Patent Publication Number: US-8984744-B2

Title: Method and apparatus to support a cleanspace fabricator

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in part to the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/502,689, filed Aug. 12, 2006 and entitled: “Method and Apparatus to support a Cleanspace Fabricator” which claims priority to the following Provisional Applications: Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/596,343, filed Sep. 18, 2005 and entitled: “Specialized Methods for Substrate Processing for a Clean Space Where Processing Tools are Vertically Oriented”; and also Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/596,173, filed Sep. 6, 2005 and entitled: “Method and Apparatus for Substrate Handling for a Clean Space Where Processing Tools are Reversibly Removable”; and also Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/596,099, filed Aug. 31, 2005 and entitled: “Method and Apparatus for a Single Substrate Carrier For Semiconductor Processing”; and also Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/596,053 filed Aug. 26, 2005 and entitled: “Method and Apparatus for an Elevator System for Tooling and Personnel for a Multilevel Cleanspace/Fabricator”; and also Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/596,035 filed Aug. 25, 2005 and entitled: “Method and Apparatus for a Tool Chassis Support System for Simplified, Integrated and Reversible Installation of Process Tooling”; and also Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/595,935 filed Aug. 18, 2005, and entitled: “Method and Apparatus for the Integrated, Flexible and Easily Reversible Connection of Utilities, Chemicals and Gasses to Process Tooling.” The contents of each are relied upon and incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to apparatus and methods which support fabricators with routinely replaceable processing tools and one or more cleanspaces. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A known approach to cleanspace-assisted fabrication of materials such as semi-conductor substrates, is to assemble a manufacturing facility as a “cleanroom.” In such cleanrooms, processing tools are arranged to provide aisle space for human operators or automation equipment. Exemplary cleanroom design is described in: “Cleanroom Design Second Edition,” edited by W. Whyte, published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, 1999, ISBN 0-471-94204-9, (herein after referred to as “the Whyte text”). 
     Cleanroom design has evolved over time to include locating processing stations within clean hoods. Vertical unidirectional air flow can be directed through a raised floor, with separate cores for the tools and aisles. It is also known to have specialized mini environments which surround only a processing tool for added space cleanliness. Another known approach includes the “ballroom” approach, wherein tools, operators and automation all reside in the same cleanroom. 
     Evolutionary improvements have enabled higher yields and the production of devices with smaller geometries. However, known cleanroom design has disadvantages and limitations. 
     For example, as the size of tools has increased and the dimensions of cleanrooms have increased, the volume of cleanspace that is controlled has concomitantly increased. As a result, the cost of building the cleanspace, and the cost of maintaining the cleanliness of such cleanspace, has increased considerably. 
     Tool installation in a cleanroom can be difficult. The initial “fit up” of a “fab” with tools, when the floor space is relatively empty, can be relatively straight forward. However, as tools are put in place and a fab begins to process substrates, it can become increasingly difficult and disruptive of job flow, to either place new tools or remove old ones. It would be desirable therefore to reduce installation difficulties attendant to dense tool placement while still maintaining such density, since denser tool placement otherwise affords substantial economic advantages relating to cleanroom construction and maintenance. 
     Another area of evolutionary improvement has come with improvements in robotics. Substrate processing has changed from a manually intensive process where human operators handled substrates or batches of substrates. In current cleanroom designs, many processing tools include robotics for substrate handling. In some fabricator settings, human interaction is reduced to: loading collections of substrates onto processing tools, unloading collections of substrates from processing tools and moving collections of substrates from one processing tool to another. Evolutionary advances have transitioned into cleanroom robotics which are extremely complex and therefore costly and error prone. 
     In some cases, in a modem semiconductor fabricator, substrates move from tool to tool in specialized carriers which contain multiple substrates. The carriers interface with appropriate automation to allow for movement of the substrates around the fab and for loading and unloading the substrates from a processing tool. 
     The size of substrate has increased over time as have the typical sizes of fabs. The increased size allows for economies of scale in production, but also creates economic barriers to development and new entries into the industry. A similar factor is that the processing of substrates is coordinated and controlled by batching up a number of substrates into a single processing lot. A single lot can include, for example, 25 substrates. Accordingly, known carriers are sized to typically accommodate the largest size lot that is processed in a fab. 
     It would be desirable to have manufacturing facilities for cleanspace-assisted fabrication, that use less cleanspace area, permit dense tool placement while maintaining ease of installation, which permit the use of more simple robotics and which are capable of efficiently processing a single substrate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides support mechanisms for a fabrication environment that includes a cleanspace with a boundary wall and a plurality of processing tools, each having a port and a body. The processing tools can be placed with each port inside the first cleanspace and the body of each processing tool can be placed at a location peripheral to the cleanspace boundary wall, such that at least a portion of the tool body is outside the cleanspace. In addition, a single material, such as a single substrate wafer, can be processed by at least two of the plurality of tools and individually transferred from a first tool to a second tool within the integrity of the cleanspace. 
     The present invention can therefore include methods and apparatus for: supporting processing tools, supplying utilities to the processing tools, handling material to be processed within the cleanspace; transporting materials within the cleanspace and placing a processing tool into and out of physical communication with the cleanspace. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, that are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention: 
         FIG. 1  Overview of Chassis Embodiment 
         FIG. 2  Front View with Tool Body Placed 
         FIG. 3  Rear View with Tool Body Placed 
         FIG. 4  Example Placement in an Example Fab Design 
         FIG. 5  Overview of Chassis-Not Extended 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example tool body elevation view showing a substrate handler. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a close up view of substrate handler indicating internal components in context with a tool body. 
         FIG. 8  Substrate Handler Internal Components. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a tool body with substrate handler attached to an exemplary fabricator. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a rear view plane view of an exemplary fabricator with back walls removed and thereby showing multiple tool ports and fabricator automation. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a single level carrier with clips and ramped support rails. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a Cross Section of A single level carrier with Clips and Ramped Support Rail. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a single level Carrier with a substrate shaped slot on support rails. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an elevation of an open single level carrier with a substrate shaped slot on support rails. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a cross section of an open single level carrier with a substrate shaped slot on support rails. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an elevation of a double level carrier with clips and ramped support rails. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates an elevation of an open double level carrier with clips and ramped support rails and vent holes in top transparent panel. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a side view of an open double level carrier with clips and ramped support rails and vent holes in top transparent panel. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates an elevation of a double level carrier with vent holes in top panel and environmental control unit attached to top panel. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates an elevation of an open single level carrier with a substrate shaped slot on support rails with helical springs. 
         FIG. 21A  illustrates a Multiple Gas Flange Top 
         FIG. 21B  illustrates a Bottom view of Multiple Gas Flange 
         FIG. 22  illustrates an assembly including two faces of a multiple gas connection. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a bottom elevation of joined multiple gas connection 
         FIG. 24  illustrates an entity sealed with bolts. 
         FIG. 25  illustrates an entity sealed clamped force 
         FIG. 26  illustrates an entity with motorized sealing concept 
         FIG. 27  illustrates an implementation of a single gas or fluid. 
         FIG. 28  illustrates an example of a liquid version of a quick sealing mechanism. 
         FIG. 29  illustrates an “exploded” version of a chemical flange. 
         FIG. 30  illustrates a “manifold” of various types of quick connection flanges. 
         FIG. 31  illustrates a schematic representation implementing some embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention relates to methods and apparatus to support a cleanspace environment within which a material, such as an integrated circuit substrate, can be processed. The support can include methods and apparatus which allow a portion of a tool used to process the material to be accessible from within a cleanspace in which the material is processed. An additional portion of the processing tool can remain outside of the cleanspace environment in which the material is processed. In addition, the present invention provides for methods and apparatus to facilitate installation, removal and maintenance of the tools used to process the material. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to different aspects of some preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. A Glossary of Selected Terms is included at the end of this Detailed Description. 
     Traditionally, when installing a processing tool into a semiconductor fabricator, riggers had to place the tool in a designated position where the tool remained in place for its entire time in the fab. The present invention provides for an alternative strategy wherein processing tools can be routinely placed and removed from a fab location. 
     One aspect of the present invention therefore provides for support fixtures which facilitate efficient placement, removal and replacement of a processing tool in a predefined location. Predefined tool placement in turn facilitates predefined locations for utility interconnections and predefined locations for material transfer into and out of associated tool ports. In some embodiments, a support fixture can further provide a chassis capable of receiving a processing tool and moving a processing tool from a position external to a cleanspace to an operational location wherein at least an associated processing tool port is located inside the cleanspace environment. In some respects, movement of the tool from an installation position to an operational position can be envisioned much like a cabinet drawer moving from an outward position to a closed position. 
     Other aspects of some embodiments of the present invention include the connection of support items for proper operation of the processing tool. For example, electrical supplies, chemicals, gases, compressed air or other processing tool support can be passed through the tool chassis support system via flexible connections. Furthermore, wired or wireless transfer of data could be supported by the chassis body. In addition, in some embodiments, a support chassis according to the present invention can include communication interfaces with safety systems to provide safe operation and safe removal and replacement. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1  a chassis  101  for tools is illustrated according to some embodiments of the present invention. The chassis plate  110  and the base plate  111  are attached to a sliding rail system  113  and provide an installation location for a processing tool body (not illustrated). Base plate  111  is physically fixed in an appropriate location of a fabricator. In some embodiments, base plate  111  would not interact directly with the tool body, however, in some embodiments, a tool body can be fixedly attached to the base plate  111 . In both embodiments, chassis plate  110  can physically support a tool body mounted on the chassis  101 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , the orientation of two plates, chassis plate  110  and base plate  111  is shown with the plates separated. The chassis  101 , can have multiple service location orientations. A first location, as shown in the drawing, can involve an extended location, such that the placement and removal of a tool body from the chassis plate  110  can occur in an exposed location. An exposed location, for example, can facilitate placement of a new tool onto the chassis plate  110 . A second service location allows the chassis  101  to relocate such that both chassis plate  110  and base plate  111  are close together. An illustration of an exemplary second service location is provided in  FIG. 5  including chassis plate  510  and base plate  511 . 
     In some embodiments, tabs  120  may stick out of the chassis plate  110 . The tabs  120  may serve one or more purposes. As a physical extension, the tabs  120  will have a corresponding indentation (not illustrated) in the mating plate or a surface of a tool body  201  to be placed on the tabs  120 . As the tool body  201  is lowered over the chassis plate  110 , the tool body  201  will reach a location as defined by tabs  120 . In some embodiments, the tabs  120  can additionally provide electrical connection between the chassis plate  110  and the tool body  201 . Electrical connection can serve one or more of the purposes of: electrical power and electrical data signal. 
     In some embodiments, a wireless interface  123  can provide wireless electrical connection between the tool body and the chassis. The wireless interface  123  can be redundant to hardwire data connections or take the place of hardwire data connection. The wireless interface can also be utilized for other electrical connections, as discussed for tabs  120 . In some embodiments, a wireless interface  123  can provide one or both of electrical power and data communication. 
     Connections for non electrical utilities can also be provided, as discussed more fully below in the section entitled Utility Flange Connectors. Facilities connections  121  can be used for defining a connection, for example, of one or more of: gas, vacuum, fluids waste lines, compresses air, deionized water, chemicals and the like. A variety of conduits  112  can carry these utilities to the facilities connections  121  and be routed, for example, through the chassis  101 . The conduits  112  can be connected to appropriate facility supply systems, air flow systems and drains to provide for safe operation. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a tool body  201  can be placed onto the chassis plate  110 . The tool body  201  is illustrated in a generic box, however, any type of processing tool, such as those required for semiconductor manufacture, is within the scope of the invention. In some embodiments, the underside of a tool body  201  can include a mating plate which physically interfaces with a chassis plate  110 . 
     The present invention includes apparatus to facilitate placement of tool bodies  201  in a fab and the methods for using such placement. The chassis  101  design can be capable of assuming two defined positions; one extended position places an interface plate external to the environment that the tool assumes when it is processing. This allows for easy placement and removal. The other position can be the location where the tooling sits when it is capable of processing. The exact placement of the tooling afforded by the chassis  101  allows for more rational interconnection to facilities and utilities and also for the interfacing of the tool body  201  with fab automation. The chassis  101  can have automated operations capabilities that interface with the tool body and the fab operation to ensure safe controlled operation. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a processing tool  200  can transfer a material, such as, for example, a semiconductor substrate, in and out of a tool body  201 . In  FIG. 2 , a tool port  211  can be used for coordinating transfer of a material into and out of the tool port  211  and maintaining cleanspace integrity of a tool body  201  interior. As can be seen in  FIG. 2  this embodiment contemplates placing the tool port  211  in a manner physically connected to the tool body  201 . A further purpose of the movement of the chassis plate  202  from its extended position to its closed position, which may also be referred to as its operating position, would be the movement of the tool port  211  through an opening in a cleanspace wall. This would allow the tool port  211  to occupy a position in a cleanspace so that fabricator logistics equipment can hand off wafers and carriers of wafers to the tool port  211 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, a tool body  301  can include a specifically located set of mating pieces which may be called tool connections  310  for connecting the tool body  301  to facility supplied utilities. When the tool and chassis are moved from an extended position as shown in  FIG. 1  to a closed position as shown in  FIG. 5 , such movement can place tool connections  310  in proximity to the facilities connections  311  and thereby allow for connection of various utilities. In some embodiments, as a processing tool  200  is connected, various aspects of tool automation electronics can monitor the connection and determine when the connections are in a safe operating mode. Such tool automation electronics can communicate to the tool body  301  and to the chassis plate  302  to identify a state that the connections and supply conduits are in. 
     In still another aspect of the invention, in some embodiments, control automation can be contained within the chassis for various aspects of the operation of the chassis  101 . It is within the scope of the present invention to monitor and control multiple states related to the chassis  101  via electronic included in the chassis  101 . Such states can include, by way of example, a physical location of a chassis  101  in an extended or closed state. Therefore, for example, if a processing tool  200  and chassis  101  are in a closed and operational state, a technical operator may issue a command to the chassis  101  to move to an extended location. Such communication could occur through a control panel  122  or through wireless communication to the chassis  101  through wireless interface  123 . Control of the processing tools can be accomplished with any known machine controller technology, including for example a processor running executable software and generating a human readable interface. 
     In some embodiments, a command to move to the chassis  101  to an extended location can also initiate, amongst other algorithmic functions, a check for the status of utilities connections. It is also within the scope of this invention to require any such utility connections to be rendered into a state of disconnect before the chassis  101  can proceed to an extended position. 
     Similarly, in some embodiments, prior to operations such as extension of a chassis  101 , processing steps can determine that a tool body  201  did not contain any substrates prior to extension of the chassis  101 . It is also within the scope of the present invention for communication modes included within the chassis  101  to communicate with fab wide automation systems for purposes such as tracking the location of substrates; tracking the identity of tools; and tracking the status of processing tools  200 . If connections to a processing tool  200  and chassis  101  are in a proper state then the chassis can move into an extended position allowing for removal of the tool body  201  and replacement with a tool body  201  of a similar type. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, a fabricator will include automation to handle substrates and control their processing. And, in many cases the substrates can move from tool to tool in a specialized carrier which contains the substrates. The specialized carriers can be transported via automation which includes automated transport systems. The carriers can thereby be presented to one or more processing tool interfaces, also referred to herein as a “port”. The automation allows for movement of the substrates around the fab and for loading and unloading the substrates from a processing tool. Substrates can include, for example and without limitation, wafers for semiconductor processing, microelectronic machines, nanotechnology, photonic, and biotechnological carriers. 
     A substrate processing tool port can support processing tools and handle wafers and wafer carriers in an environment attached to the tool body. The tool port can penetrate a clean space containment wall and the tool body can enable routine placement and replacement into the fabricator environment. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, processing tools reside with their tool bodies in a position which allows the tool body to be outside of a cleanspace with a tool port operatively attached to the tool body inside of the cleanspace. For example, embodiments can include a tool body adjacent to, or on the periphery of, a clean space of the fabricator and the tool port extending into the cleanspace. Each tool body can be removed and replaced in a standardized process and without requiring the removal of adjacent tool bodies. The present invention also anticipates the automated transfer of substrates from a first tool port of a first processing tool to a second tool port of a second processing tool, while maintaining the substrate in a clean space environment via a clean carrier. 
     Embodiments therefore include tool ports that are capable of receiving a carrier from the automated transport system. Each carrier can contain at least one substrate. The automated transport unloads the carriers and passes the carrier off to the processing tools automation systems. In some embodiments, the port size enables it to span a wall used for the definition of a primary clean space of the fabricator. Inside the primary clean space resides the entry area of the tool port. The tool port&#39;s body can span a distance in excess of the width of the clean space wall to allow for substrates which are unloaded from their carrier to be robotically handed off to the tool body&#39;s automation. 
     The novel tool port can incorporate various levels of automated carrier and substrate handling apparatus. For example, in some embodiments, the carrier and handling apparatus can include communication systems which receive data from electronic sensors monitoring each port, processing tools and transport apparatus. In another aspect, a substrate can be contained within a controlled ambient environment while it is within the storage carrier, port and processing tool. 
     Substrate Handling 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the present invention provides methods and apparatus for handling substrate carriers in a way that is consistent with routine placement and replacement of the processing tool body  604 . A generic form of a processing tool body  604  is illustrated which contains processing equipment for processes commonly used in fabricating semiconductor devices. The processing tool body  604  is illustrated with handles to clearly indicate the ability of the processing tool body  604  to be removed from its processing position. The tool port  601  extends from the processing tool body  604 . In some embodiments, the tool port  601  extends a sufficient distance to traverse an associated clean room wall and be in position for the port entry  603  or “mouth” to receive and hand off substrates. 
     In some embodiments, the processing tool body  604  resides in a secondary cleanspace which is independent of the primary cleanspace. Separation of the primary cleanspace and the secondary cleanspace is accomplished via a sealing mechanism  602 . The sealing mechanism  602  can include, for example, a collapsible ring of material that when pushed against a sealing surface forms an atmospheric seal. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , tool body  710  is shown at a closer perspective including the seal  702  around the tool port  701  and side panels around the inside removed. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a close up of an embodiment of the internal components of a tool port  601 . A cassette loading and unloading apparatus  810  is automatically operative to open a cassette (not shown) and insert or remove a substrate according to a software instruction received. A substrate  811  is illustrated being removed from the cassette loading and unloading apparatus  810 . The substrate  811  is shown sitting on a holder  812 , such as, for example, a vacuum actuated holder. The holder  812  is connected to a retractable handler arm  813 . The retractable handler arm  813  can be operative to move the holder  812  and a substrate into and out of a cassette. A rotation stage  814  supports the retractable handler arm  813  and is capable of positioning the retractable handler arm  813  along an arcuate path. 
     In some exemplary embodiments, a cassette containing a substrate  811  is loaded by a fabricator automation robot into the “mouth” of a cassette loading and unloading apparatus  810 . Inside the cassette loading and unloading apparatus  810 , the cassette can be opened, thereby exposing a substrate  811  contained there. In some embodiments, the cassette maintains a cleanspace environment for the substrate  811  contained in the cassette. In addition, the environment of the unloading apparatus is also a cleanspace thereby keeping the substrate  811  in a cleanspace environment after it is unloaded. 
     The retractable handler arm  813  extends into the cassette and secures the substrate  811  with an actuated attachment mechanism, such as for example a vacuum tip. The retractable handler arm  813  is then retracted back out of the cassette unloader. In some embodiments, the retractable handler arm  813  centers over the rotation stage  814 . A rotation of the rotation stage  814  with the arm centered would lead to the minimum amount of space required. Once the arm has rotated towards the tool body, the arm can again extend allowing the wafer to be placed in a receiving location of the processing tool body  604 . After processing, the substrate  811  can be moved back to a receiving location and picked up by the holder  812 . By reversing the above steps the substrate  811  can be transferred back to a carrier for handoff to the fabricator automation. The fabricator automation can transport the substrate to an additional processing tool for further processing by the additional tool. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates perspective view  900  of how a port according to the present invention is operatively attached to a tool which is easily placed and replaced. In some embodiments, a fabricator  901  has a series of tools  902  which may be stacked. When a tool  902  is being placed or replaced it sits in a retracted position  905  relative to a normal position as illustrated by the position of tool  902  in a fabricator. The tool body,  904 , is shown in its retracted position,  905 . As illustrated, the tool port  903 , is located on a side of the tool body  904  with the furthest edge just visible. 
       FIG. 10  shows a perspective of the fabricator  901  from the opposite side  910  illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The back fabricator walls have been cut away in order to illustrate an inner portion of the fabricator  901 , including multiple tool ports, such as, for example as exemplified by tool port  1001 . Tool port  1001  is attached to a tool body  904  that is fully advanced into the fabricator and in the normal position. 
     According to some embodiments, while a tool body is located in the normal position, a seal is formed against the sealing surface  1002  maintaining the integrity of the cleanspace into which the tool port  1001  extends. As illustrated, the tool body  904  connected to the tool port  1001  extends away from the clean room wall  1010 . In this position, the tool port  1001  is able to interface with transport automation  1013  situated on a rail  1012 . In some embodiments, a robot arm would index from the transport automation  1013  to a tool port  1001  which is at a correct position by moving horizontally on rail  1012  while that rail moved along the vertical rail system  1011 . Any other known transport automation can similarly be employed to position the tool port  1001 . When transport automation  1013  is located in a programmed position, the transport automation  1013  moves forward to hand a wafer cassette to the tool port  1001 . 
     In another aspect, the clean environment of fabricator  901  and each tool port  1001  can be facilitated by transporting equipment on the rail  1012  to a tool port  1001  and open the tool port  1001  to flow liquids or gasses over the internal surfaces of the tool port  1001  in order to facilitate particulate and film cleaning. 
     Substrate Carrier 
     Another aspect of the present invention includes a carrier for containment of a single substrate in a clean environment. The carrier is capable of the transport of the single substrate inside and outside of an environment for processing substrate wafers. The single substrate carrier is capable of interfacing with processing equipment which is designed specifically for single substrate processing as contrasted with a semiconductor lot of 13 to 25 substrates. In some embodiments, the carrier can be loaded and unloaded by application of opposite force to its top and bottom plate for access to a substrate contained therein. Some embodiments can also include electronics for information, such as the identification and status of a wafer contained therein and for wired or wireless communication. Some embodiments can also include a carrier including environmental control equipment. 
     According to the present invention, a fabricator is provided for efficient production of lot size of a single wafer. Although designs of carriers exist to carry a single substrate at a time, these carriers are not made for the purpose of processing the substrates, but rather for transporting a wafer out of a processing line for testing, finishing or other purposes. The present invention provides methods and apparatus for a carrier of a single substrate wafer which maintains the substrate in a clean environment. 
     The novel single substrate processing carrier according to the present invention can incorporate various levels of automation to interface with a modern fabrication facility. For example, according to the present invention, a single substrate carrier can include electronic circuitry for communication of data from the carrier to other systems that can include, for example, processing tools and fabricator wide automation systems. Furthermore, in some embodiments, single substrate processing carrier can provide and maintain environmental control of the single substrate stored. Environmental control can include, for example, temperature and humidity control. 
     In another aspect, since a single substrate is the minimum entity size that can be processed at a time; a single wafer carrier according to the present invention can serve the purposes of both a processing carrier in a fabricator environment; and, a shipping carrier external to the environment. Further embodiments can also include a single substrate carrier which allows for single carrier to store a substrate in processing of the substrate, test of the substrate, as well as packaging and diagnostic environments for the substrate. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , according to the present invention, a carrier  1101  is provided which can contain a single substrate at a time and which can easily be transported to automated processing ports. In some embodiments, the carrier  1101  includes a box like shape having side panels  1130  and  1131 , top plate  1120  and bottom plate  1124 . In these embodiments, three box-like regions are defined. A main region where the substrate  1140  is contained and two exterior regions where spring-like material forming spring  1110  is contained is shown. Other embodiments can include cylindrical or non-uniform shapes and defined regions accordingly. 
     According to the present invention, during containment in the carrier  1101 , substrate,  1140 , resides in a contained clean environment; and is able to be removed and replaced from the clean environment without violating the integrity of the clean environment. Therefore, the present invention provides for an external handling unit engaging the top plate  1120  and the bottom plate  1124  and moving them apart. During such movement, the springs  1110  deflect allowing for separation of end sides from an attached panel, such as the bottom plate  1124 . Two lateral sides  1150  and  1151  and pieces of the other sides  1132  remain fixed to the bottom plate  1124 , while side panels  1131  and  1133  remain fixed to the top plate  1120 . Sealing material, such as a pliable synthetic, silicone or a foam material can border the corresponding surfaces of the top plate  1120  and bottom plate  1124  where the nonattached side panels  1131 ,  1133  make contact. 
     A set of rails  1123  within the carrier  1101  can provide support for substrate  1140 . A set of sloped surfaces attached to the rails  1121  facilitate the location of the substrate by transfer automation in a fab (not shown). The force of springs  1110  can return the top plate  1120  and the bottom plate  1124  to their respective storage positions. In the storage position, the various sealing surfaces  1122  are placed in a closed position. A securing device, such as, for example, a set of clips (not illustrated) can secure the top edge of a substrate  1140  placed within the carrier  1101  and hold the substrate  1140  in place while it is contained within the carrier  1101 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a side elevation illustrates the spatial relationship of several components implementing one version of the present invention. As illustrated, a substrate  1240 , is supported by a set of rails  1220 . Sloped guides  1221  proximate to the rails aid in locating the substrate. Channels  1210  are located separate from the substrate chamber  1222 . The channels can contain springs  1211  which facilitate opening and closing of the carrier  1201 . In some embodiments, clips, finger springs or other securing mechanism  1230  push down on a surface of the substrate  1240 , securing the substrate against the rails  1220 . 
     An alternative embodiment is shown in  FIG. 13  as item  1301 . This alternative shares substantially the features of the embodiments of  FIGS. 11 and 12 . However, in the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 13 , a pocket  1311  roughly the same shape as the substrate (not illustrated in  FIG. 13 ) is provided to receive the substrate. The pocket  1311  is defined as a cutout in pieces of a rail  1310  which supports the substrate away from the bottom of the carrier. Similar to the preceding examples, finger springs or clips  1320 , provide force on the edge of a substrate when the carrier is in a closed configuration and secure the substrate in place against the rails  1310 . 
       FIG. 14  shows a depiction of an embodiment of a carrier  1401  with a pocket  1411  to hold the wafer in an open position. Springs  1412 , are shown in an extended position with the top plate and sides of the carrier are moved away from the back plate. 
       FIG. 15  shows a side view of some embodiments of a carrier  1501  in an open position. The carrier  1501  can be held in the open position while a substrate (not illustrated in  FIG. 15 ) is being moved into or out of the carrier  1501 . An access path for a substrate is formed when the top plate  1515  and bottom plate  1511  are moved apart from each other. 
     The rails  1510  and pocket  1512  can be affixed to the bottom plate  1511  to allow a gap to be formed underneath the substrate. A handling arm can extend into the gap and removably attach to the substrate, for example by using a vacuum tip. The handling arm can lift the substrate and with horizontal movement of the arm retract out of the pocket. After retraction of arm, the carrier resumes a closed position under the action of the springs  1514 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 16 , in some embodiments, the relative size of robotics, or other spatial considerations, may make it advantageous to utilize two levels of spring attached plates with a middle plate (not shown in this view). Springs  1613  can be seen in this case for the opening of the top level  1610 . A lower level  1611  is identified that can move down, with springs that are not shown, relative to the location of a fixed plate which can be attached to a hard fixture  1612 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 17 , a two level carrier  1701  is shown in an open position. The elevation view now makes apparent, the second level of springs  1713  used to support the bottom level  1712 . The top level  1710  is held by springs  1714 . The middle plate  1711  is the support surface for the substrate. 
     In some embodiments, an additional aspect includes a set of vent holes  1720  that are located in the top level  1710  of the carrier. The vent hole can allow for equipment to control the ambient temperature of the substrate to be attached as an integral part of the carrier. 
     A side view of an open carrier  1801  is shown in  FIG. 18 . A gap  1820  defined as the bottom of the substrate  1821  and the top of the bottom level  1814  can be much larger than that of a single level carrier due to the extra movement allowed by springs  1813 . Vent holes  1830  can be placed in the top plate of the open carrier  1801 . It should be noted that such vent holes can be made into the top of any of the various carrier embodiments  FIGS. 11-18  in a similar fashion. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 19 , an elevation of a closed dual level carrier,  1901  is illustrated. A bottom level  1912  and the top level  1911  are both shown in a closed position relative to an affixed wafer and to level  1913 . In some embodiments, an environmental control entity  1910  can be schematically shown attached to the top plate of the carrier. Such an environmental control entity  1910  can be operative to move airflow through one set of vent holes in the top plate, process the air, for among other factors its humidity, and then flow the air back into the carrier environment through another set of holes. 
     Addition of communication and power entities can also be incorporated into the various carrier designs. Specific placement of such entities is not limited, however, for the purpose of illustration the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 19  can be used for discussion. When item  1901  is being held inside an automation piece of equipment, it can be envisioned that the components of level  1913  can be held in a fixed position by the external automation, while moving pieces of the automation attach to appropriate parts of the top level  1911  and the bottom level  1912  by vacuum for example. Channels in level  1913  can contain electronic circuitry to control, for example: wired communications, wireless communication, handling, and ambient environment conditions. In a wired sense, the parts of level  1913  in fixed contact with the handling units can determine the interface faces for such connection. Furthermore, storage batteries residing in spaces of level  1913 , can also be charged up using a similar fixed contact or alternatively, power, can be transferred via electromagnetic fields from the automation equipment to receiving electronics inside the space of the carrier. 
     Embodiments of the carrier innovation have been depicted for illustration in the various figures with springs shown as bands of material. The generality of the design should be apparent to encompass various types of spring-like material. To illustrate such a variation,  FIG. 20  shows an elevation  2001  of a single level carrier with a pocket design having helical type springs  2010 . For illustration, such springs can be attached from the top plate  2020  to the bottom plate  2021 . Further enhancements such as, for example, sheaths around the springs to contain contamination debris that may be released under movement of the springs is not shown, for clarity of the illustration, but can easily be envisioned as enhancing some embodiments&#39; function as a clean carrier of the substrate, and are therefore within the scope of the present invention. 
     In various other aspects of the present invention, carriers according to the present invention can be used in the processing of: semiconductor substrates, microelectronic machines, nanotechnology, photonic, and biotechnological applications. Equipment can be incorporated into ports of processing tools to allow for the opening and closing of the carrier. Since substrates can also be transported in the carrier, stand-alone units for the loading and unloading of substrates without the presence of a processing tool are also within the scope of the present invention. Since the clean environment of the carrier can need to be maintained, it can also be expected that equipment that can clean the carrier can be made consistent with these design concepts. Stand-alone units that open the single substrate carrier and flow liquids or gasses over the internal surfaces to effect particulate and film cleaning are also within the scope of the present invention. 
     Utility Flange Connectors 
     When installing a processing tool into a semiconductor fabricator, there are a number of different connections which need to be made to provide utilities, data connections and materials through conduits from the fabrication facility support infrastructure to the individual processing tools. In that traditional processing tools reside in their respective places, typically for the life of the tool, historically there has not been standardized accommodation for an organized placement of these connections in a manner that allows them to be quickly coupled. However, the present invention anticipates routine placement and replacement of processing tools and therefore provides for quick coupling and uncoupling of multiple connections. Specifically, the present invention provides methods an apparatus which allow for the repeatable removal and replacement of processing tooling without the need to weld, glue or otherwise permanently reconstitute conduit connections during each replacement. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a physical framework is provided for quick standardized connections of materials and utilities to processing tools. Each processing tool can be conceptualized as a “Box” with various processes and operations occurring inside the box. Particular processes and operations are generally unimportant to this disclosure, except in that they define the need for the input and output of materials, utilities, data connections and waste relative to each “Box” to support its operation. The general classes of the materials, utilities and waste relevant to this concept can be liquid chemicals, gaseous chemicals, vacuum, cooling liquids, and utility gas flows for cooling or exhaust.  FIG. 21A  illustrates exemplary connections between a “Box” and the facility infrastructure. 
     General classes of materials can each have their own set of technical needs based upon requirements for safe operation, process integrity, cost effectiveness or other related concern. A first class for discussion can include gaseous chemicals. Such chemicals can be further sub-classified for example as inert, reactive, toxic or pyrophoric or a combination of these. Each sub-classification can have the property of being provided under an elevated pressure with high degrees of purity. Thus a means of quickly coupling and decoupling gaseous chemicals will need to address various needs and properties of each classification. 
     In  FIG. 21A  a top view of a flange  2101  according to the present invention is presented. The top view illustrates one of two separated sealing surfaces, which, when joined together, seal and provide the sealed connection of the multiple gas conduits that are connected. This one side is illustrated to have an external sealing surface indicated as  2110 . On this external sealing surface  2110  is accommodation by either a knife edge or channel for an “O-Ring” seal  2111 . Other sealing apparatus, such as a gasket, or malleable ring, may also be used. Moving towards the center, the outer external sealing surface is interrupted by a channel  2112 . This channel  2112  allows for the evacuation of air in the internal region of the “O-Ring” seal  2111 . Negative atmospheric pressure, such as a relative vacuum, may be established through ports  2114  connecting to the channel. 
     Electronic monitoring of the vacuum state can be used to facilitate safety, wherein any change in the vacuum state can be assessed to determine if the change denotes a safety hazard or an indication of impurities mixing with gases or materials passing through the flange  2101 . The application of a vacuum can facilitate safe use of the flange  2101  during operation and through detection of any leaks in sealing surfaces. Furthermore, miniscule leaks that may be small enough to effect process cleanliness but not large enough for general detection will not result in foreign gases being introduced. 
     On an inner side of channel  2112  is a second sealing surface  2115  on which multiple conduit sealing junctions  2116  can be arrayed. Each conduit sealing junction  2116  can include a pliable seal, “O-Ring”, brass ring or other interface device capable of forming a gaseous seal. In some embodiments, each conduit sealing junction  2116  can be constructed so that it has the same planar height as the external sealing surface  2110 . Embodiments with essentially planar sealing surface heights will invoke a positive sealing aspect with “O-Ring” seal  2111  and at the same time force individual gas line “O-Ring” seals  2117  to seal. 
     A second sealing surface  2115  can terminate with a second channel  2119 . Second channel  2119  can be evacuated with a port  2118  to establish a vacuum condition on either side of the gas line conduit sealing region. In this manner an individually sealed gas line  2113  ( FIG. 21B ) can be connected to its counterpart on a mating piece allowing for a continuous connection at this entity. Since the region around each conduit&#39;s sealing interface is surrounded by a vacuum, safe operations can be assisted. Furthermore, if the vacuum system is connected with vacuum gauges or in situ mass spectrometers then a leak between any of the sealing surfaces can be detected and all gases shut off with electrically activated valves and a corresponding diagnostic message can be sent. In some embodiment, pneumatic valves or other automated valves may also be utilized. 
     In some embodiments, safe operations can further be enhanced by the incorporation of an electronic ID tag (not illustrated). The tags can uniquely identify each flanging mechanism half. Control electronics capable of interacting with the ID tags can then ensure that the gas lines that will be connected are appropriate. 
     Referring Now to  FIG. 21B  a view  2102  from the bottom of a flange for joining multiple gas lines  2113  is illustrated. The flange  2101  can include a bottom of the external sealing surface  2130  and a set of inner vacuum channels. A connection to the external channel can include a tube  2131  which interfaces with a vacuum line  2137 . Each tube which ends with a vacuum flange can act both for support of the flange mechanism shown in view  2102  and for a conduit of vacuum the inner part of which is shown as  2137 . Each of the gas lines  2113  can penetrate the flange  2101 . 
       FIG. 22  illustrates some embodiments with two corresponding halves  2201  sealed together. A first flange  2210  which can be considered the “Facility side” flange correlates with connections from conduits that run from various locations in the facility to the process tool. There is also a flange  2211  that can be considered the “Tool side” wherein each facility conduit can have a corresponding conduit bring a material into the process tool. Input gas conduits  2212  are connected to tool gas conduits  2214  in this manner. On the facility side a vacuum source  2213 , or other negative atmospheric pressure source, can be connected to a vacuum flange which will both rigidly support the flange  2211  and convey vacuum. In some embodiments, the vacuum source is also connected to the two channels in the flange as shown with the second channel  2215 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 23 , a bottom view of a mated set of flanges is illustrated  2301 . As described above, a facility side flange piece  2312  can mate with a tool side flange  2311 . In these embodiments, a vacuum source  2315  can connect with a rigid tube and flange  2314 . In some embodiments, flexibility for tolerances in the plane that the flange surface resides in can be incorporated into a corresponding tool side flange such as tool side flange  2311 . A flexible ball joint type coupling  2310  on a shaft  2316  which will allow for some movement to align flange pieces  2311 - 2312 . Once the flange pieces  2311 - 2312  are mated together the facilities side conduits  2313  are again joined to their corresponding tool side conduits. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 24 , in some embodiments, two flanges such as facility side flange  2414 , and tool side flange  2416  can be joined together with enough compressional force onto facility side flange  2414  and tool side flange  2416  to close a gap  2415  between them. This will put compressional force onto the “O-Ring” seals shown in  FIG. 21A  as “O-Ring”  2111  and “O-Ring”  2117  to ensure an integral seal. In some embodiments, threaded bolts  2420 - 2426  can be used to apply the requisite compressional force. The bolts  2420 - 2426  can tighten into previously tapped holes in the tool side flange  2416 , or with threaded nuts (not shown) mated on an opposite side of the flange  2401 . One of the bolts  2426  is illustrated for reference in a non tightened position. Depending on the nature of the “O-Ring” material, the torque on each of the bolts  2420 - 2426  can be adjusted to ensure all sealing surfaces are leak proof, in which case corresponding gasses can flow without leaks either out of or into the conduits, conduit  2411  and conduit  2417  that are joined together. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 25 , in some additional embodiments, a clamping mechanism  2511  can include opposing faces  2510  and  2512  with beveled edges. The opposing faces  2510  and  2512  can be tightened together causing compressional force to be placed on the two flange faces and thereby force the flanges  2516 - 2517  together and seal internal “O-Ring” s (not shown). In some exemplary embodiments, clamping mechanism  2511  is pulled together with a wing nut assembly  2515 . When the wing nut assembly  2515  is tightened, capturing face  2513  is drawn towards an opposing face or other holding point  2514 . The wing nut assembly  2515  can be held, for example, on an axle  2518 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 26 , in some embodiments, an automated flange sealing mechanism can be operated, for example, via an electric or pneumatic motor. For example, a lead screw  2632  attached to a stepping motor or a pneumatic motor  2634  can put force on brackets  2630  and  2631  compressing them together and thereby pushing the clamps around the two sealing flanges  2610 . Embodiments can therefore include the capturing device  2611  with shafts  2622 ,  2623  that can guide linear movement of the two sealing flanges  2610 . In much the same way by bringing the two flanges together a compressional force will act on the O-rings thus creating a seal between the O-rings and the flange faces. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 27 , flange devices that have been shown thus far have allowed for multiple gas conduits to be rapidly connected and unconnected. As previously mentioned, in some embodiments, it is possible to have gasses that are either highly toxic or have other safety issues that make it more desirable to isolate the gas from others. In  FIG. 27  a device implementing the concepts of the present invention for a single gas line is illustrated. The facilities side of a single gas line  2710  and a tool side of the gas line  2711  can be joined with a flange  2701 . Furthermore, as discussed above, the flange  2701  can still have accommodation for an evacuated channel surrounding the gas interface seal. The vacuum for the channel can again be provided by a flange to tube connection  2714  that will provide both physical support and also a source of negative atmospheric pressure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 28 , in general, processing tools may require connections to materials other than gasses. One type of additional material includes liquid chemicals. The fundamental aspects of implementations of the present invention directed to carrying liquids are similar to those described above for gases. Depending on the material in question it may be desirable to provide multiple connections through the same flange or as is illustrated in  FIG. 8  a single liquid chemical. Aspects which depend on the nature of the chemical to be conveyed can include, for example: the material comprising the flange, O-rings, and connections can be designated to ensure chemical compatibility. Accordingly, while a typical material for construction of a device to convey gasses can be stainless steel, a material for construction of a device to convey a liquid chemical can be Teflon. 
     a connector  2801  to chemical lines on the tool side of the interface can connect an output line  2821  of a tool side flange  2810  according to the present invention to a processing tool supply line. The flanging device will have a tool side flange  2810  and a facilities side flange  2811  as well. Chemical input to the flange will likewise be done with line  2812  and connector  2813 . Instead of the vacuum shown in the gas devices a chemical drain connection can be used to both detect and safely contain leaks. Item  2831  is indicated to show a channel connection that will connect tube  2832  to a drain channel (not shown in  FIG. 28 ) existing on the inside of the flanges. The drain can be connected to a facilities drain system with tube  2832  and connector  2830 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 29 , embodiments of the present invention including a flange assembly  2901  which incorporates draining functionality is illustrated. A cutaway of a facilities side flange  2930  shows both sealing surfaces  2931 - 2932  and channels  2933 - 2934 . Exterior sealing surface  2929  incorporates O-ring  2931  for sealing. Channel  2934  is formed into the facilities side flange  2930  to allow for draining. On the other side of the channel is a second sealing surface  2928  and “O-ring”  2932 . The second sealing surface  2928  is what will seal the chemical channel  2933  on both flange surfaces so that the flange assembly  2901  can convey a chemical. 
     in some embodiments, automated chemical detectors can provide an alert to a situation of a chemical leak in the second sealing surface  2928 . In an analogous fashion to the vacuum system with gasses such detectors can also be operative to automatically shut off the chemical flow to the flange with appropriate valves. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 30 , the ability of flanges to convey both liquids and gasses and to accommodate vacuum and chemical drains enables a combination of flanges of the above design types, to be assembled and thereby provide an integrated package for quick connect and disconnect of process tooling from the fab environment. 
     to illustrate a quick disconnect multiport,  FIG. 30  shows a combination of a multiport gas flange interface  3010 , a single gas flange  3011  and a single chemical interface  3012 . By combining multiple flanges a single entity including multiport flange  3001 , flange closure devices  3020  and  3021 , which can be operative to ultimately apply compression to “O-Ring” seals contained in the respective flanges can be formed. For example, operation of flange closing devices  3022  can be operative to engage multiple compressive closure devices in a single action. Specific examples can include a threaded nut  3023  that can be tightened to provide closure force and assemble and seal the three different flanges. 
     It is to be understood, that although various specific embodiments have been described, including a multiport flange  3001 , individual nuts as shown as item  2420  in  FIG. 24 , or with a motorized lead screw solution  2633  illustrated in  FIG. 26 , various other embodiments, including a combination of flanges  2101 - 2901  can constitute all the materials inflow and outflow to a processing tool. A processing tool can therefore be connected through an interface that is quickly assembled and disassembled as might be the case when a tool is routinely being installed or removed from a cleanspace position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 31 , a block diagram illustrates exemplary functionality that can be provided to a processing tool  3101  via a single quick disconnect coupling mechanism  3107 . For example, in some embodiments, two or more of: facility vacuum  3102 , facility exhaust air  3103 , facility chemical drains  3104 , facility chemicals  3105  and facility gasses  3106  can be connected and disconnected via a single quick disconnect coupling mechanism  3107  or flange. 
     some embodiments of the present invention which relate to the specific application of semiconductor fabrication have been described in order to better demonstrate various useful aspects of the invention. However, such exemplary descriptions are not meant to limit the application of the inventive concepts described herein in any way. Embodiments may therefore include, for example, applications in research and generation of: pharmaceutical products, nanostructure products and other applications which benefit from the availability of cleanspace and multiple processing tools. 
     GLOSSARY OF SELECTED TERMS 
     Air receiving wall: a boundary wall of a cleanspace that receives air flow from the cleanspace. 
     Air source wall: a boundary wall of a cleanspace that is a source of clean air flow into the cleanspace. 
     Annular: The space defined by the bounding of an area between two closed shapes one of which is internal to the other. 
     Automation: The techniques and equipment used to achieve automatic operation, control or transportation. 
     Ballroom: A large open cleanroom space devoid in large part of support beams and walls wherein tools, equipment, operators and production materials reside. 
     Batches: A collection of multiple substrates to be handled or processed together as an entity 
     Boundaries: A border or limit between two distinct spaces-in most cases herein as between two regions with different air particulate cleanliness levels. 
     Circular: A shape that is or nearly approximates a circle. 
     Clean: A state of being free from dirt, stain, or impurities—in most cases herein referring to the state of low airborne levels of particulate matter and gaseous forms of contamination. 
     Cleanspace: A volume of air, separated by boundaries from ambient air spaces, that is clean. 
     Cleanspace, Primary: A cleanspace whose function, perhaps among other functions, is the transport of jobs between tools. 
     Cleanspace, Secondary: A cleanspace in which jobs are not transported but which exists for other functions, for example as where tool bodies may be located. 
     Cleanroom: A cleanspace where the boundaries are formed into the typical aspects of a room, with walls, a ceiling and a floor. 
     Core: A segmented region of a standard cleanroom that is maintained at a different clean level. A typical use of a core is for locating the processing tools. 
     Ducting: Enclosed passages or channels for conveying a substance, especially a liquid or gas—typically herein for the conveyance of air. 
     Envelope: An enclosing structure typically forming an outer boundary of a cleanspace. 
     Fab (or fabricator): An entity made up of tools, facilities and a cleanspace that is used to process substrates. 
     fit up: The process of installing into a new clean room the processing tools and automation it is designed to contain. 
     Flange: A protruding rim, edge, rib, or collar, used to strengthen an object, hold it in place, or attach it to another object. Typically herein, also to seal the region around the attachment. 
     Folding: A process of adding or changing curvature. 
     HEPA: An acronym standing for high-efficiency particulate air. Used to define the type of filtration systems used to clean air. 
     Horizontal: A direction that is, or is close to being, perpendicular to the direction of gravitational force. 
     Job: A collection of substrates or a single substrate that is identified as a processing unit in a fab. This unit being relevant to transportation from one processing tool to another. 
     Logistics: A name for the general steps involved in transporting a job from one processing step to the next. Logistics can also encompass defining the correct tooling to perform a processing step and the scheduling of a processing step. 
     Multifaced: A shape having multiple faces or edges. 
     Nonsegmented Space: A space enclosed within a continuous external boundary, where any point on the external boundary can be connected by a straight line to any other point on the external boundary and such connecting line would not need to cross the external boundary defining the space. 
     Perforated: Having holes or penetrations through a surface region. Herein, said penetrations allowing air to flow through the surface. 
     Peripheral: Of, or relating to, a periphery. 
     Periphery: With respect to a cleanspace, refers to a location that is on or near a boundary wall of such cleanspace. A tool located at the periphery of a primary cleanspace can have its body at any one of the following three positions relative to a boundary wall of the primary cleanspace: (i) all of the body can be located on the side of the boundary wall that is outside the primary cleanspace, (ii) the tool body can intersect the boundary wall or (iii) all of the tool body can be located on the side of the boundary wall that is inside the primary cleanspace. For all three of these positions, the tool&#39;s port is inside the primary cleanspace. For positions (i) or (iii), the tool body is adjacent to, or near, the boundary wall, with nearness being a term relative to the overall dimensions of the primary cleanspace. 
     Planar: Having a shape approximating the characteristics of a plane. 
     Plane: A surface containing all the straight lines that connect any two points on it. 
     Polygonal: Having the shape of a closed figure bounded by three or more line segments 
     Process: A series of operations performed in the making or treatment of a product—herein primarily on the performing of said operations on substrates. 
     Robot: A machine or device that operates automatically or by remote control, whose function is typically to perform the operations that move a job between tools, or that handle substrates within a tool. 
     Round: Any closed shape of continuous curvature. 
     Substrates: A body or base layer, forming a product, that supports itself and the result of processes performed on it. 
     Tool: A manufacturing entity designed to perform a processing step or multiple different processing steps. A tool can have the capability of interfacing with automation for handling jobs of substrates. A tool can also have single or multiple integrated chambers or processing regions. A tool can interface to facilities support as necessary and can incorporate the necessary systems for controlling its processes. 
     Tool Body: That portion of a tool other than the portion forming its port. 
     Tool Port: That portion of a tool forming a point of exit or entry for jobs to be processed by the tool. Thus the port provides an interface to any job-handling automation of the tool. 
     Tubular: Having a shape that can be described as any closed figure projected along its perpendicular and hollowed out to some extent. 
     Unidirectional: Describing a flow which has a tendency to proceed generally along a particular direction albeit not exclusively in a straight path. In clean air flow, the unidirectional characteristic is important to ensuring particulate matter is moved out of the cleanspace. 
     Unobstructed removability: refers to geometric properties, of fibs constructed in accordance with the present invention that provide for a relatively unobstructed path by which a tool can be removed or installed. 
     Utilities: A broad term covering the entities created or used to support fabrication environments or their tooling, but not the processing tooling or processing space itself. This includes electricity, gasses, air flows, chemicals (and other bulk materials) and environmental controls (e.g., temperature). 
     Vertical: A direction that is, or is close to being, parallel to the direction of gravitational force. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. 
     Accordingly, this description is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within its spirit and scope.