Patent ID: 6658321
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A substrate processing method, comprising:providing a single substrate transfer apparatus and a substrate alignment apparatus, said substrate transfer apparatus being either for transporting at one time a plural number of substrates prior to notch or orientation flat alignment from a substrate accommodating container to said substrate alignment apparatus, or for transporting a plural number of substrates on which notch or orientation flat alignment has been performed from said substrate alignment apparatus to a boat, said substrate alignment apparatus being capable of performing notch or orientation flat alignment on a number of substrates that is twice or more of said number of substrates which said substrate transfer apparatus transports at one time; and setting a number of substrates on which notch or orientation flat alignment is performed at one time with said substrate alignment apparatus to said number of substrates which said substrate transfer apparatus transports at one time; said method being designed so as to perform, in parallel: said notch or orientation flat alignment on substrates with said substrate alignment apparatus wherein said number of substrates on which said notch or orientation flat alignment is performed at one time is set in such a way; and either said transporting of substrates by said single substrate transfer apparatus prior to said notch or orientation flat alignment from said substrate accommodating container to said substrate alignment apparatus, or said transporting of substrates on which said notch or orientation flat alignment has been performed from said substrate alignment apparatus to said boat.