Patent ID: 6517691
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: C23C,G11B,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A substrate processing system comprising:a primary processing assembly having a generally circular configuration comprising a central vacuum chamber for receiving and processing substrates, a plurality of process stations attached to said vacuum chamber substantially along the circumference of said circular configuration for individually processing substrates serially fed to said process stations, and transport means for transporting said substrates individually and serially to and from said process stations and through said vacuum chamber, said transport means also transporting said substrates out of said primary processing assembly; a secondary independent processing assembly as a modular attachment attachable to said primary processing assembly comprising at least one process station for processing said substrates; and a vacuum conveyor for transporting substrates in vacuum between said primary processing assembly and said secondary processing assembly, wherein the substrates are maintained in vacuum during transport and feeding of said substrates for processing in said secondary processing assembly.