Vacuum load lock apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A load lock apparatus comprising:
- a plate having a central aperture and vents for connecting said aperture to an evacuation system;
a lower bell jar adapted to seal to said plate around said aperture;
an upper ball jar adapted to seal to said plate around said aperture; and
a wafer cassette adapted to be enclosed between said upper and lower bell jars.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-wafer load lock apparatus for use in wafer processing machines provides access to wafers in an internal cassette by orthogonal wafer transport devices. Upper and lower bell jars, which seal to a sealing plate, provide access to the cassette by outside and vacuum transport mechanisms, respectively. A right angle passthrough cassette allows orthogonal access. An improved vacuum feedthrough actuates both the upper bell jar and the internal cassette.
68 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A load lock apparatus comprising:
-
a plate having a central aperture and vents for connecting said aperture to an evacuation system; a lower bell jar adapted to seal to said plate around said aperture; an upper ball jar adapted to seal to said plate around said aperture; and a wafer cassette adapted to be enclosed between said upper and lower bell jars. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9)
-
-
5. In a wafer processing machine having an outside wafer transfer apparatus for loading and unloading multi-wafer cassettes and a vacuum wafer transport mechanism for moving wafers inside an evacuated portion of the machine, a load lock apparatus comprising:
-
a plate having an aperture therein and vent holes opening into said aperture; a first bell jar adapted to seal against a first side of said plate around a periphery of said aperture; a second bell jar adapted to seal against a second side of said plate around a periphery of said aperture; a multi-wafer cassette adapted to be enclosed between said first and second bell jars and to pass through said aperture in said plate. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
Specification