Patent ID: 7198448
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A vacuum processing system comprising: a common transfer chamber extending in a first direction; a plurality of process units linearly extending from the common transfer chamber in a second direction normal to the first direction, each of the process units including a process chamber in which an object is processed and a transfer chamber positioned between the process chamber and the common transfer chamber; a first transfer device for transferring objects between the transfer chambers and the common transfer chamber; and a plurality of second transfer devices, each of the transfer chambers including a second transfer device to linearly move an object in the second direction in order to transfer the object between the process chamber and the transfer chamber of the same process unit, the second transfer device of each transfer chamber being inhibited to transfer the object to another transfer chamber, wherein each of the process units includes a gate valve provided between the transfer chamber and the common transfer chamber through which an object is transferred between the transfer chamber and the common transfer chamber by at least one of the first and second transfer devices.