Patent ID: 9147591
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A substrate processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of vacuum transfer modules including transfer mechanisms for transferring a substrate between a plurality of process modules that are configured to process the substrate under a reduced-pressure atmosphere, the process modules being arranged near the vacuum transfer modules; one or more load lock modules provided at each vacuum transfer module of the plurality of vacuum transfer modules, the load lock modules being configured to switch an internal atmosphere between an air atmosphere and a reduced-pressure atmosphere and pass the substrate to and from the vacuum transfer modules; a first atmosphere transfer mechanism that transfers the substrate that is fed from outside to one of the load lock modules; and a second atmosphere transfer mechanism that receives the substrate from the first atmosphere transfer mechanism and transfers the received substrate to another one of the load lock modules; wherein the second atmosphere transfer mechanism is arranged above or below the vacuum transfer module that is provided with the one of the load lock modules; and wherein the plurality of vacuum transfer modules are arranged in series along a substrate transfer direction of the second atmosphere transfer mechanism.