. 4H , the wafer transport tool  124  may provide the wafer  406  to the semiconductor processing tool  102  through the opening  130 . The wafer  406  may be processed by the semiconductor processing tool  102  through one or more semiconductor processing operations. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4I , the wafer transport tool  124  may retrieve the wafer  406  from the semiconductor processing tool  102  through the opening  130  (e.g., after the semiconductor processing tool  102  processes the wafer  406  through one or more semiconductor processing operations) and retracts the wafer  406  into the chamber  118  of the interface tool  106 . As shown in  FIG. 4J , the wafer transport tool  124  may extend into the opening  128  and the opening in the chamber door  136  to place and/or otherwise provide the wafer  406  to the transport carrier  112 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4K , the chamber door  136  (with the carrier door  140  mounted to the mounting plate  302 ) may move upward within the chamber  132 . As shown in  FIG. 4L , the chamber door  136  (with the carrier door  140  mounted to the mounting plate  302 ) may move toward the door frame  134  and may form an air-tight seal between the door frame  134  and the chamber door  136 . The support structure  304  may extend toward the transport carrier  112  and may place the carrier door  140  onto the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 . The vacuum hole(s)  306  may release the vacuum seal between the carrier door  140  and the mounting plate  302 , and the latch key(s)  308  may latch the carrier door  140  onto the body  114  of the transport carrier  112 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4M , the sealing components  138  may transition from the second position  250  (e.g., the contract configuration) to the first position  240  (e.g., the expanded configuration) to release the air-tight seal around the transport carrier  112 . As shown in  FIG. 4N , the shuttle platform  110  may slide and/or otherwise move the transport carrier  112  out of the chamber  132  and the opening  126 . In some implementations, a mobile robot, an OHT, or another transport tool may transport the transport carrier  112  to another location in the example semiconductor processing environment  100 . 
     As indicated above,  FIGS. 4A-4N  are provided as examples. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to  FIGS. 4A-4N . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of example components of a device  500 . In some implementations, one or more devices and/or tools of the example semiconductor processing environment  100  (e.g., the semiconductor processing tool  102 , the load port  104 , the interface tool  106 , and/or the docking device  108 ) may include one or more devices  500  and/or one or more components of device  500 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , device  500  may include a bus  510 , a processor  520 , a memory  530 , a storage component  540 , an input component  550 , an output component  560 , and a communication component  570 . 
     Bus  510  includes a component that enables wired and/or wireless communication among the components of device  500 . Processor  520  includes a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, a field-programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated circuit, and/or another type of processing component. Processor  520  is implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. In some implementations, processor  520  includes one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform a function. Memory  530  includes a random access memory, a read only memory, and/or another type of memory (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory). 
     Storage component  540  stores information and/or software related to the operation of device  500 . For example, storage component  540  may include a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, a solid state disk drive, a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium. Input component  550  enables device  500  to receive input, such as user input and/or sensed inputs. For example, input component  550  may include a touch screen, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a microphone, a switch, a sensor, a global positioning system component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or an actuator. Output component  560  enables device  500  to provide output, such as via a display, a speaker, and/or one or more light-emitting diodes. Communication component  570  enables device  500  to communicate with other devices, such as via a wired connection and/or a wireless connection. For example, communication component  570  may include a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver, a modem, a network interface card, and/or an antenna. 
     Device  500  may perform one or more processes described herein. For example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., memory  530  and/or storage component  540 ) may store a set of instructions (e.g., one or more instructions, code, software code, and/or program code) for execution by processor  520 . Processor  520  may execute the set of instructions to perform one or more processes described herein. In some implementations, execution of the set of instructions, by one or more processors  520 , causes the one or more processors  520  and/or the device  500  to perform one or more processes described herein. In some implementations, hardwired circuitry may be used instead of or in combination with the instructions to perform one or more processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
     The number and arrangement of components shown in  FIG. 5  are provided as an example. Device  500  may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown in  FIG. 5 . Additionally, or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of device  500  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components of device  500 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an example process  600  associated with accessing a transport carrier. In some implementations, one or more process blocks of  FIG. 6  may be performed by a docking device (e.g., docking device  108 ). In some implementations, one or more process blocks of  FIG. 6  may be performed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including the docking device, such as a semiconductor processing tool  102 , a load port  104 , an interface tool  106 , a wafer transport tool  124 , and/or another device. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more process blocks of  FIG. 6  may be performed by one or more components of device  500 , such as processor  520 , memory  530 , storage component  540 , input component  550 , output component  560 , and/or communication component  570 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , process  600  may include inserting a front portion of a transport carrier through a first opening of a docking device and into a chamber of the docking device (block  610 ). For example, the load port  104  may insert a front portion of a transport carrier  112  through a first opening  126  of a docking device  108  and into a chamber  132  of the docking device, as described above. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 6 , process  600  may include contracting a sealing component of the docking device around the transport carrier to form an air-tight seal around the transport carrier (block  620 ). For example, the docking device  108  may contract a sealing component  138  of the docking device  108  around the transport carrier  112  to form an air-tight seal around the transport carrier  112 , as described above. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 6 , process  600  may include, after forming the air-tight seal around the transport, carrier removing a carrier door of the transport carrier and opening a chamber door of the docking device to permit access to the transport carrier from the chamber (block  630 ). For example, the docking device  108  may, after forming the air-tight seal around the transport carrier  112 , remove a carrier door  140  of the transport carrier  112  and open a chamber door  136  of the docking device  108  to permit access to the transport carrier  112  from the chamber  132 , as described above. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 6 , process  600  may include accessing, using a wafer transport tool, the transport carrier through the chamber while the air-tight seal is around the transport carrier (block  640 ). For example, the interface tool  106  may access, using a wafer transport tool  124 , the transport carrier  112  through the chamber  132  while the air-tight seal is around the transport carrier  112 , as described above. 
     Process  600  may include additional implementations, such as any single implementation or any combination of implementations described below and/or in connection with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein. 
     In a first implementation, accessing the transport carrier  112  includes retrieving (e.g., using the wafer transport tool  124 ) a wafer  406  from the transport carrier  112  through the chamber  132  while the air-tight seal is around the transport carrier  112 , and providing (e.g., using the wafer transport tool  124 ) the wafer  406  to a semiconductor processing tool  102 . In a second implementation, alone or in combination with the first implementation, accessing (e.g., using the wafer transport tool  124 ) the transport carrier  112  includes retrieving a wafer  406  from a semiconductor processing tool  102 , and providing (e.g., using the wafer transport tool  124 ) the wafer  406  to the transport carrier  112  through the chamber  132  while the air-tight seal is around the transport carrier  112 . 
     In a third implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second implementations, inserting the front portion of the transport carrier  112  through the first opening  126  includes placing the transport carrier  112  on a shuttle platform  110 , and sliding the shuttle platform  110  with the transport carrier  112  thereon through the first opening  126 . In a fourth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third implementations, removing the carrier door  140  includes pressing a mounting plate  302 , attached to the chamber door  136 , against the carrier door  140 , forming a vacuum seal between the mounting plate  302  and the carrier door  140 , and retracting the mounting plate  302  toward the chamber door  136  while the vacuum seal is between the mounting plate  302  and the carrier door  140 . 
     In a fifth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth implementations, the sealing component  138  includes two or more portions (e.g., the portion  138   a , the portion  138   b , the portion  138   c , and/or the portion  138   d ), and contracting the sealing component  138  around the transport carrier  112  to form the air-tight seal around the transport carrier  112  includes moving the two or more portions from a first position ( 240 ) to a second position ( 250 ), in which the two or more portions are contracted around the transport carrier  112 , to form the air-tight seal around the transport carrier  112 . In a sixth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth implementations, opening the chamber door  136  to permit access to the transport carrier  112  from the chamber  132  includes sliding the chamber door  136  away from a door frame  134  in the chamber  132 , where sliding the chamber door  136  away from the door frame  134  releases another air-tight seal between the chamber door  136  and the door frame  134 , and sliding the chamber door  136  downward in the chamber  132 . 
     Although  FIG. 6  shows example blocks of process  600 , in some implementations, process  600  may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted in  FIG. 6 . Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process  600  may be performed in parallel. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an example process  700  associated with accessing a transport carrier. In some implementations, one or more process blocks of  FIG. 7  may be performed by a docking device (e.g., docking device  108 ). In some implementations, one or more process blocks of  FIG. 7  may be performed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including the docking device, such as a semiconductor processing tool  102 , a load port  104 , an interface tool  106 , a wafer transport tool  124 , and/or another device. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more process blocks of  FIG. 7  may be performed by one or more components of device  500 , such as processor  520 , memory  530 , storage component  540 , input component  550 , output component  560 , and/or communication component  570 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , process  700  may include retrieving, using a wafer transport tool, a wafer from a semiconductor processing tool (block  710 ). For example, the wafer transport tool  124  may retrieve the wafer  406  from the semiconductor processing tool  102 , as described above. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 7 , process  700  may include providing, using the wafer transport tool, the wafer to a transport carrier through a chamber of a docking device while an air-tight seal is around a front portion of the transport carrier that is inserted through an opening in the chamber (block  720 ). For example, the wafer transport tool  124  may provide the wafer  406  to the transport carrier  114  through the chamber  132  of the docking device  106  while an air-tight seal is around a front portion of the transport carrier  114  that is inserted through the opening  126  in the chamber  132 , as described above. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 7 , process  700  may include placing a carrier door onto the transport carrier while the air-tight seal is around the front portion of the transport carrier (block  730 ). For example, the docking device  108  may place the carrier door  140  onto the transport carrier  114  while the air-tight seal is around the front portion of the transport carrier  114 , as described above. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 7 , process  700  may include retracting a sealing component of the docking device around the transport carrier to remove the air-tight seal around the transport carrier after placing the carrier door onto the transport carrier (block  740 ). For example, the docking device  108  may retract the sealing component  138  of the docking device  108  around the transport carrier  114  to remove the air-tight seal around the transport carrier  114  after placing the carrier door  140  onto the transport carrier  114 , as described above. 
     Process  700  may include additional implementations, such as any single implementation or any combination of implementations described below and/or in connection with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein. 
     In a first implementation, placing the carrier door  140  onto the transport carrier  114  includes placing the carrier door  140  onto the transport carrier  114  using the mounting plate  302  on the chamber door  136 . In a second implementation, alone or in combination with the first implementation, the mounting plate  302  includes one or more vacuum holes  306  configured to form a vacuum seal between the carrier door  140  and the mounting plate  302 , and the chamber door  136  further includes a support structure  304  configured to extend the mounting plate  302  toward the transport carrier  1140  to place the carrier door  140  onto the transport carrier  114  while the vacuum seal is formed between the carrier door  140  and the mounting plate  302  to place the carrier door  140  onto the transport carrier  114 . 
     In a third implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second implementations, placing the carrier door  140  onto the transport carrier  114  includes latching the carrier door  140  onto the transport carrier  114  using a latch key  308  on the mounting plate  302 . In a fourth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third implementations, process  700  includes forming another air-tight seal between the chamber door  136  and a door frame  134  in the chamber  132 . In a fifth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth implementations, forming the other air-tight seal between the chamber door  136  and the door frame  134  includes forming the other air-tight seal between the chamber door  136  and the door frame  134  prior to retracting the sealing component  138  to remove the air-tight seal around the transport carrier  114 . 
     Although  FIG. 7  shows example blocks of process  700 , in some implementations, process  700  may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted in  FIG. 7 . Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process  700  may be performed in parallel. 
     In this way, a transport carrier docking device may be positioned between a load port and an interface tool to reduce and/or minimize cross contamination of semiconductor wafers that are transferred between the load port and an associated semiconductor processing tool. The transport carrier docking device may be capable of forming an air-tight seal around a transport carrier while a front portion of the transport carrier is inserted into a chamber of the transport carrier docking device. Semiconductor wafers in the transport carrier may be accessed by a transport tool while the air-tight seal around the transport carrier prevents and/or reduces the likelihood that contaminants in the semiconductor fabrication facility will reach the semiconductor wafers. The air-tight seal around the transport carrier may reduce defects of the semiconductor wafers that might otherwise be caused by the contaminants, may increase manufacturing yield and quality in the semiconductor fabrication facility, and/or may permit the continued reduction in device and/or feature sizes of integrated circuits and/or semiconductor devices that are to be formed on semiconductor wafers. 
     As described in greater detail above, some implementations described herein provide a docking device. The docking device includes a chamber. The docking device includes a first opening in a first side of the chamber. The docking device includes a second opening in a second side of the chamber. The docking device includes a chamber door configured to form a first air-tight seal against a door frame of a docking interface, where the chamber door is configured to form the first air-tight seal in the chamber between the first opening and the second opening when the chamber door is in a closed position. The docking device includes a sealing component configured to form a second air-tight seal around a transport carrier when the transport carrier is at least partially inserted into the first opening. 
     As described in greater detail above, some implementations described herein provide a method. The method includes inserting a front portion of a transport carrier through a first opening of a docking device and into a chamber of the docking device. The method includes contracting a sealing component of the docking device around the transport carrier to form an air-tight seal around the transport carrier. The method includes, after forming the air-tight seal around the transport carrier, removing a carrier door of the transport carrier and opening a chamber door of the docking device to permit access to the transport carrier from the chamber. The method includes accessing, using a wafer transport tool, the transport carrier through the chamber while the air-tight seal is around the transport carrier. 
     As described in greater detail above, some implementations described herein provide a method. The method includes retrieving, using a wafer transport tool, a wafer from a semiconductor processing tool. The method includes providing, using the wafer transport tool, the wafer to a transport carrier through a chamber of a docking device while an air-tight seal is around a front portion of the transport carrier that is inserted through an opening in the chamber. The method includes placing a carrier door onto the transport carrier while the air-tight seal is around the front portion of the transport carrier. The method includes retracting a sealing component of the docking device around the transport carrier to remove the air-tight seal around the transport carrier after placing the carrier door onto the transport carrier. 
     The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.