Wafer holding structure for semiconductor wafer containers

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a wafer holding structure which is installed on the cover of semiconductor wafer container and is employed to push down and hold the wafers accommodated within the semiconductor wafer container.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] There are many kinds of package containers employed to accommodate and convey semiconductor wafers. However, most of them consist of a carrier into which semiconductor wafers to be accommodated are inserted, a casing for accommodating the carrier therewithin, a cover engaging with the casing to seal the space enclosed by the casing, and a holding member for holding semiconductor wafers accommodated within the casing.

[0006] The conventional holding member is designed to be installed on the cover and to push down and hold the semiconductor wafers being inserted into the carrier one by one. Therefore, it must have a structure wherein semiconductor wafers accommodated in a partitioned manner do not disengage from the holding member even if subject to vibration or jarring during transportation.

[0007] The holding blades used to hold the semiconductor wafers are classified into two categories. One is that the neighboring holding blades are connected to each other, the other one is that each blade is separately formed. To compare the movements between the two categories of holding blades in response to any vibration of jarring that occurs during transportation, it is found that the connected holding blades have enhanced rigidity due to their connected structure and have strong resistance to being jarred by the semiconductor wafers. However, the neighboring holding blades are affected if one specified location incurs jarring. On the contrary, separately formed holding blades are not affected by the neighboring holding blades. Nevertheless, it is difficult to enhance the rigidity of each separately formed holding blade.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor wafer holding structure in a container, which is capable of holding semiconductor wafers accommodated within a container and preventing semiconductor wafers from disengagement with the holding blade even if subject to vibration or jarring during transportation.

[0009] The semiconductor wafer holding structure according to this invention is disposed within a semiconductor wafer container within which accommodated semiconductor wafers are pushed down and held by the semiconductor wafer holding members. In the structure according to this invention, holding blades for contact with semiconductor wafers are formed at the top end of a wafer holding member, the holding blades are pushed down by the elastic force of the wafer holding member made of an elastic plate. Each holding blade is formed to separate from the neighboring ones, the body of the elastic plate is separated from the bodies of the neighboring ones, and the bases of the elastic plates are integrally formed and connected together.

[0010] Furthermore, the thickness of the elastic plate gradually decreases toward its top end.

[0011] Furthermore, the surface of the elastic plate is shaped in a curved manner.

[0012] Furthermore, the bending stress in the elastic plate, in response to the load coming from semiconductor wafers, is dispersed along the longitudinal axis thereof, and the location where stress distribution converges is set not to be at a boundary between the elastic plate and the frame portion to which the elastic plate is affixed.

[0013] Furthermore, the stress in the elastic plate is increased sharply before the displacement of the holding blade induced by the semiconductor wafer exceeds the depth of the holding blade.

[0014] Furthermore, there is a terrace portion formed at the base of the elastic plate.

[0015] Furthermore, the cross section of the elastic plate is set to be substantially a rectangular shape with larger width in the horizontal direction.

[0016] Furthermore, the elastic plate is installed on the cover by inserting its frame portion into an install slot formed in the cover, the thickness of the frame portion is set to be smaller than the width of the install slot and a plurality of protrusions are formed on the side walls of the frame portion.

[0017] Furthermore, the elastic plate is installed on the cover by way of the frame portion, frame engaging claws used to engage with the install claws of the cover are formed on the frame portion, and the frame engaging claws are formed on the frame portion surfaces without the holding blades.

[0018] The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the wafer holding structure according to this invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a cross-section view along the line A—A in FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view along the line B—B in FIG. 2;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the stress distribution in the wafer holding structure when vibration or jarring occurs;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section view along the line C—C in FIG. 4;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a comparison graph showing the bending stress in a holding blade of this invention and a conventional wafer holding structure; and

[0025] FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the displacements of the holding blade and the stresses induced in a wafer holding structure of this invention and those in a conventional wafer holding structure.

[0026] This invention relates to the structure of semiconductor wafer holding members which are adapted to push down and hold semiconductor wafers accommodated within a convey container. To prevent semiconductor wafers from disengaging with the holding blades when vibration or jarring occurs during transportation, the load exerted on the segment commencing from the joint between the frame portions of the wafer holding structure and the elastic plates to the top ends of the holding blades is dispersed so as to avoid concentration of the load. In addition, the elastic plates are formed into a shape that cannot be twisted easily.

[0027] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described as follows referring to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the wafer holding structure according to this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-section view along the line A—A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-section view along the line B—B in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the stress distribution in wafer holding structure when vibration or jarring occurs. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section view along the line C—C in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a comparison graph showing the bending stress in the wafer holding structure of this invention and those of the prior art. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationships between the displacements of the holding blade and the bending stresses induced in the wafer holding structure of this invention and those in the conventional art.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the wafer holding structure of this embodiment is composed of a frame portion 2 capable of engaging with a cover 4 (FIG. 4) in a detachable manner, a plurality of holding blades 3 in contact with the wafers 10, and a elastic plate 1 being provided with elasticity and urging the holding blades 3 toward wafers 10. Each of the holding blades 3 is formed separately from its neighboring holding blades 3 and a clearance exists between each pair of neighboring holding blades 3.

[0030] The elastic plate 1 includes an elastic plate body 11 whose top end is provided with the holding blades 3, and an elastic plate base 12. The elastic plate body 11 is separate from neighboring elastic plate bodies 11 of other elastic plates 1, and each elastic plate base 12 is formed integrally with its corresponding elastic plate body 11 and is connected with the frame portion 2.

[0031] Furthermore, a shoulder portion 13 extending outward from the elastic plate body 11 is formed on the elastic plate base 12.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-section of the elastic plate 1 is a taper whose thickness decreases from the junction of the elastic plate base 12 and the frame portion 2 toward the top end of the elastic plate body 11. In addition, the outer side surface 12aof the elastic plate 1 is curved.

[0033] Furthermore, the upper portion of the elastic plate base 12, having the largest thickness, extends outward and is formed like a terrace and is named terrace portion 12b.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the cross-section of the elastic plate body 11 is a substantially rectangular shape with a larger width in the horizontal direction. By this arrangement, it is difficult of the elastic plate body 11 to be twisted by an eccentric force coming from the wafer 10.

[0035] Furthermore, compared with the conventional “V” shapes, the cross-section of the holding blade 3 is in the form of a deep “U” shape. Therefore, the wafer 10 may not disengage with the holding blade 3 even if the holding blade 3 is displaced a small amount.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the parting line 31 incurred by injection mold (not shown) of the holding blade is located at the top end of the holding blade 3. The parting line 31 does not contact with the wafer 10 when the holding blade 3 pushes down the wafer 10. Thus, the production of dust particles can be prevented.

[0037] The following is a description of the function of the wafer holding structure 3 when a semiconductor wafer accommodated within a container is subject to vibration or jarring during its transportation.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the wafer 10 accommodated within a container pushes the holding member when subject to external vibration or jarring during its transportation, and the holding blade 3 displaces. Thus, the elastic plate 1 bends outward.

[0039] Regarding to the stress X in the elastic plate 1 in response to the force coming from the wafer 10, because the cross-section of the elastic plate 1 is shaped like a taper, the stress distribution X in the bent portion of in the elastic plate 1 is dispersed and converges at the elastic base 12 having a larger thickness. No stress exists at the junction of the elastic plate base 12 and the frame portion 2.

[0040] The graphs showing the bending stress in a wafer holding structure of this invention and a conventional wafer holding structure are respectively depicted in FIG. 6.

[0041] Specifically, in the structure of a conventional wafer holding structure, the bending stress increases toward the junction of the frame portion when the holding blade receives a force, and the bending stress reaches its maximum value at the junction of the frame portion. Nevertheless, in the structure of a wafer holding structure according to this invention, the stress is dispersed within the whole elastic plate when the holding blade receives the force of the same magnitude, and contrary to conventionally structures, the bending stress decreases toward the junction of the frame portion.

[0042] Especially, because the outer side surface 12aof the elastic plate 1 of this embodiment is in the form of a curved shape, the stress decreases sharply from the location near the curved portion and eventually converges.

[0043] Furthermore, the relationship between the displacements of the holding blade and the bending stresses induced in a wafer holding structure of this invention and a conventional wafer holding structure is depicted in FIG. 7. Specifically, the tangent of the curve denoting the increase of the bending stress in response to the increase of the displacement of the holding blade in this invention is sharper than that of the curve in conventional structures. Therefore, to obtain a displacement of the holding blade M, a greater force is required in the structure of this invention than required in conventional ones. From another perspective, applying a force P, the displacement of the holding blade produced in the structure of the wafer holding structure of this invention is smaller than that produced in the conventional art. Therefore, it is obvious that it is difficult for the wafer to disengage from the holding blade of this invention.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the holding blade 3 is deeply formed and the elastic plate body 11 of the elastic plate 1 is a shape that cannot be twisted easily. Therefore, the wafer 10 can be furthermore prevented from disengaging from with the holding blade 3. Incidentally, the holding blade 3 is designed in such a manner that prior to the disengagement of the holding blade 3 with the wafer 10 as a result of external vibration or jarring, the stress in the elastic plate 1 increases (see FIG. 7) to prevent the wafer 10 from going beyond the holding blade 3.

[0045] The following is a description of the installation structure of the cover 4.

[0046] The frame portion 2 of the holding blade of this embodiment is in the form of a rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the frame portion 2 consists of a longitudinal portion 21 connecting with the elastic plate 1, and two side portions 22 adjoined to two side ends of the longitudinal portion 21.

[0047] The elastic plate base 12 of the elastic plate 1 is adjoined to the lower end of the longitudinal portion 21, and the terrace portion 12bof the elastic plate 1 extends outside of the longitudinal portion 21. In addition, a plurality of protrusions 23, having curved surfaces 23aon their top ends, are formed on the outer sidewall of the longitudinal portion 21, the number of the protrusions 23 is set to be the same as that of the holding blades 3. Each of the protrusions 23 is located on the extending line of the corresponding elastic plate body 11.

[0048] Two sets of frame engaging claws 24 are formed on the inner sidewalls of the two side portions 22. As described hereinafter, the frame engaging claws 24 are used to engage with the cover 4.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, the width W of the installation slot 41 of the cover 4 is set to be larger than the thickness T of the longitudinal portion 21. By this arrangement, the longitudinal portion 21 can be easily inserted into the installation slot 41 during installation.

[0050] Furthermore, the protrusions 23 are embedded into the installation slot 41 by following the inserting of the frame portion 2, thereby preventing wobbing. In addition, due to the fact that curved surfaces 23aare formed on the top ends of the protrusions 23, the frame portion can be easily inserted into the installation slot 41.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of cover engaging portions 42 capable of engaging with the frame engaging claws 24 are formed on the cover 4. The frame portion 2 can be prevented from disengaging with the cover 4 by engaging the frame engaging claws 24 with the cover engaging claws 43 of the cover engaging portions 42.

[0052] In this embodiment, the two side portions 22 must be pressed onto the cover engaging portions 42 of the cover 4 to install the wafer holding structure and the two side portions 22 must be pulled outward to detach frame engaging claws 24 from the cover engaging claws 43.

[0053] Therefore, the longitudinal portion 21 are not touched during installation or disengagement, and the holding blades 3 or the elastic plate 1 can be protected from being contaminated, distorted, or damaged.

[0054] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, at the state the frame portion 2 of the wafer holding structure is installed on the cover 4, the terrace portion 12bis kept in contact with the cover 4 to act as a stopper. Therefore, the junction between the elastic plate 1 and the frame portion 2 does not become greasy or is not damaged even if a load is applied thereon.

[0055] The structure of this invention has been described above, the load applied to the segment, commencing from the junction between the elastic plate and the frame portion of the wafer holding structure to the top end of the holding blade, can be dispersed. Therefore, the load applied to the junction of the elastic plate is not concentrated on one point, and distortion or damage of the elastic plate can thus be prevented.

[0056] Furthermore, due to the shape of the cross-section of the elastic plate and the structure of the root of the elastic plate base, it is difficult for the elastic plate to be twisted. Therefore, disengagement of semiconductor wafers from the holding blades can be prevented even subject to vibration or jarring during transportation.

[0057] Furthermore, wobbling can be prevented when the wafer holding structure blades are installed on the cover by forming protrusions and engaging claws on the frame portion which is used to install the wafer holding structure on the cover.