Patent ID: 7069099
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
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: at least one processing unit; at least one substrate inlet; a plurality of substrate outlets; a transport element for transporting a substrate between said at least one processing unit, said at least one substrate inlet and said plurality of substrate outlets; and a controller for controlling said at least one processing unit and said transport element, 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 at least one substrate inlet is transferred outwardly of each cell by way of one of said plurality of substrate outlets which is determined by a 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 a second transport setting established for each cell and for a second substrate unit to which said second substrate belongs, and 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; and a plurality of substrate rest parts provided between adjacent two of said plurality of cells, one of said plurality of substrate rest parts serving as said at least one substrate inlet of one of said two adjacent cells, and as one or another one of said plurality of substrate outlets of the other of said two adjacent cells, the remainder of said plurality of substrate rest parts serving as one or another one of said plurality of substrate outlets of said one of said two adjacent cells, and as said at least one substrate inlet of said other of said two adjacent cells, wherein said controller in each of said plurality of cells determines the order in which substrates are to be transferred outwardly by way of said one of said substrate outlets of each cell by referencing a substrate placement state signal and said transport setting, said substrate placement state signal being applied from a predetermined sensor and indicating whether or not a substrate is placed on a corresponding one of said substrate rest parts.