Patent ID: 12191179

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the drawings indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference, and the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on”. Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art. In the case of conflict, the present document, including any definitions given herein, will prevail. The same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any term(s) discussed herein, and no special significance is to be placed upon whether a term is elaborated or discussed herein. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as “first”, “second” or “third” can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like.

First Embodiment

Referring toFIG.1toFIG.11, a first embodiment of the present disclosure provides a load port100. As shown inFIG.1toFIG.4, the load port100is configured for selectively carrying one of wafer cassettes different from each other. The wafer cassettes in the present embodiment include a first wafer cassette W1, a second wafer cassette W2, and a third wafer cassette W, which are different from each other, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

As shown inFIG.1,FIG.5, andFIG.6, the load port100includes a carrying board1, a gas-inlet module2assembled to one side of the carrying board1, a gas-outlet module3assembled to the opposite side of the carrying board1, a gas-filling module4connected to the gas-inlet module2, and a gas-suction module5that is connected to the gas-outlet module3, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, the gas-filling module4and the gas-suction module5can be external components that are located outside of and additionally assembled to the load port100.

The carrying board1has a carrying side11(e.g., a top surface of the carrying board1shown inFIG.5), the carrying board1can be structurally designed according to assembling requirements of the gas-inlet module2and the gas-outlet module3, and the carrying board1can further have alignment mechanisms (not labeled in the drawings) for the wafer cassettes, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The gas-inlet module2includes two gas-inlet nozzles21, a shared gas-inlet valve22, an independent gas-inlet valve23, and two gas-inlet pipes24a,24b. The two gas-inlet nozzles21are disposed on the carrying side11of the carrying board1. Each of the two gas-inlet nozzles21in the present embodiment has an inherently one-piece structure, and has a shared gas-inlet channel211and an independent gas-inlet channel212that is spaced apart from the shared gas-inlet channel211. In other words, each of the two gas-inlet nozzles21has a structural design with dual-channel, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, any one of the two gas-inlet nozzles21can be not integrally formed as a single one-piece structure; or, the shared gas-inlet channels211are formed in one of the two gas-inlet nozzles21, and the independent gas-inlet channels212are formed in the other one of the two gas-inlet nozzles21; or, the carrying board1is provided with four gas-inlet nozzles21assembled to one side thereof (and respectively having two shared gas-inlet channels211and two independent gas-inlet channels212).

The shared gas-inlet valve22and the independent gas-inlet valve23are located under the carrying board1and are connected to the gas-filling module4, the shared gas-inlet valve22is in spatial communication with the shared gas-inlet channels211of the two gas-inlet nozzles21, and the independent gas-inlet valve23is in spatial communication with the independent gas-inlet channels212of the two gas-inlet nozzles21.

In the present embodiment, the shared gas-inlet valve22is in spatial communication with the shared gas-inlet channels211of the two gas-inlet nozzles21through one of the two gas-inlet pipes24a,24b(e.g., the gas-inlet pipe24a), and the independent gas-inlet valve23is in spatial communication with the independent gas-inlet channels212of the two gas-inlet nozzles21through the other one of the two gas-inlet pipes24a,24b(e.g., the gas-inlet pipe24b).

Specifically, each of the two gas-inlet pipes24a,24bin the present embodiment includes a connection segment241embedded in the carrying board1and a valve segment242that is connected to the connection segment241. In one of the two gas-inlet pipes24a,24b(e.g., the gas-inlet pipe24a), the connection segment241is connected to the shared gas-inlet channels211of the two gas-inlet nozzles21, and the valve segment242connects the connection segment241and the shared gas-inlet valve22by passing through the carrying board1. In the other one of the two gas-inlet pipes24a,24b(e.g., the gas-inlet pipe24b), the connection segment241is connected to the independent gas-inlet channels212of the two gas-inlet nozzles21, and the valve segment242connects the connection segment241and the independent gas-inlet valve23by passing through the carrying board1.

The gas-outlet module3includes two gas-outlet nozzles31, two independent gas-outlet nozzles32, a first gas-outlet valve33, a second gas-outlet valve34, a third gas-outlet valve35, a first gas-outlet pipe36, a second gas-outlet pipe37, and a third gas-outlet valve38. The two gas-outlet nozzles31and the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32are disposed on the carrying side11of the carrying board1, and the independent gas-outlet nozzles32are located between the two gas-outlet nozzles31.

Each of the two gas-outlet nozzles31in the present embodiment has an inherent one-piece structure and has a first gas-outlet channel311and a second gas-outlet channel312, and each of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32has a third gas-outlet channel321. In other words, each of the two gas-outlet nozzles31is limited to be a dual-channel structure, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, the first gas-outlet channel311is formed in one of the two gas-outlet nozzles31, and the second gas-outlet channel312is formed in the other one of the two gas-outlet nozzles31; or, the carrying board1is provided with four gas-outlet nozzles31assembled to the opposite side thereof (and having two first gas-outlet channels311and two second gas-outlet channels312).

In the present embodiment, in order to enable the first gas-outlet channels311and the second gas-outlet channels312of the two gas-outlet nozzles31to be cooperated with the shared gas-inlet channels211of the two gas-inlet nozzles21, the two gas-outlet nozzles31are preferably provided with the following structural arrangement. As shown inFIG.7, the first gas-outlet channels311of the two gas-outlet nozzles31are arranged along a first direction D1, the first gas-outlet channel311and the second gas-outlet channel312of each of the two gas-outlet nozzles31are arranged along a second direction D2, and an angle σ between the first direction D1and the second direction D2is within a range from 10 degrees to 30 degrees.

As shown inFIG.1andFIG.5toFIG.7, the first gas-outlet valve33, the second gas-outlet valve34, and the third gas-outlet valve35are located under the carrying board1and are connected to the gas-suction module5. The first gas-outlet valve33is in spatial communication with the first gas-outlet channels311of the two gas-outlet nozzles31, the second gas-outlet valve34is in spatial communication with the second gas-outlet channels312of the two gas-outlet nozzles31, and the third gas-outlet valve35is in spatial communication with the third gas-outlet channels321of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32.

In the present embodiment, first gas-outlet valve33is in spatial communication with the first gas-outlet channels311of the two gas-outlet nozzles31through the first gas-outlet pipe36, the second gas-outlet valve34is in spatial communication with the second gas-outlet channels312of the two gas-outlet nozzles31through the second gas-outlet pipe37, and the third gas-outlet valve35is in spatial communication with the third gas-outlet channels321of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32through the third gas-outlet pipe38. In other words, the carrying board1of the present embodiment has six gas-outlet channels, which include the two first gas-outlet channels311, the two second gas-outlet channels312, and the two third gas-outlet channels321.

Specifically, any one of the first gas-outlet pipe36and the second gas-outlet pipe37in the present embodiment includes a connection segment361,371embedded in the carrying board1and a valve segment362,372that is connected to the corresponding gas-outlet nozzle31. In the first gas-outlet pipe36, the connection segment361is connected to the first gas-outlet channels311of the two gas-outlet nozzles31, and the valve segment362connects the first gas-outlet channel311of one of the two gas-outlet nozzles31and the first gas-outlet valve33by passing through the carrying board1. In the second gas-outlet pipe37, the connection segment371is connected to the second gas-outlet channels312of the two gas-outlet nozzles31, and the valve segment372connects the second gas-outlet channel312of one of the two gas-outlet nozzles31and the second gas-outlet valve34by passing through the carrying board1.

In addition, the third gas-outlet pipe38in the present embodiment includes a connection segment381embedded in the carrying board1and a valve segment382that is connected to the connection segment381. In the third gas-outlet pipe38, the connection segment381is connected to the third gas-outlet channels321of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32, and the valve segment382connects the connection segment381and the third gas-outlet valve35by passing through the carrying board1.

In summary, as shown inFIG.1toFIG.3, the shared gas-inlet channels211of the two gas-inlet nozzles21are selectively cooperated with the first gas-outlet channels311of the two gas-outlet nozzles31so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with an interior space of the first wafer cassette W1. Moreover, the shared gas-inlet channels211of the two gas-inlet nozzles21are selectively cooperated with the second gas-outlet channels312of the two gas-outlet nozzles31so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with an interior space of the second wafer cassette W2. In other words, the two shared gas-inlet channels211arranged on one side of the carrying board1can be cooperated with the four gas-outlet channels (e.g., the two first gas-outlet channels311and the two second gas-outlet channels312) arranged on the opposite side of the carrying board1so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with the interior of the first wafer cassette W1or the interior space of the second wafer cassette W2.

Accordingly, in the load port100provided by the present embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the two gas-outlet nozzles31is integrally formed as a single one-piece structure with dual-channel, and the two gas-outlet nozzles31are cooperated with the shared gas-inlet channels211of the two gas-inlet nozzles21through the first gas-outlet channels311and the second gas-outlet channels312, so that the two gas-outlet nozzles31and the two gas-inlet nozzles21can be applied to the carrying board1having a limiting size for implementing any one of a gas-filling process and a gas-suction process to the first wafer cassette W1or the second wafer cassette W2, selectively.

Specifically, the gas-filling module4can be used to selectively fill gas into the interior space of the first wafer cassette W1or the interior space of the second wafer cassette W2through the shared gas-inlet valve22, the corresponding gas-inlet pipe24a, and the shared gas-inlet channels211of the two gas-inlet nozzles21.

Moreover, the gas-suction module5can be used to suction gas from the interior space of the first wafer cassette W1through the first gas-outlet valve33, the first gas-outlet pipe36, and the first gas-outlet channels311of the two gas-outlet nozzles31. Furthermore, the gas-suction module5can be used to suction gas from the interior space of the second wafer cassette W2through the second gas-outlet valve34, the second gas-outlet pipe37, and the second gas-outlet channels312of the two gas-outlet nozzles31.

In addition, as shown inFIG.1andFIG.4, the independent gas-inlet channels212of the gas-inlet nozzles21are cooperated with the third gas-outlet channels321of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32so as to be jointly configured to carry the third wafer cassette W3and to spatially communicate with an interior space of the third wafer cassette W3. In other words, the four gas-inlet channels arranged on one side of the carrying board1(e.g., the two shared gas-inlet channels211and the two independent gas-inlet channels212) are cooperated with the six gas-outlet channels arranged on the opposite side of the carrying board1(e.g., the two first gas-outlet channels311, the two second gas-outlet channels312, and the two third gas-outlet channels321) so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with the interior space of the first wafer cassette W1, the second wafer cassette W2, or the third wafer cassette W3, selectively.

Accordingly, in the load port100provided by the present embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the two gas-inlet nozzles21is integrally formed as a single one-piece structure with dual-channel (e.g., the shared gas-inlet channel211and the independent gas-inlet channel212), and the two gas-inlet nozzles21can be cooperated with the third gas-outlet channels321of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32through the independent gas-inlet channels212, so that the two gas-inlet nozzles21and the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32can be applied to the carrying board1having a limiting size for implementing any one of a gas-filling process and a gas-suction process to the third wafer cassette W3, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, any one of the two gas-inlet nozzles21can be not integrally formed as a single one-piece structure.

Specifically, the gas-filling module4can be used to fill gas into the interior space of the third wafer cassette W3through the independent gas-inlet valve23, the corresponding gas-inlet pipe24b, and the independent gas-inlet channels212of the two gas-inlet nozzles21. Moreover, the gas-suction module5can be used to suction gas from the interior space of the third wafer cassette W3through the third gas-outlet valve35, the third gas-outlet pipe38, and the third gas-outlet channels321of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32.

It should be noted that the carrying board1and the nozzles (e.g., the two gas-inlet nozzles21, the two gas-outlet nozzles31, and the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32) disposed thereon in the present embodiment can be jointly defined as a multi-use carrier. Moreover, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, the multi-use carrier can be independently used (e.g., sold) or can be used in cooperation with other components.

Furthermore, the multi-use carrier provided by the present disclosure can be used for the wafer cassettes in N number of models. Specifically, N is a positive integer, and N in the present embodiment is three.

In the present embodiment, the structural arrangement and the cooperation of the gas-inlet module2and the gas-outlet module3are described as the above description, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, at least one of the independent gas-inlet valve23, the two gas-inlet pipes24a,24b, the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32, the third gas-outlet valve35, the first gas-outlet pipe36, the second gas-outlet pipe37, and the third gas-outlet pipe38can be omitted or can be replaced by other components according to design requirements.

The above description describes the configuration of the load port100, but each of the two gas-inlet nozzles21having dual-channel (e.g., the shared gas-inlet channel211and the independent gas-inlet channel212) needs to meet a high airtight requirement. Accordingly, any one of the two gas-inlet nozzles21in the present embodiment can utilize the dual-channel to be a part of an airtight structure by the following structural designs, thereby meeting the high airtight requirement.

As shown inFIG.8andFIG.9, as the two gas-inlet nozzles21in the present embodiment are of the substantially same structure, the following description discloses the structure of just one of the two gas-inlet nozzles21for the sake of brevity, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, the two gas-inlet nozzles21can be of different structures; or, the gas-inlet nozzle21can be independently used (e.g., sold) or can be used in cooperation with other components.

In the present embodiment, the shared gas-inlet channel211can be referred to a first gas-inlet channel211, the independent gas-inlet channel212can be referred to a second gas-inlet channel212, and each of the shared gas-inlet valve22and the independent gas-inlet valve23can be referred to a gas-inlet valve22,23. In other words, one of the two gas-inlet valves22,23(e.g., the shared gas-inlet valve22) is in spatial communication with the first gas-inlet channels211of the two gas-inlet nozzles21, and the other one of the two gas-inlet valves22,23(e.g., the independent gas-inlet valve23) is in spatial communication with the second gas-inlet channels212of the two gas-inlet nozzles21.

As shown inFIG.8,FIG.10, andFIG.11, a top portion of the gas-inlet nozzle21in the present embodiment includes a first airtight structure213, a second airtight structure214connected to the first airtight structure213, and a carrying stage215that is arranged inside of the first airtight structure213and the second airtight structure214. In the present embodiment, a top edge of the first airtight structure213, a top edge of the second airtight structure214, and a top edge of the carrying stage215are coplanar with each other, and are configured to be gaplessly abutted against any one of the first wafer cassette W1, the second wafer cassette W2, and the third wafer cassette W3.

Moreover, the gas-inlet nozzle21can be a mirror-symmetrical structure (e.g., the first airtight structure213and the second airtight structure214are symmetrical to each other), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, the first airtight structure213and the second airtight structure214of the gas-inlet nozzle21can be of different structures; or, the carrying stage215of the gas-inlet nozzle21can be omitted or can be replaced by other components; or, the gas-inlet nozzle21can be formed with just one airtight structure having an outer airtight boundary.

Specifically, the first airtight structure213includes a first outer C-shaped rib2131and a first inner C-shaped rib2132that is spaced apart from or parallel to the first outer C-shaped rib2131. The first inner C-shaped rib2132is located between the first outer C-shaped rib2131and the carrying stage215. Furthermore, two ends of the first outer C-shaped rib2131are connected to the carrying stage215, and an outer edge of the first outer C-shaped rib2131defines a first arc boundary2131athat has a center of a first circle C1and a first radius R1. Two ends of the first inner C-shaped rib2132are connected to the carrying stage215, and the first inner C-shaped rib2132has a center of a circle that is overlapped with the center of the first circle C1.

Moreover, the second airtight structure214includes a second outer C-shaped rib2141and a second inner C-shaped rib2142that is spaced apart from or parallel to the second outer C-shaped rib2141. The second inner C-shaped rib2142is located between the second outer C-shaped rib2141and the carrying stage215. Furthermore, two ends of the second outer C-shaped rib2141are connected to the carrying stage215, and an outer edge of the second outer C-shaped rib2141defines a second arc boundary2141athat has a center of a second circle C2and a second radius R2. Two ends of the second inner C-shaped rib2142are connected to the carrying stage215, and the second inner C-shaped rib2142has a center of a circle that is overlapped with the center of the second circle C2.

Specifically, the first outer C-shaped rib2131is connected to (or intersected with) the second outer C-shaped rib2141and the second inner C-shaped rib2142, and the first arc boundary2131ais connected to the second arc boundary2141aso as to jointly define an outer airtight boundary. Moreover, the first inner C-shaped rib2132is connected to (or intersected with) the second outer C-shaped rib2141and the second inner C-shaped rib2142, and an outer edge2132aof the first inner C-shaped rib2132is connected to an outer edge2142aof the second inner C-shaped rib2142so as to jointly define an inner airtight boundary. Any one of a first end opening2111of the first gas-inlet channel211and a second end opening2121of the second gas-inlet channel212in the present embodiment is a circular hole, so that the C-shaped ribs (e.g., the first outer C-shaped rib2131, the first inner C-shaped rib2132, the second outer C-shaped rib2141, and the second inner C-shaped rib2142) can provide a better airtight effect.

The center of the first circle C1is spaced apart from the center of the second circle C2by an offset distance L that is less than the first radius R1and that is less than the second radius R2, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the first radius R1is equal to the second radius R2, and the offset distance L is preferably within a range from 55% to 60% of the first radius R1. In other embodiments of the present disclosure not shown in the drawings, the offset distance L can be greater than at least one of the first radius R1and the second radius R2.

In the present embodiment, the carrying stage215is located at an inner side of the outer airtight boundary and is also located at an inner side of the inner airtight boundary. An outer edge of the carrying stage215includes two straight edges2151, a first arc edge2152, and a second arc edge2153. The two straight edges2151are parallel to each other, and the two straight edges2151are respectively connected to the two ends of the first inner C-shaped rib2132and are respectively connected to the two ends of the second inner C-shaped rib2142.

Two ends of the first arc edge2152are respectively connected to one end of the two straight edges2151and are respectively connected to the two ends of the second outer C-shaped rib2141(e.g., any one of the two ends of the second outer C-shaped rib2141is connected to a junction of the first arc edge2152and the corresponding straight edge2151). Specifically, the first arc edge2152has a center of a circle that is overlapped with the center of the first circle C1, and any two of the first arc edge2152, the outer edge2132aof the first inner C-shaped rib2132, and the first arc boundary2131aadjacent to each other are spaced apart from each other by a same distance, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto (e.g., the first arc edge2152, the outer edge2132a, and the first arc boundary2131acan be spaced apart from each other by different distances).

Two ends of the second arc edge2153are respectively connected to another one end of the two straight edges2151and are respectively connected to the two ends of the first outer C-shaped rib2131(e.g., any one of the two ends of the first outer C-shaped rib2131is connected to a junction of the second arc edge2153and the corresponding straight edge2151). Specifically, the second arc edge2153has a center of a circle that is overlapped with the center of the second circle C2, and any two of the second arc edge2153, the outer edge2142aof the second inner C-shaped rib2142, and the second arc boundary2141aadjacent to each other are spaced apart from each other by a same distance, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto (e.g., the second arc edge2153, the outer edge2142a, and the second arc boundary2141acan be spaced apart from each other by different distances).

The first gas-inlet channel211(i.e., the shared gas-inlet channel211) extends from the center of the first circle C1to penetrate through the gas-inlet nozzle21, and the first end opening2111of the first gas-inlet channel211is arranged on the carrying stage215. Moreover, the first end opening2111is at least partially located in a second outer circular region A2141adefined by the second arc boundary2141a, and is at least partially located in a second inner circular region A2142adefined by the outer edge2142aof the second inner C-shaped rib2142.

The second gas-inlet channel212(i.e., the independent gas-inlet channel212) extends from the center of the second circle C2to penetrate through the gas-inlet nozzle21, and the second end opening2121of the second gas-inlet channel212is arranged on the carrying stage215. Moreover, the second end opening2121is at least partially located in a first outer circular region A2131adefined by the first arc boundary2131a, and is at least partially located in a first inner circular region A2132adefined by the outer edge2132aof the first inner C-shaped rib2132.

In addition, the offset distance L of the present embodiment can be defined by a distance between a center point of the second end opening2121and a center point of the first end opening2111, and a value defined by an inner radius of the first end opening2111(or an inner radius of the second end opening2121) divided by the offset distance L is within a range from 1/7 to 5/7. For example, the inner radius of the first end opening2111or the inner radius of the second end opening2121can be within a range from 1 mm to 5 mm, and the offset distance L can be 7 mm.

Specifically, the first end opening2111and the second end opening2121are located in an overlapped region of the first outer circular region A2131aand the second outer circular region A2141a, and two end portions of the carrying stage215(e.g., the two end portions respectively have the first arc edge2152and the second arc edge2153) are respectively located at two opposite sides of the overlapped region. Moreover, at least 90% area of any one of the first end opening2111and the second end opening2121is located in an overlapped region of the first inner circular region A2132aand the second inner circular region A2142a.

In summary, as shown inFIG.1toFIG.3andFIG.10, when the top portions of the two gas-inlet nozzles21are abutted against the first wafer cassette W1or the second wafer cassette W2, in each of the two gas-inlet nozzles21, the shared gas-inlet channel211and the shared gas-inlet valve22are configured to allow an airflow to flow into the interior space of the first wafer cassette W1or the second wafer cassette W2, and the independent gas-inlet channel212is cooperated with the independent gas-inlet valve23, the outer airtight boundary, and the inner airtight boundary so as to jointly prevent the airflow from passing therethrough (e.g., the independent gas-inlet valve23is enclosed at this time).

Moreover, as shown inFIG.1,FIG.4, andFIG.10, when the top portions of the two gas-inlet nozzles21are abutted against the third wafer cassette W3, in each of the two gas-inlet nozzles21, the independent gas-inlet channel212and the independent gas-inlet valve23are configured to allow an airflow to flow into the interior space of the third wafer cassette W3, and the shared gas-inlet channel211is cooperated with the shared gas-inlet valve22, the outer airtight boundary, and the inner airtight boundary so as to jointly prevent the airflow from passing therethrough (e.g., the shared gas-inlet valve22is enclosed at this time).

In summary, as shown inFIG.1toFIG.4andFIG.10, when the top portions of the two gas-inlet nozzles21are abutted against one of the wafer cassettes, in each of the two gas-inlet nozzles21, one of the first gas-inlet channel211and the second gas-inlet channel212is cooperated with the corresponding gas-inlet valve22,23so as to be jointly configured to allow an airflow to flow into an interior space of the one of the wafer cassettes, and the other one of the first gas-inlet channel211and the second gas-inlet channel212is cooperated with the corresponding gas-inlet valve22,23, the outer airtight boundary, and the inner airtight boundary so as to jointly prevent the airflow from passing therethrough.

Accordingly, the gas-inlet nozzle21in the present embodiment has the dual-channel structure and can be designed with the above structural arrangement on the top portion thereof (e.g., the first arc boundary2131ais connected to the second arc boundary2141aso as to jointly define the outer airtight boundary; the first end opening2111is at least partially located in the second outer circular region A2141a; and the second end opening2121is at least partially located in the first outer circular region A2131a), so that the shared gas-inlet channel211and the independent gas-inlet channel212can be used as airtight structures for each other, thereby meeting the high airtight requirement during the gas-filling process.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIG.12, a second embodiment of the present disclosure is provided, which is similar to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity, descriptions of the same components in the first and second embodiments of the present disclosure will be omitted herein, and the following description only discloses different features between the first and second embodiments.

Compared to the first embodiment, each of the two gas-inlet nozzles21of the present embodiment is a single-channel structure (e.g., the gas-inlet nozzle21only has the shared gas-inlet channel211, but does not have the independent gas-inlet channel212), and the load port100of the present embodiment is provided without the independent gas-inlet valve23, the corresponding gas-inlet pipe24b, the two independent gas-outlet nozzles32, the third gas-outlet valve35, and the third gas-outlet pipe38. In other words, the load port100(or the multi-use carrier) in the present embodiment is only used for implementing any one of the gas-filling process and the gas-suction process to the first wafer cassette W1or the second wafer cassette W2(as shown inFIG.2andFIG.3). Accordingly, the two shared gas-inlet channels211arranged on one side of the carrying board1can be cooperated with the four gas-outlet channels (e.g., the two first gas-outlet channels311and the two second gas-outlet channels312) arranged on the opposite side of the carrying board1so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with the interior space of the first wafer cassette W1or the interior space of the second wafer cassette W2.

Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments

In conclusion, in the load port and the multi-use carrier provided by the present disclosure, the four gas-outlet channels and the two shared gas-inlet channels are cooperated with each other for being applied to the carrier having a limiting size, thereby being capable of implementing any one of the gas-filling process and the gas-suction process to the first wafer cassette or the second wafer cassette, selectively.

Moreover, the load port and the multi-use carrier provided by the present disclosure can further have the two independent gas-inlet channels arranged on the carrying board having the limiting size for being cooperated with the two third gas-outlet channels, thereby being capable of implementing any one of the gas-filling process and the gas-suction process to the third wafer cassette.

Furthermore, the gas-inlet module provided by the present disclosure has the dual-channel structure with a specific condition (e.g., the value defined by the inner radius of the first end opening or the inner radius of the second end opening divided by the offset distance is within a range from 1/7 to 5/7), thereby effectively expanding the application of the gas-inlet nozzle. Specifically, the gas-inlet module provided by the present disclosure has the dual-channel structure and can be designed with the above structural arrangement on the top portion thereof, so that the shared gas-inlet channel and the independent gas-inlet channel can be used as airtight structures for each other, thereby meeting the high airtight requirement during the gas-filling process.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.