Adjustable Wafer Storage Box With Variable Plate Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the semiconductor industry, the handling and storage of fragile wafers often result in damage due to improper transfer methods or tools, leading to increased costs and time, and conventional storage solutions occupy excessive space due to fixed wafer stacking.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable device with vertically arranged plates connected by adjustable modules that can stretch or compress to change the distance between plates, allowing for customizable storage and reduced volume, and an accompanying storage box that accommodates this device, enabling easy handling and space optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If wafers are stored in a fixed stacking manner to save storage space, then storage space efficiency is improved, but the distance between stored wafers becomes fixed and large, making it difficult to access and increasing handling time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the distance between adjacent plates adjustable rather than fixed. The plates can be moved relative to each other along the vertical direction, allowing the storage device to transition between compact storage mode (plates close together) and accessible retrieval mode (plates spaced apart). This dynamic adjustment mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling both space efficiency and operational ease at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of plate distance from a fixed value to a variable parameter. By allowing the distance between adjacent plates to be adjusted within a range, the system can optimize for either storage density or accessibility depending on operational needs. This parameter change enables the device to adapt to different operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between space efficiency and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the distance between adjacent plates is increased to facilitate easy picking and placement of wafers, then ease of operation is improved, but the overall volume of the storage device increases, consuming more working space
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable plate distance mechanism allows the device to dynamically change its volume based on operational requirements. When wafer retrieval is needed, plates can be spaced apart to improve accessibility. When storage is the priority, plates can be brought close together to minimize device volume. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and device volume.
3Quantity of substance
If wafers are stored in a compact fixed arrangement, then storage space efficiency is improved, but the risk of damage during handling increases due to limited access space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces wafer damage risk by dynamically adjusting plate spacing during handling operations. When a wafer needs to be retrieved, the affected plates can be moved apart to create sufficient access space, allowing handlers to safely remove wafers without risk of collision or damage. After retrieval, plates return to compact positioning to maintain storage efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between storage capacity and damage risk.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides an adjustable device including plates and at least two adjustable modules connect with two adjacent of the plates. The adjustable module can stretch or shrink to change a distance between plates. The disclosure also provides an adjustable storage box including an upper cover and a lower cover. A storage space is formed by the upper cover and the lower cover and for the accommodating of the adjustable device. When the upper cover moves upward relative to the lower cover, the adjustable modules changes from a compression state to a stretch state and increase a distance between plates. Whereby, it is easy to pick and place object when a distance of two adjacent plates increases. The overall volume of the adjustable device is reduced when a distance of two adjacent plates decrease, thereby saving the working space.