Abstract:
An apparatus for placing a FOUP on a loadport  20  of a system for processing disc-shaped objects is disclosed. Several light indicators  23  are provided at the loadport  20 , which indicate a correct orientation and positioning of the FOUP on the loadport  20  as well as clearance to load or unload the loadport  20 . A operating element  30  is arranged at the loadport, which when activated gives clearance for processing the disc-shaped objects in the FOUP.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to German patent application number DE 10 2004 062 591.3, filed Dec. 24, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     And the invention relates to an apparatus for placing a FOUP on a loadport. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for placing a FOUP on a loadport of a system for processing disc-shaped objects, whereby several indicator lights are provided at the loadport, which indicate a correct orientation and positioning of the FOUP on the loadport as well as clearance to load or unload the loadport.  
         [0003]     Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for placing a FOUP on a loadport.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In semiconductor manufacturing, wafers or disc-shaped substrates, respectively, are sequentially processed in a multiplicity of processing steps during the production process. The disc-shaped substrates are transported to the systems in containers, the FOUPs. The various processing steps are then carried out in the systems.  
         [0005]     According to the state-of-the-art, FOUPs are placed on the loadports of the systems. The correct position and orientation of the FOUPs on the loadport is recognized by sensors and visualized for the operator by a lighting device. The FOUP may not be removed from the loadport when processing of the disc-shaped objects of the FOUP is being carried out. If this occurs nonetheless, this event is indicated by an optical or acoustic signal. The alarm can be switched off by the operator.  
         [0006]     US patent application 2002/0155641 A1 discloses an apparatus for orienting a loadport in a processing machine. The apparatus has a base plate in which at least two vertical bore holes are implemented that interact with the corresponding pins in the processing machine. And orientation block is provided for orienting in which at least one horizontal borehole is provided. The orientation of the loadport is determined via the borehole by means of a light source and a detector.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The object underlying the invention is to create an apparatus with which the FOUPs may be safely placed on unused loadports and removed from these at any time without triggering an alarm.  
         [0008]     This object is solved by an apparatus for placing a FOUP on a loadport of a system for processing disc-shaped objects. The loadport comprises several indicator lights that indicate a correct orientation and positioning of the FOUP on the loadport and clearance to load or unload the loadport. Furthermore, a operating element is arranged at the loadport, which, when activated, gives clearance for processing the disc-shaped objects in the FOUP.  
         [0009]     A further object of the invention is to make available a process that enables the FOUPs to be placed safely and allows the FOUPs to the switched at will without triggering an alarm.  
         [0010]     This object is solved by a process with the following characteristics: 
        placing a FOUP on an unused loadport;     checking the correct orientation of the FOUP on the loadport;     checking the activity of a operating element  30  that is provided at a loadport  20 ; and     allowing multiple placements and/or removals of the FOUP when the operating element  30  is activated.        
 
         [0015]     It is particularly advantageous if the loadport is implemented such that FOUPs may be placed on it before, for example, processing occurs in another system. The apparatus for placing a FOUP on a loadport of a system for processing disc-shaped objects is provided with several light indicators at the loadport. The light indicators indicate the correct orientation and positioning of the FOUP on the loadport. The type and correct positioning of the FOUP may be determined by means of sensors. An operating element is arranged at the loadport, which when activated gives clearance for processing the disc-shaped objects in the FOUP.  
         [0016]     The operating element is provided with a light that indicates that processing of the disc-shaped objects has not yet started, and that the FOUP may therefore be removed at any time. The loadport is implemented in accordance with SEMI E15 and interlocks with a bottom side of the FOUP.  
         [0017]     The process for placing a FOUP on a loadport comprises the following steps: setting a FOUP on an unused loadport; checking the correct orientation of the FOUP on the loadport; checking the activity of an operating element provided at a loadport; and allowing multiple placements and/or removals of the FOUP when the operating element is activated. The activity of the operating element is indicated by a light in the operating element. Activated, i.e., lit operating elements, enable and permit multiple placements and/or removals of the FOUP from loadport.  
         [0018]     Further advantageous developments of the invention may be inferred from the subclaims.  
         [0019]     The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings:  
         [0021]     The subject of the invention is schematically represented in the diagram and is described below based on the figures. They show:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1 a  schematic view of a first embodiment of the system, comprising a microinspection device and a macroinspection device;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2 a  perspective view of a loadport connected to a system for processing disc-shaped substrates;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3 a  perspective view of a loadport with the operating element according to the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4 a  schematic view of the operating element that is provided on the base plate of the loadport; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 5 a  schematic representation of a flow diagram of the process according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the system  100 , comprising a microinspection device  101  and a macroinspection device  102 . The macroinspection device  102  is implemented as a module and can therefore be quickly and simply connected to the system  100 . The front side and back side  2 ,  3  of a disc-shaped object  4  (see  FIG. 4 ) are imaged in the macroinspection device  102 . Furthermore, the system  100  is provided with at least one FOUP  103  via which the disc-shaped objects  4  are transported to and from the system  100 . The system is provided with a handler  104  that removes the disc-shaped objects  4  from the FOUPs  103  and places them in the FOUPs  103 , or transfers them on to the macroinspection device  102  or two a three-paddle handler  105 . The system  100  represented in  FIG. 1  comprises a first transfer position, a second transfer position, and a third transfer position. The three-paddle handler  105  takes the disc-shaped object  4  from the handler  104  at the first transfer position. At the second transfer position, there is a pre-aligner  106  that takes the disc-shaped objects  4  from the three-paddle handler  105 . At the third transfer position, the microinspection device  101  takes the disc-shaped objects from the three-paddle handler  105 . It is evident that the aforedescribed system  100  is not limited to this concrete embodiment. Many other arrangements are conceivable in which one or several FOUPs  103  may interact with the system  100  for processing disc-shaped objects.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a loadport  20  connected to a system  100  for processing disc-shaped substrates. The loadport  20  is connected with the system  100 , and therefore forms an interface between the system  100  for processing the disc-shaped substrates. The loadport  20  is provided with a base plate  21  onto which a FOUP (not represented)  101  can be placed. The base plate  21  itself bears a connection plate  22  that is implemented in accordance with the SEMI E15 standard and interlocks with a bottom side (not represented) of the FOUP  101 . By interlocking, the FOUP  101  is securely seated on the loadport  20 . In addition to the aforedescribed interlocking, coupling elements (not represented) between the FOUP  101  and a loadport  20  grip each other to achieve a secure seat. A FOUP  101  filled with disc-shaped objects can therefore not be accidentally knocked off of the loadport  20 , so that an additional level of security to protect the disc-shaped objects is built in. In addition, several light indicators  23  are provided at the loadport  20 , which indicate the correct positioning of the FOUP  101  on the loadport  20 . Similarly, the light indicators  23  indicate whether the FOUP  101  has been placed on the loadport or whether the present FOUP may be removed. In addition, an opening  25  is provided in the loadport  20 , via which the disc-shaped objects are transported from the FOUP to the system  100 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the loadport  20  with the operating element  30  according to the invention. The operating element  30  makes it possible for a FOUP  101  to be placed on the loadport without initializing the lock device, by means of which the FOUP  101  is prevented from being removed before the disc-shaped objects contained in the FOUP  101  have been processed by the system  100 . Once the operator has placed a FOUP  101  on the loadport and presses or activates the operating element  30 , the disc-shaped objects contained in the FOUP  101  are processed. If the operator parks a FOUP  101  on the loadport  20  without activating the operating element  30 , the FOUP  101  is secured and fixed on the loadport  20  and can be removed and lowered again as desired.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an operating element  30  that is provided on the base plate  21  of the loadport  20 . The operating element  30  is provided with an internal light, which indicates that processing of the disc-shaped objects has not yet started, so that the FOUP may be removed from the loadport  20  at any time. The operating element  30  further comprises an activation element  31 , via which activation or deactivation, respectively, of the operating element  30  may be undertaken.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of a flow diagram of the process according to the invention. A free or unused loadport  20  is available. In a first step  40 , the operator can place or remove a FOUP on this loadport  20 . At this time, the loadport  20  tests to determine whether the FOUP is correctly placed. If the FOUP is not correctly placed, this can be corrected. In a first status inquiry  42 , the position of the FOUP is determined. Subsequently a status inquiry  43   a  determines whether the light  33  in the operating element  30  is activated. If this is not the case, the process may be resumed, and a second status inquiry  44  determines whether the disc-shaped substrates in the FOUP may be processed or not. The decision whether to process or not is initiated by activating  45  the operating element  30 . In a further status inquiry  43   b , it is determined whether the light  33  in the operating element  30  is deactivated. If the light  33  in the operating element  30  is deactivated, then the disc-shaped objects in the FOUP are processed. Processing  46  of the FOUP ensues. Once processing is concluded, the FOUP may be removed from the loadport  20 . In other words, the FOUP is removed  47  from the loadport  20 . If the operating element  30  is not pressed, the FOUP may then be removed from the loadport  20  at any time.  
         [0032]     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.