WAFER CARRIER AND METHOD FOR HANDLING OF WAFERS WITH MINIMAL CONTACT

摘要

Disclosed is a carrier (10) comprising three support elements (50) connected by an underlying frame (15). The periphery of a wafer (45) rests upon the support elements (50). Also disclosed is a wafer handler (25) with a plurality of arms (100). Spacers (85) space the carrier (10) above a base plate (90) associated with a station in a wafer handling area. An arm (100) slides beneath the frame (15) and between the spacers (85), but the handler (25) does not contact the wafer (45). A method of using the handler (25) and carrier (10) is provided where the handler (55) lifts and rotates the carrier (10) with the wafer (45) through various stations (112, 125, 126 and 130) in a wafer handling area (95). A control device (33) reduces the handler speed only at critical points of the processing cycle. The handler (55) is capable of moving a plurality of carriers (10) and wafers (45) simultaneously.