Patent ID: 7603028

Claim:
A thermal treatment system comprising at least one apparatus for thermally treating an object, the apparatus comprising: at least one of a pair of substantially opposite platforms, where at least one of the platforms having at least one thermal means for heating or cooling of the object; and at least one of the platforms has fluid-mechanical means for supporting the object without contact, the platform having an active surface comprising at least one of a plurality of basic cells, each basic cell having at least one of a plurality of pressure outlets and at least one of a plurality of fluid-evacuation channels, at least one of the pressure outlets of each basic cell being fluidically connected through a flow restrictor to a high-pressure fluid supply, the pressure outlets providing pressurized fluid for maintaining a fluid-cushion between the object and the active-surface of the platform, the flow restrictor characteristically exhibiting fluidic return spring behavior; each of said at least one of a plurality of fluid-evacuation channels having an inlet and outlet, for locally balancing mass flow for said at least one of a plurality of basic cells.