Patent Publication Number: US-2022235453-A1

Title: Common vacuum shutter and pasting mechanism for a multistation cluster platform

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an apparatus and a method and, more specifically, to a substrate processing module and a method of moving multiple shutter disks within a substrate processing module. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional cluster tools are configured to perform one or more processes during substrate processing. For example, a cluster tool can include a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber to perform a PVD process on a substrate, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) chamber for performing an ALD process on a substrate, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber for performing a CVD process on a substrate, and/or one or more other processing chambers. 
     The aforementioned cluster tools include transfer systems to move workpieces, such as substrates or shutter disks, to and from various processing chambers within the system. For example, carousel systems with multiple arms are used to grasp either substrates or shutter discs. Rotating the carousel system moves the workpieces in and out of the various processing chambers in the cluster tool. The carousel typically has different grasping arms with different form and function, depending on the desired workpiece to be grasped. 
     One drawback in the art is that, in cluster tools with more than one processing station chamber, each processing station chamber may require a different frequency of burn in and/or pasting processing to occur between performing a PVD process on a substrate. Whenever one of the multiple processing station chambers requires a target burn in and/or pasting, all of the wafers being processed in each processing chamber must be removed from the cluster tool by the transfer system, and a shutter disk must be transferred into the cluster tool to the processing chamber to be burned in or pasted. Accordingly, this independent chamber process involves breaking the vacuum of the cluster tool and reduces the productivity of the system. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a multi-shutter disk assembly within the cluster tool that can allow for independent chamber target burn-in and/or pasting for each processing chamber without breaking the vacuum or removing the workpieces from the cluster tool. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments disclosed herein include a substrate processing module and a method of operating a multi-shutter disk assembly. The substrate processing module and method allow for moving a shutter disk between a processing module and a storage area within the substrate processing module. 
     In one embodiment, a substrate processing module is provided. The substrate processing module includes a transfer chamber, an array of processing stations, at least one shutter disk assembly, and a substrate handling device. The transfer chamber has a side wall and a bottom which defines a transfer volume. The array of processing stations is disposed within the transfer volume, and each of the processing stations within the array are configured to selectively process at least one substrate. The shutter disk assembly is disposed in the transfer volume. The shutter disk assembly includes an actuator and a disk blade. The disk blade is coupled to the actuator and configured to support a shutter disk. The actuator is configured to rotate the disk blade between a first position and a second position. The substrate handling device is disposed centrally within the transfer volume. The substrate handling device includes a plurality of arms each configured to support and position a substrate under the processing stations within the array. When the disk blade is in the first position, the disk blade is disposed between two of the plurality of processing stations. When the disk blade is in the second position, the disk blade is located under one of the processing stations within the array. 
     In another embodiment, a substrate processing module is provided. The substrate processing module includes a transfer chamber, a first processing assembly, and a substrate handling device. The transfer chamber has a sidewall and a bottom which defines a transfer volume. The first processing assembly is disposed within the transfer volume and comprises a first substrate processing station, a first shutter disk assembly, a first shutter disk storage area, and a first plurality of sensors. The first shutter disk assembly is disposed near the first substrate processing station. The first shutter disk assembly comprises an actuator and a disk blade coupled to the actuator. The first disk blade is rotatable between a first position within the shutter disk storage area and a second position located under the first substrate processing station. The first shutter disk storage area is disposed near the shutter disk assembly and configured to house the disk blade and a shutter disk disposed thereon. The first plurality of sensors are positioned to determine a rotational position of the shutter disk blade. The substrate handling device is disposed centrally within the transfer volume and includes a plurality of arms each configured to position a substrate under the substrate processing station. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of processing substrates is provided. The method includes first placing a plurality of substrates within an array of processing stations disposed within a substrate processing module. Next, the method includes performing a physical vapor deposition process on the plurality of substrates within the array of processing station. Next, the method includes moving the plurality of substrates from the processing stations of the array using a substrate handling device. Next, the method includes rotating at least one of a plurality of shutter disk assemblies from a first position to a second position. The first position of each shutter disk assembly is located within a plurality of shutter disk storage areas disposed within the substrate processing module. The second position is below at least one of the processing stations. Next, the method includes performing a second process in at least one of the processing stations. Finally, the method includes rotating at least one of the shutter disk assemblies from the second position to the first position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, and the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  are plan views of a cluster tool assembly according to certain embodiments. 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  are schematic cross sectional views of a processing module according to certain embodiments. 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  are partial top isometric views of processing modules according to certain embodiments. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top isometric view of a shutter disk assembly, according to certain embodiments. 
         FIG. 4B  is a top view of a shutter disk blade of the shutter disk assembly of  FIG. 4A , according to certain embodiments. 
         FIGS. 5A-5B  are partial top views of a processing module according to certain embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a method of moving a plurality of shutter disks within a processing module, according to certain embodiments. 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  are top cross sectional views of a processing module according to certain embodiments. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  side views of a sensor assembly disposed beneath the processing module of  FIGS. 7A and 7B , according to certain embodiments. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the Figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a substrate processing module and method of operating multiple shutter disk assemblies within the substrate processing module. The substrate processing module includes an array of processing stations, a plurality of shutter disk assemblies, and a substrate handling device. The method of operating multiple shutter disk assemblies includes performing a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process on a substrate within a processing station, moving the substrate from the processing station, and moving a shutter disk assembly between a first position and a second position below the processing station. The substrate processing module and method allows for selectively moving a substrate between the various processing stations within the array and selectively rotating a shutter disk disposed on the shutter disk assembly between a shutter disk storage position and a position below one of the processing stations. 
     The multiple shutter disk assemblies within the substrate processing module allow for each processing volume to be selectively operated without the need to break the vacuum within the substrate processing module. Advantageously, having a shutter disk assembly for each processing station within substrate processing module enables more selective processing of a substrate by allowing the operator to perform independent substrate processes, such as a PVD process or a burn-in or pasting process, at each of the processing stations within the array. 
     A processing system, such as processing system  100  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , is used to form one or more thin films on the surface of a substrate and/or, on a layer previously formed or processed on the substrate.  FIGS. 1A-1B  are plan views of cluster tool assemblies  100   a ,  100   b  with processing modules  150  and processing stations  160 A-F as described herein. The cluster tool assembly  100   a  of  FIG. 1A  includes a single processing module  150  and a plurality of front end robot chambers  180  between the processing module  150  and load lock chambers  130 . The cluster tool assembly  100   b  of  FIG. 1B  includes multiple transfer chamber assemblies  150  and a buffer chamber  140  disposed between the processing modules  150  and the load lock chambers  130 . 
     In  FIG. 1A , the cluster tool assembly  100   a  includes a cassette or Front Opening Unified Pods (FOUPs)  110  (four shown), which are located within or connected to a sidewall of a factory interface (FI)  120 . The cluster tool assembly  100   a  includes one or more load lock chambers  130  (two shown), which are adjacent to and operably connected to the FI  120 . The FOUPs  110  are utilized to safely secure and store substrates during movement thereof between different substrate processing equipment, as well as during the connection of the FOUPs to the substrate processing equipment while the substrates are disposed therein. 
     The cluster tool assembly  100   a  further includes one or more front end robot chambers  180  (two shown), which are adjacent to and operatively connected to the load lock chambers  130  and one or more prep chambers  190  adjacent to and operatively connected to the front end robot chambers  180 . The front end robot chambers  180  are located on the same side of each of the load lock chambers  130 , such that the load lock chambers  130  are located between the FI  120  and the front end robot chambers  180 . The front end robot chambers  180  each include a transfer robot  185  therein. The transfer robot  185  is any robot suitable to transfer one or more substrates from one chamber to another, through or via the front end robot chamber  180 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the transfer robot  185  within each front end robot chamber  180  is configured to transport substrates from one of the load lock chambers  130  and into one of the prep chambers  190 . 
     The prep chambers  190  may be any one of a pre-clean chamber, an anneal chamber, or a cool down chamber, depending upon the desired process within the cluster tool assembly  100   a . In some embodiments, the prep chambers  190  are plasma clean chambers. In yet other exemplary embodiments, the prep chambers  190  are Preclean II chambers available from Applied Materials, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif. A vacuum pump  196  is positioned adjacent to each of the prep chambers  190 . The vacuum pumps  196  are configured to pump the prep chambers  190  to a predetermined pressure. In some embodiments, the vacuum pumps  196  are configured to decrease the pressure of the prep chamber  190 , such as to create a vacuum within the prep chamber  190 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , two load lock chambers  130 , two front end robot chambers  180 , and two prep chambers  190  are configured within the cluster tool assembly  100   a . The two load lock chambers  130 , the two front end robot chambers  180 , and the two prep chambers  190 , when arranged as shown in  FIG. 1A  and described above, may form two transport assemblies. The two transport assemblies may be spaced from each other and may form mirror images of one another, such that the prep chambers  190  are on opposite walls of their respective front end robot chambers  180 . Each of the load lock chambers  130  and front end robot chambers  180  are configured to pass substrates from the FI  120  into the processing module  150 , as well as from the processing module  150  and into the FI  120 . 
     The process module  150  is adjacent to, and operatively connected to, the front end robot chambers  180 , such that substrates are transferred between the processing module  150  and front end robot chambers  180 . The processing module  150  includes a substrate handling device  145  and an array of processing stations  160  therein. In certain embodiments, the array of processing assemblies  160  are disposed circumferentially around the substrate handling device  145 , radially outward of a pivot or central axis of the substrate handling device  145  in the processing module  150 . 
     A chamber pump  165  is disposed adjacent to, and in fluid communication with, each of the processing stations  160 , such that there are a plurality of chamber pumps  165  disposed around the substrate handling device  145 . The plurality of chamber pumps  165  are disposed radially outward of the substrate handling device  145  in the processing module  150 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , one chamber pump  165  is fluidly coupled to each of the processing stations  160 . In some embodiments, there may be multiple chambers pumps  165  fluidly coupled to each processing station  160 . In yet other embodiments, one or more of the processing stations  160  may not have a chamber pump  165  directly fluidly coupled thereto. The chamber pumps  165  enable separate vacuum pumping of the processing regions within each processing station  160 , and thus the pressure within each of the processing stations  160  may be maintained separately from one another and separately from the pressure present in the processing module  150 . 
       FIG. 1A  depicts an embodiment having six processing stations  160  within the processing module  150 . However, other embodiments have a different number of processing stations disposed within the processing module  150 . For example, in some embodiments, two to twelve processing stations may be positioned within the processing module  150 , such as four to eight processing stations  160 . In other embodiments, four processing stations  160  may be positioned within the processing module  150 . The number of processing stations  160  impact the total footprint of the cluster tool  100   a , the number of possible process steps capable of being performed by the cluster tool  100   a , the total fabrication of the cluster tool  100   a , the throughput of the cluster tool  100   a , and, as to be discussed further herein, the number of shutter disk assemblies  170  disposed within the processing module  150 . 
     Each of the processing stations  160  can be any one of PVD, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), etch, cleaning, heating, annealing, and/or polishing platforms. In some embodiments, the processing stations  160  are all one type of processing platform, such as a PVD platform. In other embodiments, the processing stations  160  include two or more different processing platforms. In one exemplary embodiment, all of the processing stations  160  are PVD process chambers. The array of processing stations  160  may be altered to match the types of process stations needed to complete a semiconductor fabrication process. 
     In certain embodiments, the substrate handling device  145  is disposed centrally within a transfer volume  236  ( FIGS. 2A-2B ) formed within the processing module  150 , such that a central axis  155  of the processing module  150  is disposed through the substrate handling device  145 . The substrate handling device  145  may be any suitable handling device configured to transport substrates between each of the processing stations  160 . In one embodiment, the substrate handling device  145  is a central transfer robot having one or more moveable arms configured to selectively move a substrate between the processing stations  160 . In another embodiment, the substrate handling device  145  is a carousel system by which substrates are moved along a circular orbital path centered on the central axis  155  of the processing module  150 . In another embodiment, the substrate handling device  145  is an indexer arm system by which a plurality of arms may grab a substrate and move the substrate between the processing stations  160 . The embodiments of the substrate handling device  145  of the present disclosure is further described herein and illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-B  and  5 A-B. 
     Each processing module  150  includes a plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  disposed therewithin. The plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  may be positioned radially outward from the substrate handling device  145  within the transfer volume  236  of the processing module  150 . Each shutter disk assembly  170  holds a shutter disk  175  ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ) and is configured to move the shutter disk  175  to a position below a corresponding processing station  160  within the processing module  150 .  FIG. 1A  depicts an embodiment having six shutter disk assemblies  170  within the processing module  150 . However, other embodiments may have a different number of shutter disk assemblies  170  within the processing module  150 . In one embodiment, the processing module includes a shutter disk assembly  170  for each of the processing stations  160 . A more detailed description of an exemplary shutter disk assembly  170  and shutter disk  175  is provided below. 
       FIG. 1B  is a plan view of the cluster tool  100   b  with multiple processing modules  150  connected thereto. The FOUPs  110 , FI  120 , and load lock chambers  130  may be arranged similarly to the FOUPs  110 , FI  120 , and load lock chambers  130  described above in related to  FIG. 1A . The cluster tool  100   b  of  FIG. 1B  further includes an FI etch apparatus  115 , a buffer chamber  140 , and a plurality of processing modules  150 . 
     The buffer chamber  140  is located between the load lock chambers  130  and the plurality of processing modules  150  and provides an isolatable volume through which substrates may be transferred among and between the load lock chambers  130  and the multiple processing modules  150 . The buffer chamber  140  is coupled to both the load lock chambers  130  and the plurality of processing modules  150 . As shown in  FIG. 1B , three processing modules  150  are disposed around and attached to the buffer chamber  140 . In other embodiments, one, two, or more than three processing modules  150  may be disposed around the buffer chamber  140 . The buffer chamber  140  may include at least one opening  146  along each wall of the buffer chamber  140  that is in contact with a processing module  150  or a load lock chamber  130 . Each of the openings  146  is sized to allow the passage of a substrate, a substrate chuck, a substrate on a substrate chuck, or a shutter disk to and from the processing modules  150 . In some embodiments, there are two openings  146  along each wall of the buffer chamber  140  that is adjacent to the processing modules  150 . This allows for the passage of two substrates to the processing module  150  from the buffer chamber  140  or from the processing modules  150  to the buffer chamber  140  simultaneously. 
     The buffer chamber  140  may include one or more buffer chamber transfer robots  148 . The buffer chamber transfer robot  148  moves substrates, chucks, both substrates and chucks, or shutter disks between the processing module  150  and the load lock chambers  130 . The buffer chamber transfer robot  148  may be any suitable substrate transfer robot. The buffer chamber  140  may be sealed from the process gases used in the processing stations  160  of the processing module  150  by a fluid isolation valve, such as a slit valve (not shown). 
     The processing modules  150  may be configured the same as the processing module  150  described above in  FIG. 1A . This includes the placement and structure of the substrate handling device  145 , the array of processing stations  160 , the plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  and the chamber pumps  165  within each of the processing modules  150 . However, alternative embodiments of the processing modules  150  may be utilized. 
     Both cluster tool assemblies  100   a ,  100   b  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  may further include a system controller  199 . The system controller  199  controls activities and operating parameters of the automated components found in the processing system  100 . In general, the bulk of the movement of a substrate through the processing system is performed using the various automated devices disclosed herein by use of commands sent by the system controller  199 . The system controller  199  is a general use computer that is used to control one or more components found in the cluster tool assemblies  100   a ,  100   b . The system controller  199  is generally designed to facilitate the control and automation of one or more of the processing sequences disclosed herein and typically includes a central processing unit (CPU) (not shown), memory (not shown), and support circuits (or I/O) (not shown). Software instructions and data can be coded and stored within the memory (e.g., non-transitory computer readable medium) for instructing the CPU. A program (or computer instructions) readable by the processing unit within the system controller determines which tasks are performable in the cluster tool assemblies. For example, the non-transitory computer readable medium includes a program which when executed by the processing unit is configured to perform one or more of the methods described herein. Preferably, the program includes code to perform tasks relating to monitoring, execution and control of the movement, support, and/or positioning of a substrate along with the various process recipe tasks and various processing module process recipe steps being performed. 
       FIGS. 2A-2B  are schematic cross sectional views of a portion of the processing module  150  and one of the processing stations  160  according to one embodiment. The processing module  150  includes the substrate handling device  145  to transfer a substrate  200  onto a substrate support device  223  of a chuck  224  below the processing station  160 . The support chuck  224  is attached to a lift assembly  220  positioned below the processing station  160 . The processing station  160  further includes a magnetron assembly  295  and a processing region  216 . 
       FIG. 2A  depicts the processing module  150  when a substrate lift assembly  220  is in a lowered position. In the lowered position, the lift assembly  220  is positioned to receive a substrate processing component, such as the substrate  200  itself or a shutter disk  175 .  FIG. 2B  depicts the processing module  150  while the lift assembly  220  is in a raised position. In the raised position, the substrate processing component, such as the substrate  200  or a shutter disk  175  is positioned within processing region  216  of the processing station  160 . In some embodiments, the support chuck  224  remains attached to the lift assembly  220  while the substrate  200  is transported between the processing stations  160  within the processing module  150 , and while the substrate  200  is processed within the processing region  216  of the processing station. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2B , each of the processing stations  160  of the processing module  150  is positioned over a transfer volume  236  formed within the processing module  150 . The transfer volume  236  is defined by a bottom chamber wall  260  and a sidewall  302  ( FIGS. 3A-3B ) of the processing module  150 . The lift assembly  220  may be positioned in a recess  265  of the bottom chamber wall  260 . An opening  201  and a plate and seal assembly  292  are disposed adjacent to the transfer volume  236  and processing station  160 . The opening  201  is formed on the sidewall  302  of the processing module  150 . The opening  201  is sized to allow a substrate processing component, such as the substrate  200  or a shutter disk  175 , to pass therethrough. In certain embodiments, the front end transfer robot  185  ( FIG. 1A ) may carry or pass the substrate processing component through the opening  201 . In another embodiment, the buffer chamber transfer robot  148  of the buffer chamber  140  ( FIG. 1B ) may carry or pass the substrate processing component through the opening  201 . The opening  201  is sealed from the front end robot chamber  180  and/or the buffer chamber  140  between the movement of the substrate processing components to and from the processing module  150 . The opening  201  is sealed using the plate and seal assembly  292  disposed on the outside of the opening  201 . 
     In certain embodiments, the processing region  216  of each processing station  160  is a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process chamber, wherein a material to form a layer on a substrate  200  exposed therein is sputtered from a sputtering target assembly  203 . Thus, the processing region  216  herein includes the sputtering target assembly  203 , a dielectric isolator  204 , a liner  206 , a containment member  208 , the magnetron assembly  295 , and a lid member  296 . Contained within the processing region  216  is a chamber volume  278 . 
     The sputtering target assembly  203  is disposed on top of, and forms the enclosing cover of, the chamber volume  278 . The sputtering target assembly  203  is circular as viewed from above and has a flat, i.e., generally planar top surface. An annular surface of the sputtering target assembly  203  is disposed on the dielectric isolator  204 , which is a dielectric material having sufficient dielectric strength and size to electrically isolate the sputtering target assembly from the liner  206 . The sputtering target assembly  203  is connected to and powered by an AC power source  286 , such that the sputtering target assembly  203  is biased during substrate processing. 
     The sputtering target assembly  203  is disposed between the chamber volume  278  and a magnetron volume  299 , defined by magnetron support walls  289  and the lid member  296 . An edge of a sputtering target  202  within the sputtering target assembly  203  is located inwardly of the containment member  208  and the dielectric isolator  204 . The sputtering target  202  is composed of the material to be deposited on a surface of the substrate  200  during sputtering. The sputtering target  202  may be a copper sputtering target for depositing as a seed layer in high aspect ratio features formed in the substrate  200 . The sputtering target  202  may also include other materials, such as a copper-doped aluminum sputtering target. Alternatively, the sputtering target  202  is composed of a liner/barrier material used to line the surfaces of a trench, via or contact opening in a dielectric layer, and the material deposited on the surfaces of a trench, via, or contact opening is composed of the target material, and in some cases a compound formed of the target material. For example, a tantalum layer with an overlying tantalum nitride layer thereon can be formed on the surfaces of a trench, via, or contact opening by first sputtering the target in an inert gas environment, and then adding nitrogen into the process volume. Alternatively, a first metal of a first target material is sputtered onto the substrate  200  including the surfaces of a trench, via, or contact opening thereon. The substrate  200  is moved to a second chamber having the same or different target composition, and a reactant such as nitrogen is introduced into the process volume to form the compound layer over the non-compound layer. 
     The magnetron assembly  295  is disposed over the sputtering target assembly  203 . The magnetron assembly  295  includes a plurality of magnets  294  supported by a base plate  293  connected to a shaft  291 , which is axially aligned with the central axis  205  of the processing station  160 . The shaft  291  is connected to a motor  287  disposed on the opposite side of the lid member  296  of the magnetron assembly  295 . The motor  287  spins the shaft  291  so that the magnets  294  rotate within the magnetron volume  299 . The magnetron volume  299  is defined by the lid member  296 , the magnetron support walls  289  and the sputtering target assembly  203 . In one implementation, the magnets produce a magnetic field within the processing region  216  near the front face of the sputtering target assembly  203  to maintain a plasma generated therein, such that a significant flux of ionized gas atoms strike the sputtering target assembly  203 , causing sputter emissions of target materials. The magnets are rotated about the central axis  205  of the processing region  216  to increase uniformity of the magnetic fields across the surface of the sputtering target assembly  203 . Fluid may be supplied through the magnetron volume  299  via a fluid supply  297  to control the temperature of the magnets  294  and the sputtering target assembly  203 . The fluid may be deionized (DI) water or other suitable cooling fluids. The fluid may be removed from the magnetron volume  299  by a fluid evacuator  298 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2B , the lift assembly  220  includes a support chuck  224 , an upper lift section  230 , and a seal ring assembly  250 . The support chuck  224  and lift assembly  220 , collectively, include an edge ring  228 , a support element  238 , the upper lift section  230 , an electrical line  240 , and the seal ring assembly  250 . The lift assembly  220  may further include a plurality of lift pins  212  disposed therethrough for raising or lowering a substrate  200  or a shutter disk  175  from a substrate support surface  223 . 
     The support chuck  224  supports the substrate  200  and the edge ring  228 . In certain embodiments, the support chuck  224  is an electrostatic chuck, such that the support chuck  224  can be biased by an electrical power source, such as the power source  244 . The biasing of the support chuck  224  chucks the substrate  200  and holds the substrate  200  in place on the support chuck  224  during processing and movement of the lift assembly  220 . The support chuck  224  may also contain heating elements (not shown) and thermal sensors (not shown). The heating elements and temperature sensors may also be connected to the power source  244  and assist in maintaining a uniform and controlled temperature across the supporting surface  223  and substrate disposed thereon. In other contemplated embodiments, the support chuck  224  may hold a shutter disk  175  from a shutter disk assembly  170 . The support chuck  224  has a planar upper surface that forms the substrate supporting surface  223 . 
     The lift assembly  220  includes an actuator  246 , which is coupled to one or more motors. A controller (not shown), such as the controller  199 , may be coupled to the lift assembly  220  via the actuator  246 . The actuator enables vertical and rotational movement of the support chuck  224 , such that the support chuck  224  can move vertically upwards and downwards through the transfer volume  236  and rotationally about the central axis  205 . 
     The support chuck  224  is disposed on top of the lift assembly  220 , such that the support chuck  224  is disposed on top of the upper lift section  230 . In some embodiments, the support chuck  224  may detach from the lift assembly  220  while the support chuck  224  is transported between processing stations  160 . 
     As the lift assembly  220  moves toward the bottom chamber wall  260 , a processing region  216  of the lift pin  212  extends above the substrate support surface  223 . When engaging a substrate processing component, such as the substrate  200  or a shutter disk  175 , the lift pin  212  extends above the substrate supporting surface  223 , so that the substrate handling device  145  can engage with the substrate processing component. As the lift assembly  200  moves toward the sputtering target  203 , the top 216 of the lift pin  212  can retreat beneath the substrate support surface  223 , allowing the substrate  200  or the shutter disk  175  to rest upon the substrate support surface  223 . The seal ring assembly  250  is disposed and in contact with the upper lift section  230  of the support chuck  224 . The seal ring assembly  250  extends radially outward from the central axis  205 . The seal ring may further include a biasing member  258  to assist in sealing the chamber volume  278 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
       FIG. 2B  includes the same components as  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2B  illustrates the processing station  160  when the lift assembly  220 , including the support chuck  224 , and the seal ring assembly  250 , is in an upper position or the processing position. The lift assembly  220  is configured to move away from the bottom chamber wall  260  to the processing position shown. Accordingly, when the lift assembly  200  moves upwards into the processing position, the seal ring assembly engages with a ringed portion  227  of the processing station  160  to seal the chamber volume  278  of the processing region  216  from the transfer volume  236 . With the processing region  216  sealed, a process is performed on a substrate  200  within the chamber volume  278 . In some embodiments, a shutter disk  175  may be moved by the lift assembly  220  into the processing region  216 . Accordingly, a process, such as a pasting or burn-in process, may be performed in the sealed chamber volume  278 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  each illustrate a partial isometric top view of the processing module  150 , according to different embodiments. In  FIGS. 3A-3B , the transfer volume  236  is defined by the bottom chamber wall  260  and a circular sidewall  302 . In the illustrated embodiments, the processing module  150  includes a substrate handling device  145  centrally positioned within the transfer volume  236 .  FIG. 3A  depicts a processing module  150  including an indexer arm assembly  345  as the substrate handling device  145 . 
     The indexer arm assembly  345  includes a plurality of support arms  350  disposed on a central support  352 . The plurality of support arms  350  may be affixed to the central support  352  by a plurality of mechanical fasteners, such as threaded fasteners (not shown). The central support  352  may be rotated by a motor (not shown) disposed beneath or within the processing module  150  by a drive shaft or other rotational device. The motor may rotate the indexer arm assembly  345  about a central axis  253  to move one or more substrates  200  within the transfer volume  236 . 
     Each of the plurality of support arms  350  is shaped and sized to support a substrate  200 . For example, in some embodiments, each support arm  350  of the indexer arm assembly  345  may include a substrate support  354  disposed at an outer end  356  of each support arm  350 . The substrate support  354  may be of any suitable shape as to hold and support a substrate  200 . In some embodiments, the number of support arms  350  coupled to the central support  352  equals the number of processing stations  160  and/or lift assemblies  220  of the processing module  150 . However, in some embodiments, the number of support arms  350  coupled to the central support  352  may be more or less than the total number of processing stations  160  and/or lift assemblies  220 . During operation of the processing module  150 , the plurality of support arms  350  are simultaneously rotated by the central support  350 , so as to move a plurality of substrates  200  within the transfer volume  236 . A more detailed description of the operation of the indexer arm assembly  345  is provided herein below. 
     The processing module  150  includes a plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  and lift assemblies  220  disposed within the transfer volume  236 . The shutter disk assemblies  170  and lift assemblies  220  may be circumferentially positioned around the indexer arm assembly  345  within the transfer volume  236 . Each shutter disk assembly  170  is positioned between two lift assemblies  220  and provides a shutter disk  175  to a lift assembly  220  to be transported into a processing station  160  for a burn-in or pasting process during the substrate processing sequence 
       FIG. 3B  depicts the processing module  150  having a central transfer robot  445  as the substrate handling device  145 . The processing module  150  of  FIG. 3B  may have similar components as the processing module  150  of  FIG. 3A . For example, the processing module  150  includes a plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  and lift assemblies  220  disposed within the transfer volume  236 . The shutter disk assemblies  170  and lift assemblies  220  may be circumferentially positioned around the central transfer robot  445  within the transfer volume  236 . Each shutter disk assembly  170  is positioned between two lift assemblies  220  and provides a shutter disk  175  to a lift assembly  220  to be transported into a processing station  160  for a burn-in or pasting process during the substrate processing sequence. 
     Similar to the indexer arm assembly  345  of  FIG. 3A , the central transfer robot  445  of  FIG. 3B  is disposed centrally within the transfer volume  236  of the processing module and moves the substrate  200  within the transfer volume  236  during the substrate processing sequence. The central transfer robot  445  includes a plurality of support arms  450  coupled to a central support  452 . The support arms  450  may be frog-like robot arms which extend between a normal position and an extended position (not shown). Generally, the number of support arms  450  of the central transfer robot  445  is less than the total number of processing stations  160  of the processing module  150 . However, in other certain embodiments, the central transfer robot  445  may have more or less support arms  450  than the total number of processing stations  160  of the processing module  150 . The central transfer robot  445  further includes an actuator  447  coupled to the central support  452 . In some embodiments, the actuator  447  is in communication with a controller, such as the controller  199  ( FIG. 1A-1B ). The controller  199  gives the actuator instructions to move the central support  452  and support arms  450  within the transfer volume  236 . 
     Accordingly, each support arm  450  of the central transfer robot  445  may selectively grab a substrate  200  from the substrate support surface  223  of the lift assembly  220  and move the substrate within the transfer volume  236  to either another lift assembly  220  or a second position within the transfer volume  236  while a burn-in or pasting process is performed within a processing station  160 . As further described herein, the shutter disk assembly  170  may rotate a shutter disk  175  from a home position ( FIG. 5A ) to a position over one of the lift assemblies  220  once the central transfer robot  445  removes a substrate from the substrate support surface  223 . In the home position, the shutter disk blade  172  and shutter disk  175  are stored in the shutter disk storage area  510  ( FIG. 5A ). The lift assembly  220  may raise shutter disk  175  disposed on the substrate support surface  223  and the chuck  224  into the processing station  160  to perform a burn-in or pasting process. 
     Both the indexer arm assembly  345  and the central transfer robot  445  allow for the system to selectively move multiple substrates  200  within the processing module  150  and between processing stations  160 . As such, the indexer arm assembly  345  or the central transfer robot  445  may simultaneously move a plurality of substrates  200  within the processing module  150 . In other embodiments, the indexer arm assembly  345  or the central transfer robot  445  moves only a portion of the substrates  200  being processed within the processing module  150 . For example, the indexer arm assembly  345  or the central transfer robot  445  may remove one or two substrates  200  from a lift assembly  220  after a processing sequence has occurred in the corresponding processing stations  160 . In this embodiment, the one or two substrates  200  are removed from the lift assembly  220  and moved to a second position within the transfer volume  236  by the indexer arm assembly  345  or the central transfer robot  445 . Accordingly, while the one or two substrates  200  are in the second position, one or more substrates  200  may remain within a corresponding processing station  160  until the completion of a processing sequence. The selective control of the substrate handling device  145 , i.e., the indexer arm assembly  345  or the central transfer robot  445 , allows for individual processing sequences to occur on different substrates  200  within each processing station  160  of the processing module  150 . Accordingly, the plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  disposed within the transfer volume  236  allows for selective burn-in or pasting processes to occur once a substrate  200  has been removed from the lift assembly  220  beneath a processing station  160  by the substrate handling device  145 . 
     In other embodiments, the substrate handling device  145  may be a carousel type robot assembly (not shown). The carousel type robot assembly has similar components to the indexer arm assembly  345 . For example, the carousel type robot assembly may have a plurality of support arms  350  coupled to a central support  352  configured to rotate about a central axis  253 . Each of the plurality of support arms  350  is configured to move at least one substrate within the transfer volume  236 . The carousel type robot assembly further includes a moveable substrate support (not shown) disposed on each end of the plurality of support arms  350 . Accordingly, the carousel type robot assembly moves both the substrate support and the substrate within the transfer volume  236  between each of the plurality of processing stations  160 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  further illustrate a plurality of lift assemblies  220  disposed within the transfer volume  236 . Each of the plurality of lift assemblies  220  may be circumferentially arrayed within the transfer volume  236  and positioned below each of the processing stations  160  of the processing module  150 . Each lift assembly  220  may be disposed within a recess  265  formed in the bottom chamber wall  260  within the transfer volume  236  of the processing module  150 . As previously discussed, the lift assemblies  220  move a substrate processing component, such as a substrate  200  or a shutter disk  175 , from the transfer volume  236  into one of the processing stations  160 . The lift assemblies  220  include a plurality of lift pins  212  extending through the substrate support surface  223  to remove the substrate  200  or shutter disk  175  from either the substrate handling device  145  or a shutter blade  172 . Once the lift assembly  220  has moved the substrate  200  or the shutter disk  175  into the processing station  160 , a substrate processing sequence is performed. Accordingly, once the substrate processing sequence is performed, such as a PVD process or a pasting or burn-in process, the lift assembly  220  lowers the substrate  200  or the shutter disk  175  from the processing station  160  back to the transfer volume  236 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  further illustrate a plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  disposed proximate to the each of the lift assemblies  220  within the transfer volume  236 . Each shutter disk assembly  170  may be positioned between a lift assembly  220  in the bottom chamber wall  260  as to correspond to a single processing station  160  disposed over one of the lift assemblies  220 .  FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate a processing module  150  having six shutter disk assemblies  170  corresponding to six lift assemblies  220 . However, the present disclosure is not so limited. For example, the processing module may contain between two and twelve shutter disk assemblies  170  and/or lift assemblies  220  disposed within the processing module  150 . In some embodiments, the number of processing stations  160 , lift assemblies  220  and shutter disk assemblies  170  are all equal. In yet another embodiment, there may be a different number of processing stations  160 , lift assemblies  220 , and/or shutter disk assemblies  170  within the processing module  150 . Accordingly, each of the processing stations  160  may be configured to perform the same processing sequence. For example, in the current embodiment, each of the processing stations  160  is configured to perform a PVD process on the substrate  200  positioned therewith in. 
     A shutter disk assembly  170  can provide a shutter disk  175  to a processing station  160 . The shutter disks  175  can be utilized for preconditioning the process stations  160  either during an initial burn of the chambers that make up the process station  160 , or the shutter disks  175  can be for target or process kit cleaning. The shutter disks  175  can also be used for a pasting process within the process station  160 . The pasting process is an in situ conditioning process step that uses existing materials (targets or gas) or adds new materials (e.g., gas) to create a blank cover film over all of the process environment surfaces in the process station  160 , in order to reduce defects or other lifetime driven performance effects. The shutter disks  175  are used to protect surfaces that otherwise would normally not be exposed to the process within the processing station  160  and thereby allow for the cleaning the target  202  within the substrate target assembly  203 . 
     Each shutter disk assembly  170  supports a shutter disk  175  during operation of the processing module  150  and eliminates the need to break the vacuum within the processing module  150  when a burn-in or pasting process is required for one of the process stations  260 . Additionally, by disposing the shutter disk assemblies  170  within the transfer volume  236  outside of the processing stations  160 , each shutter disk  175  is transported into the processing station  160  without breaking vacuum of the processing module  150 . Reducing the need to break vacuum decreases processing time of the processing module  150 , and ultimately reduces costs to the user. 
     The plurality of shutter disks  175  positioned on the shutter disk assemblies  170  are configured to protect underlying components from unwanted deposition. Each shutter disk  175  can have a diameter of about 300 mm or larger. The larger diameter of the shutter disks allows for protection of the underlying components even if the structure of the shutter disk  175  is affected by a substrate processing sequence within the processing station  160 . For example, the shutter disk  175  may be of such diameter as to cover the support chuck  224  and/or substrate support surface  223  when a burn-in or pasting process is performed within one of the processing stations  160 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates an isometric view of a shutter disk assembly  170 , according to some embodiments. The shutter disk assembly  170  includes a shutter disk blade  172  coupled to a shaft  174  which may be rotated by an actuator  176 . The actuator  176  may be any type of motor configured to provide rotational power to the shaft  174 , such as an electric motor, hydraulic motor, or pneumatic motor. The actuator  176  may be connected to a central control system (not shown), such as controller  199 , which may individually and/or selectively operate each shutter disk assembly  170  of the processing module  150 . Accordingly, the actuator  176  rotates the shaft  174  to pivot the shutter disk blade  172  between a home position ( FIG. 5A ) and a shuttering position ( FIG. 5B ) within the transfer volume  236  of the processing module  150 . The shutter disk assembly  170  further includes a rotary coupler  402  coupled to both the actuator  176  and the shaft  174 . The rotary coupler  402  facilitates the rotational movement between the actuator  176  and the shaft  174 . 
     The shutter disk assembly  170  further includes a feedthrough device  404  disposed around the shaft  174  above the rotary coupler  402 . The feedthrough device  404  allows for the rotational movement supplied by the actuator  176  to be provided from the ambient or atmospheric pressure side of the processing module  150  to the vacuum within the processing module  150 . In some embodiments, the feedthrough device  404  is a ferrofluid feedthrough device which utilizes a magnetic fluid, magnets, and a magnetically permeable shaft to produce a series of liquid O-ring-like seals around the magnetically permeable shaft and create a hermetic seal. Accordingly, the feedthrough device provides a seal for the vacuum within the processing module  150  while still allowing for the translation of rotational movement between the actuator  178  to the shutter disk blade  172 . The shutter disk assembly  170  further includes an adapter  410  coupled to the feedthrough device  404  and disposed around the shaft  174 . The adapter  410  provides additional structural support between the feedthrough device  404  and the actuator  178 . 
     In another embodiment not illustrated, the shaft  174  may include an extension shaft coupled to a main shaft by a rigid coupling device as to allow the extension shaft and the main shaft to rotate together when a rotational movement is provided by the actuator  178 . Accordingly, the shutter disk blade  172  is coupled to the extension shaft, and the main shaft is coupled to the actuator  178  by the rotary coupler  402  and extends through the feedthrough device  404 . 
     Accordingly, each of the plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  extends through the bottom chamber wall  260  of the processing module  150  and is positioned proximate to the plurality of lift assemblies  220  within the transfer volume  236 . In certain embodiments, there are an equal number of shutter disk assemblies  170  and lift assemblies  220  within the transfer volume  236 . Each of the plurality of lift assemblies  220  is positioned beneath a processing station  160  configured to perform a substrate processing sequence. In some embodiments, the shutter disk blade  172  may be positioned in a shutter disk storage area  510 . The shutter disk storage area is proximate to the lift assembly  220  within the transfer volume  236 . In some embodiments, the shutter disk storage area  510  may include a shutter disk garage (not shown). The shutter disk garage may be of such shape as encompass a substantial amount of the shutter disk blade  172  and shutter disk  175  when the shutter disk assembly is positioned therewithin. Accordingly, the shutter disk garage provides additional protection for the shutter disk  175  and shutter disk blade  172  within the transfer volume  236 . 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a top isometric view of the shutter disk blade  172  of the shutter disk assembly  170 , according to certain embodiments. The shutter disk blade  172  includes an arm portion  420  and a body portion  422  for holding and rotating the shutter disk  175 . The arm portion  420  is coupled to the shaft  174  of the shutter disk assembly  170 . In some embodiments, the body portion  422  of the shutter disk blade  172  includes a rounded edge  426 . The rounded edge  506  may be of a certain height as to provide lateral support to a shutter disk  175  during movement of the shutter disk  175  and shutter disk assembly  170 . The body portion  422  of the shutter disk blade  172  may be generally triangular in shape and have curved edges  428 . The body portion  422  may further include a notch  430  disposed centrally for engaging with the bottom surface (not shown) of the shutter disk  175 . In other embodiments not presently shown, the shutter disk blade  175  may include a series of circular openings (not shown) for reducing the overall weight of the shutter disk blade  172 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate a partial top view of the processing module  150  according to certain embodiments. In the illustrated embodiments, the processing module  150  includes similar components as those described above in relation to  FIGS. 1A-1B, 2A-2B  and  FIGS. 3A-3B  such as: a plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170 , a substrate handling device  145 , a plurality of lift assemblies  220 , a transfer volume  236  formed within the processing module  150 , and an array of processing stations  160  (removed in  FIGS. 5A-5B  for clarity) disposed over the transfer volume  236 . The shutter disk assemblies  170  and the lift pin assemblies  220  are arrayed, and are equally and circumferentially spaced from one another, in a similar arrangement as the processing stations  160 . Accordingly, in certain embodiments, one shutter disk assembly  170  is positioned proximate to each lift assembly  220  within the processing module  150 . While the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5A  depicts a processing module  150  with six shutter disk assemblies  170  (corresponding to six processing stations  160  positioned thereover but not shown) and six lift assemblies  220 , the processing module  150  may have between two and twelve processing stations  160  and two to twelve corresponding shutter disk assemblies  170  and/or lift assemblies  220  disposed therewithin. 
     As mentioned, the plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  disposed within the transfer volume  236  allows for selective burn-in or pasting processes to occur once a substrate  200  has been removed from the lift assembly  220  beneath a processing station  160  by the substrate handling device  145 .  FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate a top view of the processing module  150  with an indexer arm assembly  345  disposed within the transfer volume  236 . The indexer arm assembly  345  includes the same components as previously discussed in relation to  FIG. 3A , and is configured to move one or more substrates  200  within the processing module  150 . 
     Accordingly,  FIG. 5A  depicts the indexer arm assembly  345  carrying a plurality of substrates  200  within the processing module  150 . More specifically, the indexer arm assembly  345  carries a plurality of substrates  200  within the transfer volume  236  between a plurality of processing positions beneath a processing station  160 . Once a substrate  200  is positioned beneath a processing station  160 , the lift assembly  220  disposed in the bottom wall chamber  260  of the processing module may lift each of the substrates  200  from the substrate support  354  of the support arms  350 . As discussed in relation certain embodiments illustrates in  FIGS. 2A-2B , the lift assembly  220  includes a plurality of lift pins  212  which engage with the underside of a substrate  200  to lift the substrate from the substrate support  354  of each support arm  350 . The entire lift assembly  220 , including the chuck  224  and substrate support surface  223  may be raised to engage with the substrate  200  and continue to move upwards into the processing station  160  for a processing sequence.  FIG. 5A  illustrates a first position of the indexer arm assembly  345 . In the first position, at least one substrate  200  may be positioned on a substrate support  354  and located beneath a processing station  160  as to allow for a processing sequence to occur. 
       FIG. 5A  further illustrates the shutter disk assemblies  170  disposed within the transfer volume  236  formed by the bottom chamber wall  260  and the sidewall  302  of the processing module  150 . Each shutter disk assembly is positioned proximate to a corresponding lift assembly  220  beneath each of the processing stations  160  within the array. A portion of each shutter disk assembly  170  may be disposed through the bottom chamber wall  260  of the processing module  150 . Accordingly, only a portion of each shutter disk assembly  170  may be present within the transfer volume  236  of the processing module  150 , such as a shutter disk blade  172  and a portion of a rotatable shaft  174 .  FIG. 5A  depicts a processing module  150  with six shutter disk assemblies, and thus six shutter disk blades disposed therein. Accordingly, each of the shutter disk blades  172  are rotatable between a home position ( FIG. 5A ) and a shuttering position ( FIG. 5B ). The rotation of each shutter disk blade  172  allows for a different processing sequence to occur in each processing station  160  at different points in time, without regard to the processing sequences occurring in the other processing stations  160  of the processing module  150 . 
     Accordingly, when the indexer arm assembly  345  carrying at least one substrate  200  is positioned in the first position illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the plurality of lift assemblies  220  may lift the substrates  200  from the substrate supports  354  and move the substrates into the processing station  160  positioned thereabove for a processing sequence to occur. In exemplary embodiments, the processing sequence performed within the processing station  160  is a PVD process, as is described herein. After performing the substrate processing sequence(s) in the process station  160 , the substrate  200  and substrate support surface  223  of the lift assembly  220  are lowered so that the substrates  200  are located on the support arm  350  of the indexer arm assembly  345 . After the processing sequence(s) are performed, each processing station  160  within the array may require a burn-in or pasting process to occur. In some embodiments, only less than all of the processing stations  160  may require a burn-in or pasting process to occur. Accordingly, the indexer arm assembly  345  and plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  of the present invention allow for the burn-in or pasting process to occur without the need to break the vacuum of the processing module as to allow for a shutter disk  175  to be brought into the transfer volume  236  from a position outside of the processing module. 
     Each shutter disk  175  protects the substrate support surface  223  and the chuck  224  of the lift assembly  220  during the burn-in or pasting process. Before the shutter disks  175  are provided to the lift assembly  220 , the indexer arm assembly  345  rotates the central support  305  about the central axis  253  extending therethrough to swing the support arm  350 , substrate  200  and substrate support  354  through an arc to index the substrate support  354  and substrate  200  to a second position between two of the lift assemblies  220 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates the indexer arm assembly  345  in the second position. The second position of the indexer arm assembly  345  may be proximate to or over the shutter disk assembly  170  and shutter disk  175 . However, the indexer arm assembly  345  holding the substrate  200  does not interfere with the rotation of the shutter disk blade  172  and shutter disk  175 . 
     With the substrate  200  indexed in the second position, the actuator  178  (not shown) of the shutter disk assembly  170  may rotate the shaft  174  (not shown) to pivot the shutter disk blade  172  within the transfer volume  236  between a home position ( FIG. 5A ) and a shuttering position ( FIG. 5B ). In the shuttering position, the shutter disk blade  172  and the shutter disk  175  are positioned over a lift assembly  220  and beneath a corresponding processing station  160 . After the shutter disk  175  is positioned over the lift assembly  220 , the lift assembly  220  may raise the shutter disk  175  from the shutter disk blade  172 . The lift assembly may use a plurality of lift pins  212  to lift the shutter disk  175  from the shutter disk blade  172 . Accordingly, as the chuck  224  and substrate support surface  223  are raised by the lift assembly  220 , the lift pins  212  may retract into the substrate support surface  223 , allowing the shutter disk  175  to engage with substrate support surface  223 . With the substrate support surface  223  covered by the shutter disk  175 , the lift assembly  220  further lifts the chuck  224 , substrate support surface  223 , and shutter disk  175  into the processing station  160 . Once the processing station  160  is sealed, a burn-in or pasting processing may occur within the process volume  216  ( FIG. 2B ). 
     After the burn-in or pasting process has occurred, the lift assembly  220  lowers the chuck  224 , substrate support surface  223 , and shutter disk  175  from the processing station  160 . As the lift assembly  220  descends within the transfer volume  236 , the plurality of lift pins  212  may reengage the bottom of the shutter disk  175  as to lift the shutter disk  175  from the substrate support surface  223 . With the shutter disk  175  positioned on the lift pins  212 , the shutter disk  175  may reengage with the shutter disk blade  172 . Once the shutter disk  175  has been positioned on the shutter disk blade  172 , the shutter disk blade  172  is pivoted from the shuttering position ( FIG. 5B ) back to the home position ( FIG. 5A ). 
       FIG. 6  depicts a flow chart of a method  600  of moving a plurality of shutter disks  175  within the processing module  150 . The method  600  is enabled by the apparatus described in  FIGS. 5A-5B  with regard to the operation of the indexer arm assembly  345  and the shutter disk assembly  170 . In some embodiments, the method  600  may include additional process operations other than those described herein. 
     The first operation  602  of the method  600  is placing at least one substrate  200  within an array of processing stations disposed within the processing module  150 . In the first operation  602 , the array of processing stations  160  are identical to those described in  FIGS. 2A-2B . The plurality of substrates  200  may be placed within the array of processing stations  160  by the plurality of lift assemblies  220  disposed within the transfer volume  236  of the processing module  150 . Prior to placing of the plurality of substrates  200 , the substrate handling device  145  may move the substrates  200  between positions beneath each processing station  160 , such that the substrates  200  are positioned over each lift assembly  220 . In some embodiments, the substrate handling device  145  is the indexer arm assembly  345 . In yet other embodiments, the substrate handling device  145  is the central transfer robot  445 . Alternatively, any suitable transfer robot may be used to move the plurality of substrates  200  within the processing module. After the plurality of substrates  200  are positioned over the lift assemblies  220 , the lift assemblies  220  lift the substrates from the substrate handling device  145  into the processing stations  160 . 
     In the second operation  604  of the method  600 , a PVD process is performed on the substrates  200  within the array of processing stations  160 . The PVD process may form one or more layers of a material on each substrate  200 . In certain embodiments, all of the substrates  200  placed within the processing module  150  are simultaneously positioned within the processing stations  160 . For example,  FIG. 5A-5B  depict six substrates  200  being positioned within the processing stations  160 . In other embodiments, only a select few substrates  200  may be positioned within a processing station  160 . Accordingly, the remaining substrates  200  may be indexed or held within the transfer volume  236  by the substrate handling device  145 . 
     In the third operation  606  of the method  600 , at least one substrate  200  is moved from one of the processing stations  160 . The lift assemblies  220  may lower the substrates  200  disposed on the substrate support surface  223  from the processing position within the processing stations  160  to a position proximate the substrate support  354  of the substrate handling device  145 . In some embodiments, operation  606  may use a plurality of lift pins  212  disposed within each lift assembly  220  to facilitate the transfer of the substrates  200  between the lift assembly  220  and the substrate support  354  of the substrate handling device  145 . Once the substrates  200  have been placed on the substrate handling device  145 , the substrate handling device  145  may rotate as to index the substrates to a second position. In some embodiments, the second position at operation  606  may be above another lift assembly  220  within the processing module  150 . Alternatively, the second position may be between two lift assemblies  220  within the transfer volume  236 . 
     Operation  608  of the method  600  includes rotating a shutter disk assembly  170  from a home position to a shuttering position. The home position of the shutter disk assembly  170  is depicted in  FIG. 5A . The shuttering position of the shutter disk assembly  170  is depicted in  FIG. 5B . Accordingly, the rotating the shutter disk assembly  170  includes using the actuator  178  to rotate the shaft  174  to pivot the shutter disk blade  172  between the home position and the shuttering position. As mentioned, the shutter disk blade  172  holds a shutter disk  175 . By pivoting the shutter disk blade  172  into the shuttering position, the shutter disk  175  is positioned over the lift assembly  220  and beneath the corresponding processing station  160 . In certain embodiments, all of the substrates  200  may be simultaneously removed from the processing positions beneath each of the processing stations  160 . In such embodiments, all of the shutter disk blades  172  and shutter disks  175  of the shutter disk assemblies  170  may be simultaneously moved between the home position and the shuttering position. Alternatively, only some of the shutter disk blades  172  and shutter disks  175  may be moved between the home position and the shuttering position. As such, each processing station  160  may require a different frequency of burn-in or pasting processes to occur. Therefore, some processing stations  160  may not require a shutter disk  175  to be supplied by the shutter disk assembly  170  in the same instance as other processing stations  160  of the processing module  150 . 
     Operation  610  of the method  600  includes performing a second process within a processing station  160 . For example, the second process may be a burn-in or pasting process. When the operation  610  includes a burn-in or pasting process, the shutter disk  175  protects the chuck  224  and substrate support surface  223  while the process is performed. As mentioned, in some embodiments, operation  610  occurs in all of the processing stations  160  of the processing module  150 . In other embodiments, a second process is performed in less than all of the processing stations  160 . 
     Operation  612  of the method  600  includes rotating a shutter disk assembly  170  from the shuttering position the home position. According to some embodiments, prior to operation  612 , the shutter disk  175  is lowered by the lift assembly  220  from the processing station  160  to the shutter blade  172 . After the shutter disk  175  has reengaged with the shutter disk blade  175 , the shutter disk assembly  170  may pivot the shutter disk blade  172  from the shuttering position to the home position. 
     While the indexing process and movement of a single shutter disk blade  172  has been described herein, the foregoing description of the operation and method of the shutter disk assembly  170  and indexer arm assembly  345  may occur simultaneously between each processing station  160  within the illustrated processing module  150 . For example, the current processing module  150  illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5B  includes six processing stations  160 , six shutter disk assemblies  170 , six substrates  200 , and six lift assemblies  220 . 
     After a PVD processing is completed on each of the six substrates  200 , the substrates  200  are then placed back onto the end of the support arm  350  of the substrate handling device  145  and transferred to a second position ( FIG. 5B ) between two processing stations  160 . Accordingly, all six shutter disk assemblies  170  may rotate between the home position ( FIG. 5A ) and the shuttering position ( FIG. 5B ). Next, all six lift assemblies  220  may lift the six shutter disks  175  from the shutter disk blades  172  and move each into the processing stations  160  to perform a burn-in or pasting process. Accordingly, the shutter disks  175  are removed from the processing stations  160  and returned to the home position by the shutter disk assemblies  170 . The substrate handling device  145  then moves the six substrates  200  to the next processing station  160  of the array and the process is repeated. In another embodiment, each substrate  200  may be returned to the processing station  160  where the first PVD process occurred. The processing cycle of raising the substrate  200 , processing the substrates  200 , lowering the substrates  200  and transferring the substrates  200 , performing a burn-in or pasting process can then be repeated multiple times as the substrates  200  move about the array of the processing module  150 . 
     Alternatively, the processing module  150  selectively processes different substrates  200  within the processing stations  160 . For example, the substrate handling device  145  may position one or more substrates  200  beneath corresponding processing stations  160 , whereby the lift assemblies  220  beneath the processing stations  160  lift the substrate into the processing station  160  to perform a PVD process. While the first two substrates  200  are processed, the remaining substrates  200  within the processing module  150  are indexed between two other processing stations  160 , as to allow for the shutter disk assembly  170  to provide a shutter disk  175  to the shuttering position. As such, certain processing stations  160  may be performing a PVD process on a substrate  200  while other processing stations  160  perform a burn-in or pasting process with a shutter disk  175  in place. 
     This design and transfer sequence also provides additional advantages since each process station  160  can be separately and selectively isolated. Additionally, when a processing station  160  requires a burn-in or pasting process to occur, the plurality of substrates  200  need not be removed from the transfer volume  236  of the processing module  150 . As such, the vacuum within the transfer volume  236  is not broken and the time to process a substrate  200  is reduced. 
     Further, in a processing module  150  having a plurality of shutter disk assemblies  170  disposed therein, it is important to constantly monitor the location of each shutter disk blade  172  and shutter disk  175  within the transfer volume  236 . When the location of a shutter disk blade  172  and shutter disk  175  is known by the user during substrate processing sequences, the likelihood that a collision between a shutter disk assembly  170  and another assembly of the processing module decreases. Thus, the processing module  150  further includes a plurality of sensors  700  which are positioned to determine the location and/or position of the plurality of shutter disk blades  172  and shutter disks  175 . 
       FIGS. 7A-7D  depict partial top views of the processing module having a plurality of sensor assemblies  700  disposed therein, according to certain embodiments. Each sensor assembly  700  is disposed through the bottom chamber wall  260  of the processing module  150  and positioned proximate to a shutter disk assembly  170 . In some embodiments, each sensor assembly  700  is an absolute encoder device configured to determine the absolute location of the shutter disk blade  172 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  depict an embodiment of the processing module  150  including a plurality of outer sensors  702 . The outer sensors  702  include pairs of two sensor assemblies  700  disposed proximate to each shutter disk assembly  170 .  FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate that the outer sensors  702  are positioned radially outward from the substrate handling device  145  and the central axis  253  within the transfer volume  236 .  FIGS. 7C and 7D  depict another embodiment of the processing module  150  having a plurality of inner sensors  704 . The inner sensors  704  are disposed circumferentially around the area surrounding the substrate handling device  145  (not shown) within the transfer volume  236 . In certain embodiments, the processing module  150  may include both the outer sensors  702  and the inner sensors  704  disposed within the bottom chamber wall  260  of the transfer volume  236 . 
     By positioning the sensor assemblies  700  proximate to each of the shutter disk assemblies  170 , the location of the shutter disk blade  172  and/or the shutter disk  175  is monitored during operations. As the shutter disk blade  172  is pivoted by the shutter disk assembly  170  between the home position ( FIG. 5A ) and the shuttering position ( FIG. 5B ), the sensor assemblies  700  detect the presence of the shutter disk blade  172 . For example, when the shutter disk blade  172  is located in the home position, one or more outer sensors  702  may be disposed proximate to the shutter disk assembly  170  in the home position. In such embodiment, at least one outer sensor  702  is positioned below the shutter disk blade  172  in the home position. In some embodiments, both outer sensors  702  corresponding to a certain shutter disk assembly  170  may be positioned beneath the shutter disk blade  172 . As such, when the shutter disk blade  172  is in the home position, the sensor  702  detects the presence of the blade  172 . 
     When the shutter disk blade  172  is moved from the home position to the shuttering position, the outer sensors  702  are positioned to detect that the shutter disk blade  172  is no longer positioned in the home position. Accordingly, when the shutter disk blade  172  is moving from the home position to the shuttering position, the inner sensors  704  are positioned to detect the presence of the shutter disk blade  172  as it moves over each sensor assembly  700 . By including both the outer sensors  702  and the inner sensors  704 , the position of each shutter disk blade  172  of each shutter disk assembly  170  is more accurately determined. Thus, the potential for a collision between the shutter disk assemblies  170  and the other substrate processing components of the processing module  150  is reduced. 
       FIGS. 8A-8B  depict a sensor assembly  700  disposed through the bottom chamber wall  260  of the processing module  150 , according to certain embodiments. As illustrated, the sensor assembly  700  includes a laser sensor  710 , a coupler  712  coupled to the laser sensor  710 . The sensor assembly  700  further includes a quartz window  714  disposed below an opening  720  disposed in the bottom chamber wall  260  of the processing module. Each sensor assembly  700  is disposed beneath the processing module  150 . The opening  720  may be formed through the bottom chamber wall  260 . The quartz window  714  is positioned at a bottom end  722  of the opening  720 . A seal  725  may be disposed around the quartz window  714  as to maintain the integrity of the vacuum within the processing module  150 . In operation, the laser sensor  710  transmit a laser L into the processing module  150  through the opening  720  and the quartz window  714  towards the shutter disk blade  172 . If the shutter disk blade  172  is positioned above the laser L, the laser L is reflected back towards the laser sensor  710 . Accordingly, the laser sensor  710  uses the reflection to determine the distanced between the laser sensor and the shutter disk blade  172 , and thus whether the shutter disk blade  172  is positioned above the sensor assembly  700 . 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.