Patent ID: 7064809
Filing Date: 2006-06-20
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for processing semiconductor wafers, comprising: a wafer support with a first positioning system operable to rotate the wafer support coaxially with respect to a wafer; a second positioning system; at least one processing apparatus including a processing tool, wherein the second positioning system is operable to move the at least one processing apparatus such that the processing tool is guided radially over the wafer; at least one position determining apparatus operable to determine a current wafer position based on features of the wafer, wherein the position determining apparatus is configured to determine the wafer position during a rotary movement of the wafer, continuously detect features distributed on the wafer, and calculate the wafer position from the features; and a control apparatus configured to evaluate the current wafer position determined by the at least one position determining apparatus, wherein the control apparatus controls the first positioning system such that a predetermined point on the wafer is brought under the processing apparatus by a rotation of the wafer, and the control apparatus calculates the required rotary movement of the wafer by the first positioning system in a manner dependent on the current wafer position and a position of the predetermined point on the wafer.