Patent ID: 9520312
Filing Date: 2016-12-13
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A system for moving workpieces between a first pressure environment and a second pressure environment, the system comprising: a first vacuum enclosure; a second vacuum enclosure; an access port disposed between the first vacuum enclosure and the second vacuum enclosure; and a transfer carrier having a workpiece holder for retaining a workpiece, the transfer carrier disposed within the first vacuum enclosure and moveable between a first process position and a second process position, wherein in the second process position the workpiece holder abuts the access port to expose the workpiece to the second vacuum enclosure and to create a seal around the access port to seal the first vacuum enclosure from the second vacuum enclosure, wherein the workpiece holder is disposed entirely within the first vacuum enclosure in the first process position and in the second process position, and wherein the workpiece is disposed only within the access port when the transfer carrier is in the second process position.