Patent ID: 6225233
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in a semiconductor device manufacturing machine comprising:a processing chamber for processing semiconductor wafers;a feeding chamber affixed to said processing chamber;a load lock chamber affixed to said feeding chamber;a feeding mechanism within said feeding chamber for feeding a semiconductor wafer between said processing chamber and said load lock chamber;a semiconductor wafer lift-up mechanism, for lifting up a semiconductor wafer which is within the processing chamber;a peripheral member within said processing chamber at least partially surrounding a semiconductor wafer;a peripheral member lift-up mechanism within said processing chamber, for lifting up said peripheral member; anda holding member extending from said feeding mechanism and capable of selectively holding only said semiconductor wafer, only said peripheral member, and both said semiconductor wafer and said peripheral member, whereby said holding member can selectively transfer either said semiconductor wafer by itself, said peripheral member by itself, and both said semiconductor wafer and said peripheral member together, to said load lock chamber and then to a space external to the semiconductor device manufacturing machine;said method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of:a) placing said peripheral member within said load lock chamber when said load lock chamber has a pressure equal to that of the surrounding atmosphere;b) placing said peripheral member onto said holding member;c) feeding said peripheral member from said load lock chamber to said feeding chamber using said holding member of said feeding mechanism;d) holding said peripheral member in said feeding chamber while said feeding chamber is evacuated, and until said feeding chamber reaches a user-defined vacuum level;e) feeding said peripheral member from said feeding chamber to said processing chamber and placing said peripheral member at a fixed position therein.