Patent ID: 9337076
Filing Date: 2016-05-10
CPC Classification: H01J,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A workpiece adjustment assembly, comprising: a shaft portion having an actuation end and a wafer manipulation end; a spherical bearing portion coupled to the shaft portion between the actuation end and the wafer manipulation end; a wafer support coupled to the wafer manipulation end of the shaft portion; a housing portion for receiving the spherical bearing portion and for enabling the spherical bearing portion to rotate therein, the housing portion having a plurality of openings adjacent the spherical bearing portion for providing a pressurized gas between the housing portion and the spherical bearing portion to form a film of said pressurized gas between the spherical bearing portion and the housing portion to prevent solid-to-solid contact between the spherical bearing portion and the housing portion during operation; the shaft portion extending through an hourglass-shaped recess in the housing portion located on one side of the spherical bearing portion; and a seal disposed in the housing portion for preventing the pressurized gas from migrating to a process chamber side of the housing portion; wherein the spherical bearing portion enables the wafer manipulation end to be moved with four degrees of freedom.