Patent ID: 6630053
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A semiconductor processing module adapted to be connected to an atmospheric robot unit, comprising:(a) multiple single-wafer processing units disposed side by side, each unit comprising: a reactor for treating a semiconductor substrate, said reactor having a pressure control valve in a gas exhaust line provided with a vacuum exhaust valve; and at least one load lock chamber for transferring the semiconductor substrate into and from the reactor in a vacuum, said load lock chamber having a front end and a rear end, said rear end being connected immediately to said reactor via a front gate valve, said front end being adapted to be connected to the atmospheric robot unit via an end gate valve, said load lock chamber comprising a vacuum robot having linked arms with one revolving shaft for transferring the semiconductor substrate into and from said reactor by straight movement through the front gate valve, the side-by-side arrangement of the multiple units being such that the atmospheric robot unit can access the multiple units via their end gate valves by movements parallel to one direction; and (b) a single gas supply system common to said multiple units, connected to each reactor and said load lock chamber, wherein gas flow of each reactor is independently controlled and a reactor-to-reactor difference in processing is compensated for by the pressure control valve provided for each reactor.