Patent ID: 6176668
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising:a load lock chamber;a processing chamber coupled to the load lock chamber, said processing chamber including a moveable platen to support the substrate during performance of the process, said platen including slots; anda substrate transfer shuttle moveable along a shuttle path between one position in the load lock chamber and another position in the processing chamber for transferring the substrate between the load lock chamber and the processing chamber, the substrate transfer shuttle including a plurality of substrate supports to support the substrate during transfer of the substrate from the load lock chamber to the processing chamber, said plurality of substrate supports arranged to pass through the slots in the platen as the platen is moved in a vertical direction between a first position and a second position, the substrate transfer shuttle maintainable in the processing chamber during performance of the process, wherein the substrate transfer shuttle has first and second sides and includes:first and second longitudinal side rails at the respective first and second sides thereof;and wherein said substrate supports include:a first plurality of substrate support elements extending inwardly from the first longitudinal side rail; each plurality of substrate support elements having a proximal portion extending at least in part upwardly from the first longitudinal side rail and a distal portion extending inwardly from the proximal portion so that when the substrate transfer shuttle is supporting a substrate, an end effector may be accommodated vertically between the substrate and the first longitudinal side rail and laterally between at least some of the proximal portions of the substrate support elements; anda second plurality of substrate support elements extending inwardly from the second longitudinal side rail.