Load lock chamber for large area substrate processing system
First Claim
1. A load lock chamber comprising:
- a chamber body having a first side adapted for coupling to a vacuum chamber and a second side adapted for coupling to a factory interface;
N vertically stacked substrate transfer chambers formed in the chamber body, where N is an integer greater than two; and
N−
1 interior walls, each interior wall separating and environmentally isolating adjacent substrate transfer chambers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load lock chamber and method for transferring large area substrates is provided. In one embodiment, a load lock chamber suitable for transferring large area substrates includes a plurality of vertically stacked single substrate transfer chambers. The configuration of vertically stacked single substrate transfer chambers contributes to reduced size and greater throughput as compared to conventional state of the art, dual slot dual substrate designs. Moreover, the increased throughput has been realized at reduced pumping and venting rates, which corresponds to reduced probability of substrate contamination due to particulates and condensation.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A load lock chamber comprising:
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a chamber body having a first side adapted for coupling to a vacuum chamber and a second side adapted for coupling to a factory interface;
N vertically stacked substrate transfer chambers formed in the chamber body, where N is an integer greater than two; and
N−
1 interior walls, each interior wall separating and environmentally isolating adjacent substrate transfer chambers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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22. A loadlock chamber comprising:
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a chamber body having a first side adapted for coupling to a vacuum chamber and a second side adapted for coupling to a factory interface;
a first chamber formed within the chamber body;
a first slit valve coupled to the chamber body selectively sealing a first substrate access port formed through the first side of the chamber body and coupled to the first chamber;
a second slit valve coupled to the chamber body selectively sealing a second substrate access port formed through the second side of the chamber body and coupled to the first chamber, at least a second chamber formed in the chamber body and isolated from the first chamber by a horizontal wall;
a third slit valve selectively sealing a third substrate access port formed through the first side of the chamber body and coupled to the second chamber;
a fourth slit vale coupled to the chamber body selectively sealing a fourth substrate access support coupled to the second chamber;
a third chamber formed in the chamber body above the first and second chambers and separate from the second chamber by a second horizontal wall;
a fifth slit valve coupled to the chamber body selectively sealing a fifth substrate access port coupled to the third chamber; and
a sixth slit valve coupled to the chamber body selectively sealing a sixth substrate access port coupled to the third chamber.
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28. A loadlock chamber comprising:
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a chamber body having a first side adapted for coupling to a vacuum chamber and a second side adapted for coupling to a factory interface, a first chamber formed within the chamber body;
a first slit valve coupled to the chamber body selectively sealing a first substrate access port formed through the first side of the chamber body and coupled to the first chamber;
a second slit valve coupled to the chamber body selectively sealing a second substrate access port formed through the second side of the chamber body and coupled to the first chamber;
a second chamber formed in the chamber body and environmentally isolated from the first chamber by a horizontal wall;
a third slit valve selectively sealing a third substrate access port formed through the first side of the chamber body and coupled to the second chamber;
a fourth slit valve coupled to the chamber body selectively sealing a fourth substrate access support coupled to the second chamber;
a third chamber formed in the chamber body and environmentally isolated from the second chamber by a horizontal wall;
a fifth slit valve selectively seal a fifth substrate access port formed through the first side of the chamber body and coupled to the third chamber; and
a sixth slit valve coupled to the chamber body selectively sealing a sixth substrate access support coupled to the third chamber;
wherein each of the chambers is configured to accommodate substrate having a surface area of at least 2.7 square meters, each chamber further comprising;
a cooling apparatus disposed at a bottom of the chamber;
a heating apparatus disposed at a top of the chamber;
a plurality of substrate support pins extending from the bottom of the chamber;
an alignment mechanism adapted to center a substrate within the chamber a vent port; and
a pump port. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A large substrate processing system comprising:
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a transfer chamber;
a transfer robot disposed in the transfer chamber;
a plurality of processing chambers coupled to the transfer chamber; and
a plurality of vertically stacked single substrate loadlock chambers coupled to the transfer chamber.
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Specification