Patent ID: 9575494
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: G05D,H01L,Y10T

Claim:
1. A system for processing wafers, comprising: a plurality of process modules configured to process the wafers; a gas handling apparatus; a fluid conduit assembly comprising: a domain conduit; and a plurality of gas lines connecting each of the process modules to the domain conduit, wherein the domain conduit and the gas lines are configured to guide an exhaust flow from the process modules to the gas handling apparatus; a detection assembly positioned in the fluid conduit assembly and configured to detect the exhaust pressures in the fluid conduit assembly and produce electrical signals which vary with the exhaust pressures; wherein the detection assembly further comprises a domain sensor, disposed in the domain conduit for detecting the exhaust pressure in the domain conduit, and two local sensors disposed in a first and a second of the gas lines for detecting the exhaust pressure in the corresponding gas line; a flow-control assembly positioned in the fluid conduit assembly and configured to regulate an exhaust flow in the fluid conduit assembly according to the electrical signals produced by the detection assembly; wherein the flow-control assembly comprises: a domain control member positioned in the domain conduit and configured to actuate an exhaust flow from the process modules to the gas handling apparatus via the gas lines and the domain conduit; and two local control members, respectively disposed in the first and the second of the gas lines, arranged such that the flow rates of the exhaust flow in the first and the second of the gas lines are adjustable from a first value to a second value in which both are greater than 0 by the corresponding local control member according to the detected exhaust pressure of the corresponding gas line; wherein the first of the gas lines and the second of the gas lines are respectively connected to the domain conduit at a first meeting point and a second meeting point, wherein the first meeting point is further away from the domain control member than the second meeting point.