SUBSTRATE PROCESSING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising:
- a planar stator;
a first mover positioned on the planar stator;
a second mover positioned on the planar stator, wherein the first and second movers are configured to move laterally and longitudinally over the planar stator in a horizontal plane independently of one another;
a first substrate support coupled to the first mover and positionable to receive a substrate in a substrate loading position;
a second substrate support coupled to the second mover and positionable to receive a substrate in the substrate loading position; and
a processing head configured to process a substrate positioned on the first substrate support when the first substrate support is in a first substrate processing position, wherein the processing head is further configured to process a substrate positioned on the second substrate support when the second substrate support is in a second substrate processing position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for processing substrates in a processing system that has an increased system throughput, improved system uptime, and improved device yield performance, while maintaining a repeatable and accurate substrate processing. The system may include multiple processing nests laterally positionable by use of a planar motor via multiple planar movers controlled by a system controller. A substrate supported by each processing nest may be angularly positionable by a rotary actuator. The system may be used in screen printing, ink jet printing, thermal processing, device testing, and material removal processes, among others.
19 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising:
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a planar stator; a first mover positioned on the planar stator; a second mover positioned on the planar stator, wherein the first and second movers are configured to move laterally and longitudinally over the planar stator in a horizontal plane independently of one another; a first substrate support coupled to the first mover and positionable to receive a substrate in a substrate loading position; a second substrate support coupled to the second mover and positionable to receive a substrate in the substrate loading position; and a processing head configured to process a substrate positioned on the first substrate support when the first substrate support is in a first substrate processing position, wherein the processing head is further configured to process a substrate positioned on the second substrate support when the second substrate support is in a second substrate processing position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising:
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a planar stator; a first mover positioned on the planar stator; a second mover positioned on the planar stator, wherein the first and second movers are configured to move laterally and longitudinally over the planar stator in a horizontal plane independently of one another; a first substrate support coupled to the first mover and positioned to receive a substrate in a first substrate loading position; a second substrate support coupled to the second mover and positioned to receive a substrate in a second substrate loading position; a first processing head configured to process a substrate positioned on the first substrate support when the first substrate support is in a first substrate processing position; and a second processing head configured to process a substrate positioned on the second substrate support when the second substrate support is in a second substrate processing position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for processing a substrate, comprising:
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orienting a first substrate support in a first substrate loading position via a planar stator and a first mover attached to the first substrate support; orienting a second substrate support in a second substrate loading position via the planar stator and a second mover attached to the second substrate support; receiving a first substrate on the first substrate support; capturing data via a first inspection system regarding the position and orientation of the first substrate on the first substrate support; receiving a second substrate on the second substrate support; capturing data via a second inspection system regarding the position and orientation of the second substrate on the second substrate support; moving the first substrate support from the first substrate loading position to a first substrate processing position at least partially based on the data captured by the first inspection system via the planar stator and the first mover; processing the first substrate via a first processing head; moving the second substrate support from the second substrate loading position to a second substrate processing position at least partially based on the data captured by the first inspection system via the planar stator and the second mover; and processing the second substrate via a second processing head. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification