Patent ID: 7798764
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: B25J,G03F,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of transferring a substrate in a cluster tool adapted to operate at a first pressure, comprising: providing a first processing rack that comprises a first array of three or more groups of two or more vertically stacked processing chambers that each have a first side that is aligned along a first direction which is generally orthogonal to a vertical direction, wherein each of the three or more groups of two or more vertically stacked chambers within the first array are positioned along the first direction; positioning a second processing rack that comprises a second array of three or more groups of two or more vertically stacked processing chambers that each have a first side that is aligned along the first direction so that the first side of each of the processing chambers in the first processing rack and the first side of each of the processing chambers in the second processing rack are facing each other, wherein each of the three or more groups of two or more vertically stacked chambers within the second array are positioned along the first direction; positioning at least three robot assemblies between each of the first sides of the processing chambers in the first and second processing racks, wherein each of the three robot assemblies are adapted to position a substrate in a desired position in the first direction; transferring the substrate from at least one processing chamber contained within a first group of processing chambers in the first processing rack to at least one processing chamber contained within a second group of processing chambers in the first processing rack using a first robot assembly; transferring the substrate from at least one processing chamber contained within the second group of processing chambers in the first processing rack to a first group of processing chambers in the second processing rack using a second robot assembly; transferring the substrate from at least one processing chamber contained within a first group of processing chambers in the second processing rack to at least one processing chamber contained within a second group of processing chambers in the second processing rack using a third robot assembly; and generating a second pressure that is less than the first pressure in an enclosure positioned around an actuator assembly that is disposed within the first, the second or the third robot assembly, wherein the actuator assembly is adapted to position the substrate in the first or the vertical direction.