Patent ID: 7223702

Claim:
A method of performing a semiconductor manufacturing process, the method comprising: i) transferring a first group of wafers into a first reactor; ii) performing a first process on the first group of wafers within the first reactor; iii) after the first process has been completed in the first reactor, transferring the first group of wafers into a first one of a plurality of second reactors while the first group of wafers is isolated from air outside the first and second reactors; iv) performing a second process, requiring a process time longer than that required by the first process, on the first group of wafers within the first one of the second reactors, and at the same time transferring a second group of wafers into the first reactor; v) performing the first process on the second group of wafers within the first reactor; vi) transferring the second group of wafers, that have undergone the first process, into a second one of the second reactors that is not occupied by wafers while the second group of wafers is isolated from air outside the first and second reactors; vii) performing the second process on the second group of wafers within the second one of the second reactors while the first group of wafers are undergoing the second process in the first one of the second reactors; and viii) unloading the groups of wafers, that have undergone the second process, from the second reactors.