摘要:
A substrate processing apparatus (10) having a plurality of substrate processing modules (14) connected to a substrate transport chamber (31). The substrate transport chamber (31) has a housing (13) and a substrate transport mechanism (22). The housing (13) forms a substantially closed main transport chamber (31) with doorways into the main transport chamber for the substrate processing modules (14). The transport mechanism (22) has a substrate holder (29) movably located in the transport chamber (31). The housing (13) includes a front end (28) extension (30) that is connected to load locks (16). The front end (28) extension (30) has an aligner (32), a cooler (36), and a buffer (34) directly connected to the housing (13) and located in the front end (28) extension (30) in part of the main transport chamber (31).
摘要:
The present invention provides tools and methods of processing microelectronic substrates in which the tools maintain high throughput yet have dramatically lower footprint than conventional tools. In preferred aspects, the present invention provides novel tool designs in which multiple tool functions are overlapped in the x, y, and/or z axes of the tool in novel ways.
摘要:
The disclosure relates to method and apparatus for transferring a substrate between a first environment having a first pressure and a second environment having a vacuum pressure is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a chamber body (202) having a first port (238) disposed in a first wall (208) and a second port (239) disposed in a second wall that seals the chamber from the first and second environments. A cooling plate (280), a first substrate holder (204) and a second substrate holder (206) are disposed within the chamber body. The cooling plate is disposed at the bottom (216) of the chamber body. The first port and the second port are sequentially opened and the pressure within the load lock regulated to allow substrate to pass through the load lock. A window (250) is disposed in the top of the chamber body that allows a metrology device (428) to view the chamber volume.
摘要:
The equipment comprises a semiconductor-processing device in which a load-lock chamber, a transfer chamber and a reaction chamber are modularized into, a main frame, a stand-alone chamber frame on which the semiconductor-processing device is placed, a sliding mechanism for enabling attaching/removing of the chamber frame to/from the main frame smoothly, and a positioning mechanism for fixing a position of the chamber frame. This enables the processing device to be attached and removed at will. The method comprises pulling out from the main frame the chamber frame, on which the modularized semiconductor-processing device is placed; forming a maintenance space inside the main frame; maintaining the semiconductor-processing device and peripherals attached in the vicinity of the main frame, and putting the chamber frame with the processing device back into the main frame.
摘要:
There is provided a substrate cleaning system which is capable of cleaning wafers W in a high cleanliness atmosphere with high accuracy taking an advantage of a sheet-type wet cleaning treatment, and which is simple and compact in construction, and is excellent in cost performance. The system comprises a system body 1 capable of being sealed, a loading/unloading booth A comprising a substrate carry-in section Aa in which a plurality of substrates are stocked and standby to be carried in before cleaning treatment is applied to them and a substrate carry-out section Ab in which a plurality of substrates are stocked and standby to be carried out after cleaning treatment is applied to them, a processing booth C provided with at least one sheet-type substrate cleaning chamber 10 in the cleaning treatment can be applied to a plurality of substrates by a plurality of cleaning solutions, and a robot booth B provided with a transport robot for transporting the substrates one by one between the processing booth C and the loading/unloading booth A, wherein the respective booths are partitioned by partition walls each having a required minimum cross sectional area.
摘要:
A wafer processing system which requires no isolation between the operational areas within the processing system. The system of the present invention includes operational areas, such as a loading area, a transport area, and a reactor or thermal processing area. Advantageously, since there are no isolation devices or gate valves separating the areas, the processing system effectively has each operational area combined into a 'single' chamber. Preferably, the single chamber has a single slit valve, hinge door, or other vacuum sealable door disposed proximate to the loading area to allow for the removal/insertion of the wafers into the loading area. Once the door to the loading area has been closed the internal pressure within the chamber can be kept uniform throughout each operational area.
摘要:
A vacuum chamber used for processing articles, such as integrated circuit wafers, display panels, and the like, has a small load lock chamber formed at an opening in a wall of the chamber by a moveable article supporting surface within the chamber and a cover outside of the chamber. The supporting surface and cover are sealed to the chamber wall when urged against it. Articles placed into the load lock chamber, when the cover is opened, are moved into the vacuum chamber for processing by moving the supporting surface away from the wall after the cover has been closed and a vacuum established in the load lock chamber. Articles are removed from the vacuum chamber in a reverse manner. Various mechanisms are described for moving the articles, including a particular robotic device that simultaneously swaps the positions of two articles between the supporting surface and a processing location within the vacuum chamber by first pulling the articles together and then rotating them in a half-circle. Integrated circuit wafers are preferably carried on a domed surface formed of wedge shaped pieces fit together on a frame, where the wedge shaped pieces and their wafers are individually removable from the frame for transfer to another frame at a different location.
摘要:
A vacuum process system comprises: a load port on which an object to be processed is set; a common transfer chamber disposed adjacent to the load port, having an internal space set at an atmospheric pressure level, and including a first transfer device that is movable and transfers the object into/from the load port, the first transfer device being disposed within the internal space; and a process unit having one process chamber for subjecting the object to a predetermined process, and a vacuum transfer chamber connected to the process chamber, having an internal space set at a vacuum pressure level, and including a second transfer device for transferring the object into/from the process chamber, the second transfer device being disposed within the internal space. The process units are individually connected to the common transfer chamber such that the process units are substantially parallel to each other. The vacuum chamber of each process unit is connected to the common transfer chamber. Each process unit extends linearly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the common transfer chamber. The object is transferred into/from the vacuum transfer chamber by means of the first transfer device.