Patent ID: 6752580
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: H01L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A vacuum processing apparatus comprisinga cassette block which comprises a cassette table on which at least one sample cassette is placed and an atmospheric transfer means which transfers samples to and from said at least one cassette, a first vacuum processing block which comprises a first load lock chamber connected to said cassette block and a first vacuum processing chamber to and from which said samples are transferred through said first load lock chamber, and a second vacuum processing block which comprises a second load lock chamber connected to said cassette block and a second vacuum processing chamber to and from which said samples are transferred through said second load lock chamber; wherein said atmospheric transfer means is a common transfer means for each of said first and second vacuum processing blocks and transfers said samples between said at least one cassette and each of said first and second load lock chambers, whereby said atmospheric transfer means is capable of transferring a sample from said at least one cassette to said first load lock chamber and from said at least one cassette to said second load lock chamber in the atmosphere.