Slit valve for a semiconductor processing system
First Claim
1. A slit valve, comprising:
- a passage sized and adapted for transfer of a semiconductor substrate through the passage, the passage having first and second walls generally opposing one another, the first wall having a slot oriented generally transverse to the passage;
an actuator plate received within the slot, the actuator plate configured to translate within the slot, the actuator plate having a first position in which the actuator plate permits transfer of a substrate through the passage, the actuator plate also having a second position in which the actuator plate blocks the passage; and
a protective cover configured to substantially prevent debris within the passage from entering the slot when the actuator plate occupies its first position;
wherein the cover is hingedly secured to the first wall of the passage.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A slit valve for a semiconductor processing apparatus, for fluidly sealing a passage connecting two chambers of the apparatus, such as a substrate reaction chamber and a region outside the reaction chamber. The slit valve comprises an actuator plate movable within a slot in one wall of the passage, the actuator plate and the slot oriented generally transverse to the passage. The actuator plate has a first position in which the valve is open, permitting the transfer of a substrate through the passage. The actuator plate also has a second position in which the valve is closed, and in which the actuator plate fluidly seals the passage such that fluid cannot flow through the passage across the actuator plate. A protective cover is configured to prevent debris within the passage (e.g., broken wafers, shards, particulate contaminants, etc.) from flowing into the slot when the actuator plate occupies its second position. In one embodiment, the cover is pivotably secured to the first wall of the passage, proximate the slot. In another embodiment, the cover is secured to the actuator plate, proximate an end thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the cover comprises a plate.
45 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A slit valve, comprising:
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a passage sized and adapted for transfer of a semiconductor substrate through the passage, the passage having first and second walls generally opposing one another, the first wall having a slot oriented generally transverse to the passage;
an actuator plate received within the slot, the actuator plate configured to translate within the slot, the actuator plate having a first position in which the actuator plate permits transfer of a substrate through the passage, the actuator plate also having a second position in which the actuator plate blocks the passage; and
a protective cover configured to substantially prevent debris within the passage from entering the slot when the actuator plate occupies its first position;
wherein the cover is hingedly secured to the first wall of the passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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21. A semiconductor processing apparatus including a slit valve, the slit valve comprising:
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a passage having first and second walls generally opposing one another, the first wall having a slot;
an actuator plate received within the slot, the actuator plate configured to translate within the slot, the actuator plate having a first position in which the actuator plate permits transfer of a substrate through the passage, the actuator plate also having a second position in which the actuator plate blocks the passage, the actuator plate including a generally planar portion configured to pass through the slot; and
a plate hingedly mounted to the first wall and configured to selectively cover the slot when the actuator plate occupies its first position. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate, comprising:
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a first chamber;
a second chamber;
a passage connecting the first and second chambers, the passage sized and adapted to permit transfer of a substrate between the first and second chambers, the passage having first and second walls generally opposing one another, the first wall having a slot;
an actuator plate received within the slot, the actuator plate configured to translate within the slot, the actuator plate having a first position in which the actuator plate permits transfer of a substrate from the first chamber through the passage into the second chamber, the actuator plate also having a second position in which the actuator plate blocks the passage; and
a protective cover hingedly secured to the first wall of the passage proximate the slot, the cover having a closed position in which the cover substantially prevents debris within the passage from entering the slot, the cover being permitted to occupy its closed position when the actuator plate occupies its first position, the cover having an open position which the cover occupies when the actuator plate occupies its second position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate, comprising:
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a chamber configured to enclose a semiconductor substrate;
a region outside the chamber;
a passage connecting the chamber and said region, the passage having an elongated portion with a generally uniform cross-section sized and configured for transferring a substrate through said portion of the passage between the chamber and said region, said portion of the passage having first and second walls generally opposing one another, the first wall having a slot oriented generally transverse to said portion of the passage;
an actuator plate received within and translatable within the slot in the first wall, the actuator plate having a first position in which the actuator plate permits transfer of a substrate from said region through said portion of the passage into the chamber, the actuator plate also having a second position in which the actuator plate blocks said portion of the passage, said actuator elate being configured to extend substantially throughout and substantially completely block said portion of the passage; and
a protective cover hingedly secured to the first wall and configured to substantially prevent debris within the passage from entering the slot when the actuator plate occupies its first position. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A semiconductor processing apparatus including a slit valve, the slit valve comprising:
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a passage having first and second walls generally opposing one another, the first wall having an elongated slot, a portion of the passage being defined and located between the slot and the second wall;
an actuator plate received within the elongated slot, the actuator plate having a generally planar portion configured to translate within the elongated slot, the actuator plate having a first position in which the actuator plate permits transfer of a substrate through the passage, the actuator plate also having a second position in which the actuator plate occupies and fills most of the cross sectional area of the portion of the passage and the planar portion extends through the slot; and
an elongated plate hingedly coupled to the first wall and configured to selectively cover the elongated slot when the actuator plate occupies its first position.
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53. A slit valve, comprising:
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a passage sized and adapted for transfer of a semiconductor substrate through the passage, the passage having first and second walls generally opposing one another, the first wall having a slot oriented generally transverse to the passage, a portion of the passage being defined and interposed between the slot and the second wall;
an actuator plate received within the slot, the actuator plate configured to translate within the slot, the actuator plate having a first position in which the actuator plate permits transfer of a substrate through the passage, the actuator plate also having a second position in which the actuator plate substantially entirely blocks the portion of the passage; and
a protective cover configured to substantially prevent debris within the passage from entering the slot when the actuator plate occupies its first position. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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Specification