WARPED WAFERS VACUUM CHUCK
First Claim
1. A chuck that comprises a vacuum system, an upper surface, a groove and a flexible sealing element;
- wherein at least a bottom portion of the flexible sealing element is positioned within the groove;
wherein each one of the groove and the flexible sealing element surrounds a region of the upper surface;
wherein the vacuum system is configured to supply vacuum to the region of the upper surface; and
wherein the flexible sealing element is configured to move between a top position in which an upper portion of the flexible sealing element extends above the upper surface and between a bottom position in which the upper portion of the flexible sealing element does not extend above the upper surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A chuck that comprises a vacuum system, an upper surface, a groove and a flexible sealing element, wherein at least a bottom portion of the flexible sealing element is positioned within the groove, wherein each one of the groove and the flexible sealing element surrounds a region of the upper surface, wherein the vacuum system is configured to supply vacuum to the region of the upper surface and wherein the flexible sealing element is configured to move between a top position in which an upper portion of the flexible sealing element extends above the upper surface and between a bottom position in which the upper portion of the flexible sealing element does not extend above the upper surface.
29 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A chuck that comprises a vacuum system, an upper surface, a groove and a flexible sealing element;
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wherein at least a bottom portion of the flexible sealing element is positioned within the groove; wherein each one of the groove and the flexible sealing element surrounds a region of the upper surface; wherein the vacuum system is configured to supply vacuum to the region of the upper surface; and wherein the flexible sealing element is configured to move between a top position in which an upper portion of the flexible sealing element extends above the upper surface and between a bottom position in which the upper portion of the flexible sealing element does not extend above the upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for supporting a substrate, the method comprises:
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placing the substrate above a region of an upper surface of a chuck so that the substrate contacts a flexible sealing element of the chuck; and supplying vacuum, by a vacuum system, to the region of the upper surface thereby flattening the substrate; wherein at least a bottom portion of the flexible sealing element is positioned within the groove; wherein each one of the groove and the flexible sealing element surrounds the region of the upper surface; and wherein the flexible sealing element is configured to move between a top position in which an upper portion of the flexible sealing element extends above the upper surface and between a bottom position in which the upper portion of the flexible sealing element does not extend above the upper surface.
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Specification