Patent ID: 6092485
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A substrate processing apparatus comprising:a processing chamber evacuated to vacuum for processing substrates;a plurality of holders arranged substantially in parallel to one another within said processing chamber, each for holding a substrate on a surface thereof on the same side;processing means for successively processing the substrates held in the respective holders at a prescribed position in said processing chamber;a vacuum spare chamber provided adjacent to said processing chamber;a vacuum valve intervening between said vacuum spare chamber and said processing chamber to permit said plurality of holders holding the substrates to be passed collectively;a holder moving mechanism for performing the operation of the reciprocating movement of said plurality of holders independently from one another within said processing chamber so that said plurality of holders traverse the processing position, and the reciprocating movement of said plurality of holders simultaneously between the insides of said processing chamber and vacuum spare chamber through said vacuum valve;a substrate replacing mechanism provided within said vacuum spare chamber capable of holding non-processed substrates and processed substrates whose number is equal to that of said holders, and serving to replace the processed substrates and non-processed substrates with each other collectively for said plurality of holders moved into said vacuum spare chamber in cooperation with the holder moving mechanism; anda rotary mechanism for rotating said holder moving mechanism so that said plurality of holders employ their profiles in an upright condition or a substantially horizontal condition within said processing chamber;wherein said processing means serves to process the substrate held in each of said holders in the upright condition, said vacuum valve serves to pass the holders in the substantially horizontal condition, and said substrate replacing mechanism serves to make replacement of the substrates for the holders in the substantially horizontal condition.