Entegris, Inc.

Matthew Reber

Russ V Raschke

Brian Wiseman

Caleb Elwell

Huaping Wang

Reticle containers include a magnetic latch to close the container and clamp the reticle contained within. The magnetic latch includes at least one magnet and another ferromagnetic material, which can be either another magnet or a magnetically attractable material. At least one of the magnets and the other ferromagnetic material can be manipulated to secure or open the container. The manipulation can include at least one of sliding of a housing, rotation of a magnet, or application of an external magnetic field to change the attraction of the magnet and the other ferromagnetic material.

Reticle container having magnetic latching

Reticle pods include interfacing surfaces to secure segments of the reticle pod to one another. At least one of the interfacing surfaces is a ramped surface, such that when the reticle pods are secured to one another, the reticle is clamped between reticle contacts provided on the segments of the reticle pod. When the reticle pod is assembled and contains a reticle, a purge gas flow passage can be formed in the reticle pod. The height of the reticle contacts and the thickness of the reticle can be such that the reticle pod segments are spaced apart from one another by a gap, with the gap providing the purge gas flow passage. The reticle pod can be a stocker pod for the transportation and storage of reticles.

Reticle pod having latch including ramped surface

Reticle containers include a rotating latch including a spring. The spring provides force bringing the segments of the reticle container towards one another such that a reticle in the container is clamped between the container segments. The rotating latch can include a head as part of an assembly on one of a cover or a baseplate of the reticle container, with a slot configured to accommodate the head provided on the other of the cover or baseplate. The head can be disposed at an end of a shaft, with the shaft connected to a base, which is contacted by spring providing force such that the contact of the head with the other of the cover or baseplate provides clamping force to a reticle stored between the cover and baseplate.

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Chaska, MN, United States of America

Matthew Reber