The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Apr. 08, 2025

Filed:

Jun. 28, 2021
Applicant:

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd., Hsinchu, TW;

Inventors:

Yi-Fam Shiu, Toufen, TW;

Ting-Yau Shiu, Taoyuan, TW;

Cheng-Lung Wu, Zhunan Township, TW;

Yang-Ann Chu, Hsinchu, TW;

Jiun-Rong Pai, Jhubei, TW;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 21/67 (2006.01); H01L 21/677 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 21/67201 (2013.01); H01L 21/67011 (2013.01); H01L 21/67242 (2013.01); H01L 21/67739 (2013.01); H01L 21/67748 (2013.01);
Abstract

A load port is capable of monitoring various environmental parameters associated with a transport carrier to minimize and/or prevent exposure of the semiconductor substrates therein to increased humidity, increased oxygen, increased vibration, and/or one or more other elevated environmental conditions that might otherwise contaminate the semiconductor substrates, damage the semiconductor substrates, and/or cause processing defects. For example, the load port may monitor the environmental parameters as indicators of a potential blockage of a diffuser of the transport carrier, and a relief valve may be used to divert a gas away from the transport carrier based on a determination that a diffuser blockage has occurred. In this way, the gas may be diverted through the relief valve and away from the transport carrier to prevent increased humidity, contaminants, and/or vibration from contaminating and/or damaging the semiconductor substrates.


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