Patent ID: 6663325
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A transport system for a spherical object, said transport system comprising:a supply of a first fluid; a passageway for communication of a spherical object in a path between an inlet and an outlet, at least a part of the passageway bounded by a first tube having a first annular wall with at least one opening through the first annular wall, the first tube configured to guide flow of a spherical object in the first fluid from the inlet towards the outlet; a source of vacuum in communication with the passageway through the at least one opening through the first annular wall, the source of vacuum producing a low pressure region which causes the first fluid in the passageway to be drawn from the passageway through the at least one opening through the first annular wall; a supply of a second fluid which is in communication with a spherical object moving between the inlet and the outlet; and a spherical object to be communicated between the inlet and outlet, wherein each of the first and second fluids is a gas and the spherical object is a single crystal silicon sphere.