Method for transferring a substrate to two or more process modules

• Main Authors: ROSE RONALD L, PARK KON, ZHU SIMON, SHIN GENE, WANG XIAOMING, LIU REX, PAK SAMUEL S, LEI LAWRENCE CHUNG-LAI, MAK ALFRED, WU TZYUNG TERRY
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 27.02.2013
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CONVEYING; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS; STORING; TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING ORTIPPING; TRANSPORTING

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, a method for transferring a substrate to two or more process modules is provided, comprising loading at least one substrate into one or more mobile transverse chambers, the mobile transverse chambers being carried on a rail positioned adjacent to the two or more process modules, and wherein each mobile transverse chamber is configured to maintain a specified gas condition during conveyance of the substrate. One or more drive systems are actuated to propel at least one of the one or more mobile transverse chambers along the rail. The at least one mobile transfer chamber docks to at least one of the process modules, and the substrate is conveyed from the mobile transverse chamber to the at least one process modules.