Patent ID: 6350097
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for processing wafers comprising a vacuum chamber in which the wafers are serially processed at a wafer processing position, first and second loadlocks through which the wafers are loaded into the vacuum chamber, and a mechanism for transporting the wafers from the loadlocks to the wafer processing position, the first and second loadlocks having respective first and second outer valves which are selectively operable to seal the loadlocks from the external atmosphere, respective first and second inner valves which are selectively operable to seal the loadlocks from the vacuum chamber, and respective ports for evacuation and pressurization of the loadlocks, said mechanism for transporting comprising a gripper arm for holding wafers, and a robot operable to provide rotational motion of said gripper arm at a fixed radial distance about a predetermined axis, said loadlocks being relatively stacked and arranged to carry wafers in respective parallel planes perpendicular to said axis at the same radial distance from said axis so as to be engageable by said gripper arm, each loadlock being a two-part structure, the two parts being movable together in a direction substantially perpendicular to said parallel planes to seal and provide the respective inner valve, and being movable apart in the opposite direction to break the seal so as to allow access by the gripper arm to wafers in the loadlock by rotation of the robot about said axis without a substantial change in the distance of the gripper arm from said axis.