# US 12,761,437 B2 · Universal optical waveguide trays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,761,437 B2 - Document ID: US12761437B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/411,294 - Filed: 2024-01-12 - Published: 2025-07-17 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2024-01-12 - Assignees: Applied Materials, Inc. - Applicants: Applied Materials, Inc. - Inventors: Yaseer Arafath Ahamed; Sudhakar Koppa Hanumanthe Gowda; Charles T. Carlson; Kangkang Wang; Neal Ricks; Anandhakannan Shanmugavel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761437B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/4452: {Distribution frames} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A tray for carrying workpieces, such as optical waveguides, is disclosed. The tray includes a plurality of openings, each opening having a plurality of fingers extending toward the center of the opening. The top surface of each finger is sloped downward and comprises an elastomer. In this way, the workpieces contact the fingers along their edges and any nanostructures disposed on the workpiece are not contacted. Further, in some embodiments, the tray is stackable and includes a retention mechanism located on the bottom side of the tray. The retention mechanism on a first tray serves to secure the workpiece disposed on a second tray positioned directly below the first tray. The tray may optionally be used for shipping and other purposes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A universal tray for holding a plurality of workpieces, comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of openings; a plurality of fingers surrounding and extending into each of the plurality of openings, the plurality of fingers extending toward a center of a respective opening, such that at least three fingers extend into each of the plurality of openings; and wherein an elastomer is disposed on a top surface of each of the plurality of fingers and wherein a top surface of the elastomer is sloped downward as it extends toward the center of the respective opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The universal tray of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fingers are an integral part of the frame such that the plurality of fingers extend from the frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The universal tray of claim 1, wherein hollow inserts are disposed around the plurality of openings, and the plurality of fingers extend from the hollow inserts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The universal tray of claim 1, wherein the elastomer comprises an elastomer layer molded onto the top surface of the plurality of fingers, wherein the elastomer layer is tapered such that the elastomer layer is thicker at a proximal end near the frame than at a distal end of each finger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The universal tray of claim 1, further comprising a downward support extending downward from the frame to engage with a top surface of a frame of an adjacent tray. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The universal tray of claim 1, wherein the elastomer comprises an elastomer layer molded onto the top surface of the plurality of fingers, wherein the elastomer layer is uniform thickness and the plurality of fingers are sloped such that the top surface of the elastomer layer is sloped downward as it extends toward the center of the respective opening. ### Claim 7 A universal tray for holding a plurality of workpieces, comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of openings; a plurality of fingers surrounding each of the plurality of openings, the plurality of fingers extending toward a center of a respective opening; a downward support extending downward from the frame to engage with a top surface of a frame of an adjacent tray; and retention mechanisms disposed in a volume between the plurality of fingers and a bottom of the downward support to retain a workpiece disposed on an adjacent frame; wherein an elastomer is disposed on a top surface of each of the plurality of fingers and wherein a top surface of the elastomer is sloped downward as it extends toward the center of the respective opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The universal tray of claim 7, wherein the retention mechanisms comprise a plurality of flexures extending inward toward the center of the respective opening from the downward support. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The universal tray of claim 7, wherein the retention mechanisms comprise elastomer disposed on a bottom surface of each of the plurality of fingers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The universal tray of claim 9, wherein the elastomer comprises an elastomer layer molded onto the bottom surface of the plurality of fingers, wherein the elastomer layer is tapered such that the elastomer layer is thicker at a proximal end near the frame than at a distal end of each finger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The universal tray of claim 7, wherein the retention mechanisms are aligned with the plurality of fingers. ### Claim 12 A universal tray for holding a plurality of workpieces, comprising: a frame comprising a plurality of openings; a plurality of elastomer fingers surrounding and extending into each of the plurality of openings, each elastomer finger extending toward a center of a respective opening, such that at least three elastomer fingers extend into each of the plurality of openings; and wherein a top surface of each elastomer finger is sloped downward as it extends toward the center of the respective opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The universal tray of claim 12, wherein each elastomer finger is thicker at a proximal end near the frame than at a distal end of the elastomer finger. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The universal tray of claim 12, wherein the frame comprises smaller holes disposed around each of the plurality of openings, and wherein a bottom of each elastomer finger comprises one or more plugs that are operable to be inserted into the smaller holes to hold each elastomer finger in place. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The universal tray of claim 12, further comprising a downward support extending downward from the frame to engage with a top surface of a frame of an adjacent tray and further comprising retention mechanisms disposed in a volume between the plurality of elastomer fingers and a bottom of the downward support to retain a workpiece disposed on an adjacent frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The universal tray of claim 15, wherein the retention mechanisms comprising a tapered bottom surface of each elastomer finger.