Patent ID: 7208047

Claim:
An apparatus through which a substrate is transferred between a first vacuum chamber and a second vacuum chamber, wherein said first vacuum chamber is maintained at a high temperature relative to a temperature maintained within said second vacuum chamber, said second vacuum chamber including a port; said apparatus comprising: a passageway for receiving said substrate; and a thermally isolating interface that reduces heat transfer from said first vacuum chamber to said second vacuum chamber, said thermally isolating interface allowing for transfer of said substrate between said apparatus and said second vacuum chamber, said thermally isolating interface having a face with a border disposed on said face, the border defining a hole in said thermally isolating interface having dimensions such that said substrate is transferable through said thermally isolating interface; wherein said thermally isolating interface is made of a metal having a thermal conductivity coefficient of less than about 1536 Btu inch/(hr)(ft 2 )(° F.); wherein said first vacuum chamber, said apparatus, and said second chamber are sealed together to form a closed environment having an internal pressure that is less than standard atmospheric pressure; and wherein said face includes a beveled recess such that, when said face abuts said port, a thermally isolating volume is defined within said recess.