Patent ID: 7246985
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. For use with a tool for processing a work-piece at low pressure, a work-piece transfer system comprising: a) a first isolation load lock housed within a load lock housing for transferring a work-piece from a higher pressure region to a lower pressure region and back to said higher pressure region including first and second access openings facing said higher pressure region at different angles to allow the first load lock to be accessed from two different directions; b) a second isolation load lock housed within said load lock housing positioned next to the first work-piece isolation load lock for transferring a work-piece from a higher pressure region to a lower pressure region and back to said higher pressure region including first and second access openings facing said higher pressure region at different angles to allow the second load lock to be accessed from two different directions; c) a work-piece processing station for processing work-pieces at low pressure; d) a first robot for transferring work-pieces from one of said first and second work-piece isolation load locks to the work-piece processing station; and e) multiple other robots positioned in said higher pressure region outside the low pressure region for transferring work-pieces to and from the adjacent work-piece isolation load locks from a source of said work-pieces prior to processing and to a destination of said work-pieces after said processing wherein each of said multiple other robots is aligned in facing relation for moving workpieces through a specified one of said first and second access openings of a given load lock.