Patent ID: 7857569

Claim:
A semiconductor processing system, comprising: a process chamber configured to perform a semiconductor process on a target substrate; a first transfer chamber connected to the process chamber; an intermediate chamber connected to the first transfer chamber; a second transfer chamber connected to the intermediate chamber; a first transfer arm disposed inside the first transfer chamber; a second transfer arm disposed inside the second transfer chamber; a supporting mechanism provided at the intermediate chamber and configured to transfer a target substrate in cooperation with the first and second transfer arms, wherein the supporting mechanism comprises first and second holding portions disposed inside the intermediate chamber, each configured to be moved up and down and transfer a target substrate to and from the transfer arm, the first and second holding portions being configured to be moved relative to each other in a vertical direction without spatially interfering with each other, and the first and second holding portions providing target substrate positions for transferring a target substrate to and from the first and second transfer arms such that the target substrate positions overlap with each other in plan view; and first and second drives configured to move the first and second holding portions up and down, wherein each of the first and second holding portions includes a plurality of lifter pins having top ends, on which a substrate is placed, each of the first and second holding portions includes a base frame, and the plurality of lifter pins standing on the base frame, and the base frames of the first and second holding portions are disposed not to overlap with each other in plan view, and include extension portions extending toward each other and mutually beyond tips of the extension portions, and one of the lifter pins is supported near each of the tips of the extension portions.