Work-piece processing system
First Claim
1. For use with a tool for processing a work-piece at low pressure, a work-piece transfer system comprising:
- a) a first isolation load lock housed within a load lock housing for transferring a work-piece from a higher pressure region to a lower pressure region and back to said higher pressure region including first and second access openings facing said higher pressure region at different angles to allow the first load lock to be accessed from two different directions;
b) a second isolation load lock housed within said load lock housing positioned next to the first work-piece isolation load lock for transferring a work-piece from a higher pressure region to a lower pressure region and back to said higher pressure region including first and second access openings facing said higher pressure region at different angles to allow the second load lock to be accessed from two different directions;
c) a work-piece processing station for processing work-pieces at low pressure;
d) a first robot for transferring work-pieces from one of said first and second work-piece isolation load locks to the work-piece processing station; and
e) multiple other robots positioned in said higher pressure region outside the low pressure region for transferring work-pieces to and from the adjacent work-piece isolation load locks from a source of said work-pieces prior to processing and to a destination of said work-pieces after said processing wherein each of said multiple other robots is aligned in facing relation for moving workpieces through a specified one of said first and second access openings of a given load lock.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transfer system for use with a tool for processing a work-piece at low or vacuum pressure such as an ion implanter for implanting silicon wafers. An enclosure defines a low pressure region for processing of work-pieces placed at a work-piece processing station within the low pressure region. A two tier multiple work-piece isolation load lock transfers work-pieces from a higher pressure region to the lower pressure for processing and back to said higher pressure subsequent to said processing. A first robot transfers work-pieces within the low pressure region from the load locks to a processing station within the low pressure region. Multiple other robots positioned outside the low pressure region transfers work-pieces to and from the two tier work-piece isolation load locks from a source of said work-pieces prior to processing and to a destination of said work-pieces after said processing.
58 Citations
23 Claims
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1. For use with a tool for processing a work-piece at low pressure, a work-piece transfer system comprising:
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a) a first isolation load lock housed within a load lock housing for transferring a work-piece from a higher pressure region to a lower pressure region and back to said higher pressure region including first and second access openings facing said higher pressure region at different angles to allow the first load lock to be accessed from two different directions; b) a second isolation load lock housed within said load lock housing positioned next to the first work-piece isolation load lock for transferring a work-piece from a higher pressure region to a lower pressure region and back to said higher pressure region including first and second access openings facing said higher pressure region at different angles to allow the second load lock to be accessed from two different directions; c) a work-piece processing station for processing work-pieces at low pressure; d) a first robot for transferring work-pieces from one of said first and second work-piece isolation load locks to the work-piece processing station; and e) multiple other robots positioned in said higher pressure region outside the low pressure region for transferring work-pieces to and from the adjacent work-piece isolation load locks from a source of said work-pieces prior to processing and to a destination of said work-pieces after said processing wherein each of said multiple other robots is aligned in facing relation for moving workpieces through a specified one of said first and second access openings of a given load lock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. For use with a tool for processing a work-piece at low pressure, transfer apparatus comprising:
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a) an enclosure defining a low pressure region for processing of work-pieces at a work-piece processing station within the low pressure region; b) two adjacent work-piece isolation load locks wherein each load lock includes; i) first and second access openings for selectively communicating atmospheric pressure to a load lock interior for transferring work-pieces to and from a region of atmospheric pressure wherein said two access openings confront said region of atmospheric pressure at different angles, and ii) a third access opening for transferring work-pieces within the load lock interior to lower pressure for processing and back to said higher pressure subsequent to said processing; c) a first robot for transferring work-pieces from the adjacent work-piece isolation load locks to a processing station within the low pressure region; and d) multiple other robots positioned in said atmospheric region outside the low pressure region for transferring work-pieces to and from the adjacent work-piece isolation load locks from a source of said work-pieces prior to processing and to a destination of said work-pieces after said processing wherein each of said multiple other robots is aligned in facing relation for moving workpieces through a specified one of said first and second access openings of a given load lock. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A process for serially processing multiple work-pieces at low pressure comprising:
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positioning two load locks adjacent to each other wherein each load lock has first and second atmosphere access openings that confront a region of atmosphere at different angles; providing a low pressure robot having two end effectors for moving work-pieces to a processing station from the two load locks; positioning multiple in-air robots in facing relationship with a specified atmosphere access opening of the two load locks for moving workpieces into and out of said two load locks; grasping an unprocessed work-piece with one in-air robot and moving said unprocessed work-piece into a first load lock of said two load locks through a first atmospheric load lock access opening having a facing relationship with said one in-air robot and placing the unprocessed work-piece inside the first load lock; lowering the pressure within the first load lock; removing the unprocessed work-piece from the first load lock with one end effector of said low pressure robot and moving the unprocessed work-piece to a processing station; placing an already processed work-piece obtained from the processing station with a second end effector of said low pressure robot into one load lock of said two load locks; raising the pressure within the one load lock; and removing the processed work-piece from the one load lock through a specified atmospheric load lock access opening. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification