Three chamber load lock apparatus
First Claim
1. A load lock apparatus, comprising:
- a central housing having a wall defining an opening for the passage of a substrate there through connecting the central housing and a substrate processing platform;
two or more load lock housings connected to the central housing, wherein a first load lock housing is disposed on an upper surface of the central housing and a second load lock housing is disposed on a lower surface of the central housing;
a load lock valve disposed between each load lock housing and the central housing; and
two or more substrate cassette holders, each cassette holder being connected to a cassette mover, each mover being adapted to transfer each respective cassette holder between the central housing and one of the load lock housings.
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Abstract
A functional load lock apparatus having two or more load lock chambers mounted on a central chamber which can be mounted on a single opening in a vacuum chamber such as a substrate processing platform for making integrated circuits on silicon wafers. Each load lock chamber preferably has a semi-cylindrical valve which remains sealed when the load lock chamber is open to atmospheric pressure. A wafer cassette holder positioned within each load lock chamber can be loaded and unloaded while the semi-cylindcical valves seal the vacuum chamber from atmospheric pressure. The semi-cylindrical valve pivots to an open position when the load lock chamber is under vacuum and the entire wafer cassette moves from the load lock chamber to the central chamber.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A load lock apparatus, comprising:
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a central housing having a wall defining an opening for the passage of a substrate there through connecting the central housing and a substrate processing platform;
two or more load lock housings connected to the central housing, wherein a first load lock housing is disposed on an upper surface of the central housing and a second load lock housing is disposed on a lower surface of the central housing;
a load lock valve disposed between each load lock housing and the central housing; and
two or more substrate cassette holders, each cassette holder being connected to a cassette mover, each mover being adapted to transfer each respective cassette holder between the central housing and one of the load lock housings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A load lock apparatus, comprising:
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a central housing having a wall defining an opening for the passage of a substrate there through connecting the central housing and a substrate processing platform;
two or more load lock housings disposed vertically on opposing sides of the central housing, wherein a first load lock housing is disused on an upper surface of the central housing and a second load lock housing is disposed on a lower surface of the central housing; and
a load lock valve disposed between each load lock housing and the central housing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
a substrate cassette holder in each load lock housing collected to a cassette mover and disposable in each load lock housing.
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11. A load lock apparatus, comprising:
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a central housing having a wall defining an opening for the passage of a substrate there through connecting the central housing and a substrate processing platform;
two or more load lock housings connected to the central housing;
a semi-cylindrical valve pivotally mounted between each load lock housing and the central housing; and
two or more substrate cassette holders, each cassette holder being connected to a cassette mover, the mover being adapted to transfer each respective cassette holder between the central chamber and one of the load lock chambers.
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Specification