An alignment module for positioning a mask on a substrate comprises a mask stocker, an alignment stage, and a transfer robot. The mask stocker houses a mask cassette that stores a plurality of masks. The alignment stage is configured to support a carrier and a substrate. The transfer robot is configured to transfer one of the one or more masks from the mask stocker to the alignment stage and position the mask over the substrate. The alignment module may be part of an integrated platform having one or more transfer chambers, a factory interface having a substrate carrier chamber and one or more processing chambers. A carrier may be coupled to a substrate within the substrate carrier chamber and moved between the processing chambers to generate a semiconductor device.

An apparatus includes a reticle pod. The reticle pod includes a baseplate having a first surface, a cover having a second surface, and at least one layer. The first surface includes a first mating surface. The second surface includes a second mating surface. The at least one layer is bonded to one or more of at least a part of the first mating surface and at least a part of the second mating surface. The first surface and the second surface overlap at the first mating surface and the second mating surface when the cover is attached to the baseplate.

A method is provided. The method includes detaching an upper shell of a reticle pod from a base. The method further includes while the upper shell is detached from the base, blocking an inlet flow of gas from entering an interior of the reticle pod between the upper shell and the base with a use of a fluid regulating module which is in a sealed state. In the sealed state of the fluid regulating module, an opening of the fluid regulating module is covered with a sealing film. The method also includes removing a reticle positioned on the base to a process tool. In addition, the method includes performing a lithography operation in the process tool with the use of the reticle.

The invention discloses a reticle storage device including a top lid, a bottom lid and a soft contact member. The top lid has a ceiling and a cover surrounding the ceiling. The bottom lid has a carrier and a peripheral structure surrounding the carrier. The soft contact member is configured to laterally extend in between the cover and the peripheral structure when the top lid and the bottom lid engage with each other, and to extend from an inside to an outside of the device in order to buffer the contact among the two lids.

A reticle pod includes an outer pod, an inner pod cover and an inner base plate. A reticle is supported on the base and is contained within the environment created by the inner pod cover and the inner pod base. The inner pod cover can include a plurality of reticle retainers configured to contact a side wall of the reticle and limit movement of the reticle in a horizontal direction.

This technical disclosure describes a device that includes a recital pod and the method of making and maintaining the pod. The device includes a pod that includes a cover including a cover body; a baseplate including a baseplate body; and one or more mating surfaces formed on one or both of the baseplate body and the cover body to assemble between the cover and the baseplate to each other. The one or more mating surfaces each includes an outermost coating configured to be wear-resistant and lubricating, the outermost coating includes a composite metal plating, and the composite metal plating includes a metal plating with a lubricant embedded therein and/or layered over the metal plating.

A reticle enclosure includes a base including a first surface, a cover including a second surface and coupled to the base with the first surface facing the second surface. The base and the cover form an internal space that includes a reticle. The reticle enclosure includes restraining mechanisms arranged in the internal space and for securing the reticle, and structures disposed adjacent the reticle in the internal space. The structures enclose the reticle at least partially, and limit passage of contaminants between the internal space and an external environment of the reticle enclosure. The structures include barriers disposed on the first and second surfaces. In other examples, a padding is installed in gaps between the barriers and the first and second surfaces. In other examples, the structures include wall structures disposed on the first and second surfaces and between the restraining mechanisms.

The instant disclosure discloses a reticle retaining system comprising an inner pod and an outer pod. The inner pod is configured to receive a reticle that includes a first identification feature. The inner pod comprises an inner base having a reticle accommodating region generally at a geometric center thereof and surrounded by a periphery region, and an inner cover configured to establish sealing engagement with the inner base. The inner base has a first observable zone defined in the reticle accommodating region correspondingly arranged to allow observation of the first identification feature. The outer pod is configured to receive the inner base. The outer pod comprises an outer base having a second observable zone defined thereon observably aligned to the first observable zone of the inner pod upon receiving the inner pod, and an outer cover configured to engage the outer base and cover the inner pod.

An alignment module for housing and cleaning masks. The alignment module comprises a mask stocker, a cleaning chamber, an alignment chamber, an alignment stage a transfer robot. The mask stocker is configured to house a mask cassette configured to store a plurality of masks. The cleaning chamber is configured to clean the plurality of masks by providing one or more cleaning gases into a chamber after a mask is inserted into the cleaning chamber. The alignment stage is configured to support a carrier and a substrate. The transfer robot is configured to transfer a mask from one or more of the alignment stage and the mask stocker to the cleaning chamber.

A transportation method for transporting an object including a plurality of Fabry-Perot interference filters, the transportation method including a first step of accommodating the object in an accommodating container, wherein the Fabry-Perot interference filter includes a substrate, a first mirror portion and a second mirror portion provided on the substrate to face each other via a gap and in which a distance from each other is variable, and in the first step, the object is accommodated and supported in the accommodating container in a state where the plurality of Fabry-Perot interference filters is two-dimensionally arranged.