Patent ID: 7317961
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for performing a predetermined process on a group of substrates, the processing procedure of said group of substrates being determined for each substrate unit to be processed including at least one substrate, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of cells, each including: a plurality of processing units; a plurality of substrate inlets; a plurality of substrate outlets; a transport element for transporting a substrate between said plurality of processing units, said plurality of substrate inlets and said plurality of substrate outlets; and a controller for controlling said plurality of processing units and said transport element, wherein said plurality of cells include an indexer cell for receiving unprocessed substrates from the outside of said substrate processing apparatus, and for transferring processed substrates to the outside; wherein said controller in each of said plurality of cells controls said transport element so that a first substrate received into each cell by way of said plurality of substrate inlets is transferred outwardly of each cell by way of one of said plurality of substrate outlets which is determined by first transport setting established for each cell and for a first substrate unit to which said first substrate belongs, so that a second substrate received into each cell by way of said at least one substrate inlet is transferred outwardly of each cell by way of another one of said plurality of substrate outlets which is determined by second transport setting established for each cell and for a second substrate unit to which said second substrate belongs, so that said first and second substrates determined to be transferred outwardly by way of said one and said another one of said plurality of substrate outlets by said first and second transport settings are transferred outwardly in the order in which said first and second substrates are ready for outward transfer; wherein said controller in each of said plurality of cells allows said transport element to outwardly transfer said first and second substrates made ready for outward transfer earlier when said first and second substrates belonging to a plurality of substrate units different in transport setting are received into each cell by way of a common one of said plurality of substrate inlets; wherein said first and second substrate received into each cell by way of said common one of said plurality of substrate inlets is fed via said indexer cell, wherein said one of said plurality of substrate outlets serves to transfer said first substrate in a direction away from said indexer cell, and wherein said another one of said plurality of substrate outlets serves to transfer said second substrate in a direction approaching said indexer cell.