Patent ID: 9673071
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. A buffer station for thermal control of semiconductor substrates in a modular semiconductor substrate processing system being transferred therethrough, the buffer station configured to interface with first and second vacuum transfer modules of the modular semiconductor substrate processing system so as to allow semiconductor substrates to be transferred therebetween, the buffer station comprising: a first vacuum transfer module interface configured to allow one or more semiconductor substrates to be transferred between the first vacuum transfer module and the buffer station at vacuum pressure; a second vacuum transfer module interface configured to allow one or more semiconductor substrates to be transferred between the second vacuum transfer module and the buffer station at vacuum pressure; and at least one buffer chamber between the first vacuum transfer module interface and the second vacuum transfer module interface, each of the at least one buffer chambers including a lower pedestal that forms a bottom most interior surface of the buffer chamber, that is configured to receive a semiconductor substrate from the first vacuum transfer module or the second vacuum transfer module on a support surface thereof, and that is operable to perform a heating or cooling operation on the semiconductor substrate received thereon, and one or more semiconductor substrate storage shelves that are located above the lower pedestal, that extend outwardly from a side wall of the buffer chamber, and that are each configured to receive a semiconductor substrate from the first vacuum transfer module or the second vacuum transfer module wherein each semiconductor substrate storage shelf is operable to store a respective semiconductor substrate thereon.