Patent ID: 6350321
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
A semiconductor device cluster (Ultra High Vacuum) UHV processing system, comprising:a transfer chamber defining an internal volume continuously maintainable at a vacuum pressure level of less than or equal to 10âˆ’8 torr, the transfer chamber having a plurality of ports; a device transfer mechanism inside the transfer chamber for transferring a device between ports; a plurality of processing tubes each for holding semiconductor devices during processing, each of the tubes being connected to one of the ports of the transfer chamber through a pressure-isolating door for isolating the pressure between the processing tube and the transfer chamber so that the transfer chamber is maintained at the vacuum pressure level of less than or equal to 10âˆ’8 torr; and a load/unload chamber for connecting one of the ports of the transfer chamber to the ambient environment, the load/unload chamber having two pressure isolating doors, the first door for transferring the device between the load/unload chamber and the ambient environment and the second door for transferring the device between the load/unload chamber and the transfer chamber; wherein the two doors of the chamber work cooperatively so that the vacuum pressure inside the load/unload chamber can be matched to approximate the pressure in either: the transfer chamber when the door to the transfer chamber is opened, or the ambient environment when the door to the ambient environment is opened.