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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 02, 2000
Michael R. Conboy, Austin, TX (US);
Elfido Coss, Jr., Austin, TX (US);
Russel Shirley, Pflugerville, TX (US);
Eric Christensen, Austin, TX (US);
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and a system for stocking and sorting wafers in a wafer processing system reduce cycle time in manufacturing and reduce excessive handling of delicate wafers. In an example embodiment, the apparatus includes in an enclosure having therein a scanner adapted to identify codes located on the wafer carriers that indicate the position of a wafer within the carrier. A sorting mechanism for sorting wafers and carriers within the enclosure is also included as well as a computer arrangement that communicates with the management system of the wafer processing system. One of the advantages of the present invention is the reduction in cycle time that is achieved by sorting wafers immediately on demand while at a stocking location.