# US 12,604,695 B2 · Efem

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- Number: US 12,604,695 B2
- Document ID: US12604695B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/902,148
- Filed: 2022-09-02
- Published: 2023-03-09
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-08
- Assignees: Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Sinfonia Technology Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Toshihiro Kawai; Gengoro Ogura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12604695B2

## CPC

- H10P 72/0402: {Apparatus for fluid treatment (H10P72/0441, H10P72/0448 take precedence)}
- H10P 72/0604: {Process monitoring, e.g. flow or thickness monitoring}
- H10P 72/1926: {characterised by the presence of atmosphere modifying elements inside or attached to the closed carrier}
- H10P 72/3402: {Mechanical parts of transfer devices}
- H10P 72/3406: {involving removal of lid, door or cover}
- H10P 72/50: for positioning, orientation or alignment
- H10P 72/7602: {the wafers being placed on a robot blade or gripped by a gripper for conveyance}
- H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10

## Abstract

An EFEM is provided with a circulation path including a substrate transfer space formed inside a housing and a return path configured to return gas flowing from one side to the other side of the substrate transfer space, the EFEM including: a partition wall configured to separate the substrate transfer space and the return path; a capture part provided in the return path having a higher pressure than the substrate transfer space in a state in which the gas circulates through the circulation path, and configured to capture particles contained in the gas flowing through the return path; and a connecting pipe configured to guide the gas flowing inside a predetermined device arranged in the substrate transfer space to the return path, wherein the connecting pipe is connected to the return path on an upstream side of the capture part in a gas flow direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An EFEM provided with a circulation path including a substrate transfer space formed inside a housing and a return path configured to return gas flowing from one side to the other side of the substrate transfer space, the EFEM comprising:
a partition wall configured to separate the substrate transfer space and the return path;
a physical filter provided in the return path having a higher pressure than the substrate transfer space in a state in which the gas circulates through the circulation path, and configured to capture particles contained in the gas flowing through the return path; and
a connecting pipe configured to guide the gas flowing inside a predetermined device arranged in the substrate transfer space to the return path,
wherein the connecting pipe is connected to the return path on an upstream side of the physical filter in a gas flow direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The EFEM of claim 1, wherein the predetermined device is a substrate transfer robot, and the gas inside the substrate transfer robot is sucked into the return path through the connecting pipe.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The EFEM of claim 2, wherein the predetermined device is an aligner, and the gas inside the aligner is sucked into the return path through the connecting pipe.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The EFEM of claim 3, wherein a fan configured to suck the gas in the substrate transfer space and send the gas into the return path is provided at or near an upstream end of the return path, and the physical filter is provided on a downstream side of the fan in the gas flow direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The EFEM of claim 2, wherein a fan configured to suck the gas in the substrate transfer space and send the gas into the return path is provided at or near an upstream end of the return path, and the physical filter is provided on a downstream side of the fan in the gas flow direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The EFEM of claim 1, wherein the predetermined device is an aligner, and the gas inside the aligner is sucked into the return path through the connecting pipe.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The EFEM of claim 6, wherein a fan configured to suck the gas in the substrate transfer space and send the gas into the return path is provided at or near an upstream end of the return path, and the physical filter is provided on a downstream side of the fan in the gas flow direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The EFEM of claim 1, wherein a fan configured to suck the gas in the substrate transfer space and send the gas into the return path is provided at or near an upstream end of the return path, and the physical filter is provided on a downstream side of the fan in the gas flow direction.