Patent ID: 8545165

Claim:
A substrate aligner apparatus comprising: a frame adapted to allow a substrate transporter to transport a substrate to and from the apparatus; a sensor head connected to the frame and having at least one sensing device for detecting a position determining feature of the substrate positioned in the apparatus and establishing a post alignment position of the substrate; a substrate holder connected to the frame for holding the substrate when the substrate is scanned by the sensor head for detecting the position determining feature of the substrate; and a chuck distinct from the substrate holder and movably mounted to the frame and adapted to support the substrate thereon, the chuck being movable relative to the frame and to the substrate holder for moving the substrate on the chuck from a pre-alignment position to the post alignment position; wherein the sensor head is mounted on the chuck so that the sensor head rotates with the chuck and wherein the substrate holder is disposed relative to the chuck and is configured for a substrate transporter end effector handoff so that the substrate is placed on the substrate holder by the substrate transporter end effector in a scanable position.