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US4941429A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor wafer carrier guide tracks

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-20
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Granted: 1990-07-17
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Expires: 2008-12-20
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Abstract

Abstract A track system is used in a continuous chemical deposition reaction system to guide semiconductor wafer carriers through a plurality of interconnected reaction chambers to position the carriers in each reaction chamber, and to prevent wear to the bottom of the reactor chambers.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas F. Wilkinson
  • 👤 Kaoru Ishii

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 09:16
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/04; H10P72/0402; C; C23; C23C; C23C16/00; C23C16/44; C23C16/54

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 86 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system comprising the combination of: a plurality of interconnected reaction chambers; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of guide tracks extending through said reaction chambers, spaced to accept said grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein, said guide tracks are removably mounted in said reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is movable through said reaction chambers along said guide tracks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 86 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system comprising the combination of: a plurality of interconnected reaction chambers; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of guide tracks extending through said reaction chambers, spaced to accept said grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein, said guide tracks are removably mounted in said reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is movable through said reaction chambers along said guide tracks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The combination according to claim 1, including a central brace between the guide tracks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The combination according to claim 1, including a pair of spacers, one each attached to the guide tracks to position the guide tracks in said reaction chambers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein said guide tracks are tubular and the grooves along said semiconductor wafer two sides of the carrier are circular to match the surface of the guide tracks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein said guide tracks are rectangular, and the carrier has offset areas on each side to slide along the rectangular tracks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein said guide tracks are made of quartz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein a process gas is directed into a region under said semiconductor wafer carrier, and said semiconductor wafer carrier and said guide tracks confine the process gas to said region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 91 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 91 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
The combination according to claim 8, including a pair of spacers, one each attached to the guide tracks to position the guide tracks in the reaction chambers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 36 words
The combination according to claim 8, wherein a process gas is directed into a region under the semiconductor wafer carrier, and said semiconductor wafer carrier and said guide tracks confine said process gas to said region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
The combination according to claim 8, wherein said reaction chambers are joined at gas inlet junctions and exhaust junctions, and the gases entering the guide tracks are exhausted at the junctions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 129 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: one or more reaction chambers; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said one or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is are movable through said one or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; and wherein said guide tracks have openings therein at spaced intervals for exhausting the process gas entering the tracks from under the semiconductor wafer carrier and from the part of said one or more reaction chambers not under the semiconductor wafer carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 129 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: one or more reaction chambers; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said one or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is are movable through said one or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; and wherein said guide tracks have openings therein at spaced intervals for exhausting the process gas entering the tracks from under the semiconductor wafer carrier and from the part of said one or more reaction chambers not under the semiconductor wafer carrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
The combination according to claim 12 wherein said reaction chambers are joined at gas inlet junctions and exhaust junctions, and the guide track openings are located at the junctions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 97 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor carrier is movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; and a central brace between the guide tracks.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 97 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor carrier is movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; and a central brace between the guide tracks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 120 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removable mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; and wherein said guide tracks are tubular and the grooves along the two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier are circular to match the surfaces of the guide tracks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 120 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removable mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; and wherein said guide tracks are tubular and the grooves along the two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier are circular to match the surfaces of the guide tracks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 115 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; and wherein said guide tracks are rectangular, and the semiconductor wafer carrier has offset areas on each side to slide along the rectangular tracks.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 115 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; and wherein said guide tracks are rectangular, and the semiconductor wafer carrier has offset areas on each side to slide along the rectangular tracks.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 153 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is are movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; wherein the guide tracks have openings therein at spaced intervals for exhausting the process gas from under the semiconductor wafer carrier and from the parts of the reaction chambers not under the semiconductor wafer carrier; and wherein the reaction chambers are joined at gas inlet junctions and exhaust junctions, and the gases entering the guide tracks are exhausted at the junctions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 153 words
A semiconductor carrier and track system for transporting semiconductor wafers through a reactor system, comprising the combination of: two or more quartz reaction chambers joined by junctions; a semiconductor wafer carrier having grooves along two sides of the carrier; and a pair of quartz guide tracks spaced to accept the grooves along two sides of said semiconductor wafer carrier; wherein said guide tracks are removably mounted in said two or more reaction chambers and said semiconductor wafer carrier is are movable through said two or more reaction chambers along said guide tracks; wherein the guide tracks have openings therein at spaced intervals for exhausting the process gas from under the semiconductor wafer carrier and from the parts of the reaction chambers not under the semiconductor wafer carrier; and wherein the reaction chambers are joined at gas inlet junctions and exhaust junctions, and the gases entering the guide tracks are exhausted at the junctions.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-07-16 1994-01-15 1994-07-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-07-16 1998-01-15 1998-07-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-07-16 2002-01-15 2002-07-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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