Patent ID: 9147592
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A linked processing tool system comprising: a first processing tool having at least a first transfer chamber configured to couple to a plurality of processing chambers; a second processing tool having at least a second transfer chamber configured to couple to a plurality of processing chambers; a third transfer chamber coupled between the first and second processing tools and configured to transfer substrates between the first and second processing tools; a first via coupling the first transfer chamber of the first processing tool directly to the third transfer chamber; a second via coupling the second transfer chamber of the second processing tool directly to the third transfer chamber; a third via coupling the first transfer chamber of the first processing tool directly to the second transfer chamber of the second processing tool, the via bypassing the third transfer chamber; and a single sequencer that controls substrate transfer operations between the first processing tool, the second processing tool and the third transfer chamber of the linked processing tool system.