Patent ID: 9570330
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: H01L,Y10S

Claim:
1. A substrate processing apparatus comprising: a transport chamber, capable of holding an isolated atmosphere isolated from an outside atmosphere, and defining a common tunnel with a gross linear substrate transport axis, common to the common tunnel, extending longitudinally along the transport chamber between opposing walls of the transport chamber; at least one load lock chamber disposed along a longitudinal side of the transport chamber, the at least one load lock chamber being communicably connected to the transport chamber to allow passage of a substrate between the transport chamber and the at least one load lock chamber; at least one tool interface communicably connected to the transport chamber at one or more ends of the transport chamber to allow passage of the substrate between the transport chamber and the at least one tool interface where the at least one tool interface is in substantial alignment with the gross linear substrate transport axis such that the gross linear substrate transport axis extends into the at least one tool interface; a substrate transport located in and movably mounted to the transport chamber for transporting the substrate along the gross linear substrate transport axis, the substrate transport having at least one transporter configured to hold and move the substrate; and a substrate transport drive operably connected to the substrate transport, and having a drive motor for moving the transporter in at least two substantially orthogonal directions between the opposing walls of the common tunnel, the two substantially orthogonal directions respectively effecting travel of the substrate transport along the gross linear substrate transport axis between the opposing walls of the common tunnel, the at least one transporter translatably interfacing a wall of the transport chamber for moving along the gross linear substrate transport axis, and the drive motor being fixedly mounted to the wall; wherein the transport chamber has a selectably variable longitudinal length between the interfaces.