Patent ID: 8434989
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: B65G,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A batch processing system comprising: at least one front opening unified pod in atmosphere; a batch load lock adapted for concurrently handling multiple wafers, the load lock coupled to the atmosphere through a first isolation valve and coupled to a vacuum environment through a second isolation valve; a rotary batch buffering aligner configured for aligning a vertical stack of wafers, the rotary batch buffering aligner being located outside the load lock in atmosphere, the rotary batch buffering aligner is adapted to align multiple wafers that are positioned horizontally and includes a first robot in atmosphere, the first robot adapted to transfer wafers between the at least one front opening unified pod, the buffering aligner, and the batch load lock; a second robot within the vacuum environment, the second robot being adapted to transfer vertically stacked batches of wafers between the batch load lock and at least one batch process module.