Patent ID: 8696298
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a multi-plane vacuum workpiece handling system including a plurality of robotic handling facilities disposed on a plurality of handling planes so that a robotic handling facility in a first plane can transfer a workpiece to a robotic handling facility in a second plane, where the multi-plane vacuum workpiece handling system includes a chamber capable of being sealed for holding a controlled sealed atmosphere sealed from an outside atmosphere and the plurality of handling planes are disposed adjacent one another within the chamber such that a workpiece travelling on one handling plane can pass by a workpiece travelling on another different handling plane; and disposing a plurality of sensors within at least one of the plurality of robotic handling facilities so that a robotic arm-relative position of a workpiece that is transported by a robot is determined from sensor outputs by moving the workpiece through a retract, rotate, and extend path.