# US 12,191,179 B2 · Load port and multi-use carrier

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- Number: US 12,191,179 B2
- Document ID: US12191179B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/876,014
- Filed: 2022-07-28
- Published: 2024-02-01
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2022-07-28
- Assignees: Brillian Network & Automation Integrated System Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Brillian Network & Automation Integrated System Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yi-Jun Gu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191179B2

## CPC

- H10P 72/10: using carriers specially adapted therefor, e.g. front opening unified pods [FOUP]
- H10P 72/0402: {Apparatus for fluid treatment (H10P72/0441, H10P72/0448 take precedence)}
- H10P 72/0466: {characterised by the construction of the load-lock chamber}
- H10P 72/1926: {characterised by the presence of atmosphere modifying elements inside or attached to the closed carrier}
- H10P 72/3408: {Docking arrangements}
- H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10

## Abstract

A load port and a multi-use carrier are provided. The load port includes a carrying board, two gas-inlet nozzles disposed on the carrying board, and two gas-outlet nozzles disposed on the carrying board. Each of the two gas-inlet nozzles has a shared gas-inlet channel. Each of the two gas-outlet nozzles has a first gas-outlet channel and a second gas-outlet channel that is spaced apart from the first gas-outlet channel. The shared gas-inlet channels of the two gas-inlet nozzles are selectively cooperated with the first gas-outlet channels of the two gas-outlet nozzles so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with a first wafer cassette. The shared gas-inlet channels of the two gas-inlet nozzles are selectively cooperated with the second gas-outlet channels of the two gas-outlet nozzles so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with a second wafer cassette.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A load port for being configured to selectively carry one of a first wafer cassette and a second wafer cassette that is different from the first wafer cassette, the load port comprising:
a carrying board having a carrying side;
a gas-inlet module including two gas-inlet nozzles disposed on the carrying side of the carrying board, wherein each of the two gas-inlet nozzles has a shared gas-inlet channel; and
a gas-outlet module including two gas-outlet nozzles disposed on the carrying side of the carrying board, wherein each of the two gas-outlet nozzles has a first gas-outlet channel and a second gas-outlet channel that is spaced apart from the first gas-outlet channel;
wherein the shared gas-inlet channels of the two gas-inlet nozzles are selectively cooperated with the first gas-outlet channels of the two gas-outlet nozzles so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with an interior space of the first wafer cassette;
wherein the shared gas-inlet channels of the two gas-inlet nozzles are selectively cooperated with the second gas-outlet channels of the two gas-outlet nozzles so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with an interior space of the second wafer cassette.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The load port according to claim 1, wherein the gas-inlet module includes a shared gas-inlet valve, and the gas-outlet module includes a first gas-outlet valve and a second gas-outlet valve, and wherein the shared gas-inlet valve is in spatial communication with the shared gas-inlet channels of the two gas-inlet nozzles, the first gas-outlet valve is in spatial communication with the first gas-outlet channels of the two gas-outlet nozzles, and the second gas-outlet valve is in spatial communication with the second gas-outlet channels of the two gas-outlet nozzles.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The load port according to claim 2, wherein the gas-inlet module includes a gas-inlet pipe, and the shared gas-inlet valve is in spatial communication with the shared gas-inlet channels of the two gas-inlet nozzles through the gas-inlet pipe, and wherein the gas-inlet pipe includes:
a connection segment embedded in the carrying board and connected to the shared gas-inlet channels of the two gas-inlet nozzles; and
a valve segment that connects the connection segment and the shared gas-inlet valve by passing through the carrying board.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The load port according to claim 2, wherein the gas-outlet module includes a first gas-outlet pipe, and the first gas-outlet valve is in spatial communication with the first gas-outlet channels of the two gas-outlet nozzles through the first gas-outlet pipe, and wherein the first gas-outlet pipe includes:
a connection segment embedded in the carrying board and connected to the first gas-outlet channels of the two gas-outlet nozzles; and
a valve segment that connects the first gas-outlet channel of one of the two gas-outlet nozzles and the first gas-outlet valve by passing through the carrying board.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The load port according to claim 1, wherein the first gas-outlet channels of the two gas-outlet nozzles are arranged along a first direction, the first gas-outlet channel and the second gas-outlet channel of each of the two gas-outlet nozzles are arranged along a second direction, and an angle between the first direction and the second direction is within a range from 10 degrees to 30 degrees.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The load port according to claim 2, wherein each of the two gas-inlet nozzles includes an independent gas-inlet channel, and the gas-inlet module includes an independent gas-inlet valve that is in spatial communication with the independent gas-inlet channels of the two gas-inlet nozzles, and wherein the gas-outlet module includes:
two independent gas-outlet nozzles disposed on the carrying side of the carrying board and located between the two gas-outlet nozzles, wherein each of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles has a third gas-outlet channel; and
a third gas-outlet valve being in spatial communication with the third gas-outlet channels of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles, wherein the load port is configured to selectively carry a third wafer cassette that is different from the first wafer cassette and the second wafer cassette, and the independent gas-inlet channels of the two gas-inlet nozzles are cooperated with the third gas-outlet channels of the two independent gas-outlet nozzles so as to be jointly configured to spatially communicate with an interior space of the third wafer cassette.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The load port according to claim 6, wherein each of the two gas-inlet nozzles has an inherent one-piece structure, and a top portion of each of the two gas-inlet nozzles includes:
a first airtight structure having a first arc boundary, wherein the first arc boundary has a center of a first circle and a first radius; and
a second airtight structure having a second arc boundary, wherein the second arc boundary has a center of a second circle and a second radius, and the first arc boundary is connected to the second arc boundary so as to jointly define an outer airtight boundary;
wherein the shared gas-inlet channel extends from the center of the first circle to penetrate through the corresponding gas-inlet nozzle, and the independent gas-inlet channel extends from the center of the second circle to penetrate through the corresponding gas-inlet nozzle;
wherein, when the top portions of the two gas-inlet nozzles are abutted against the first wafer cassette or the second wafer cassette, in each of the two gas-inlet nozzles, the shared gas-inlet channel and the shared gas-inlet valve are configured to allow an airflow to flow into the interior space of the first wafer cassette or the second wafer cassette, and the independent gas-inlet channel is cooperated with the independent gas-inlet valve and the outer airtight boundary so as to jointly prevent the airflow from passing therethrough.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The load port according to claim 7, wherein the top portion of each of the two gas-inlet nozzles includes a carrying stage located at an inner side of the outer airtight boundary, and wherein, in each of the two gas-inlet nozzles, the first arc boundary defines a first outer circular region, a second arc boundary defines a second outer circular region that is partially overlapped with the first outer circular region, a first end opening of the shared gas-inlet channel and a second end opening of the independent gas-inlet channel are arranged on the carrying stage and are located in an overlapped region of the first outer circular region and the second outer circular region.