Patent ID: 7581916

Claim:
A method for processing a sample, the method comprising: providing a process chamber associated with a load lock chamber; providing a sample receiving stage coupled to a sample positioning apparatus, wherein the sample positioning apparatus is configured to move the sample receiving stage between an introduction position and a processing position within the process chamber; moving the sample receiving stage using the sample positioning apparatus to the introduction position resulting in a sealed barrier between the process chamber and the associated load lock chamber; positioning a sample on the sample receiving stage; moving the sample receiving stage using the sample positioning apparatus to the processing position, wherein moving the sample receiving stage using the sample positioning apparatus to the processing position comprises moving the sample receiving stage along a plurality of axes from a region of the process chamber proximate the load lock chamber to a region of the process chamber proximate at least one component of a processing system associated with the process chamber, wherein moving the sample receiving stage along the plurality of axes comprises: moving the sample receiving stage along a first axis providing for horizontal travel, moving the sample receiving stage along a second axis providing for vertical travel, and moving the sample receiving stage along one or more additional axes to provide fine positioning of the sample receiving stage with the sample thereon in the region of the process chamber proximate at least one component of the processing system associated with the process chamber; and processing the sample positioned on the sample receiving stage.