Cluster tool architecture for processing a substrate

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 7925377
APP PUB NO 20060286300A1
SERIAL NO

11458667

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Abstract

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Embodiments generally provide an apparatus and method for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, substrates processed in the cluster tool have a more repeatable wafer history, and also the cluster tool has a smaller system footprint. In one embodiment of the cluster tool, grouping substrates together, and transferring and processing the substrates in groups of two or more, improves system throughput, and reduces the number of moves a robot has to make to transfer a batch of substrates between the processing chambers, thus reducing wear on the robot and increasing system reliability. Embodiments also provide for a method and apparatus that are used to increase the reliability of the substrate transfer process to reduce system down time.

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Patent Owner(s)

  • APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Armer, Helen R Cupertino, US 21 1023
Backer, John A San Jose, US 11 275
Carlson, Charles Cedar Park, US 36 656
Herchen, Harald Los Altos, US 106 3144
Hudgens, Jeffrey San Francisco, US 34 495
Ishikawa, Tetsuya Saratogo, US 352 12964
Lowrance, Robert Los Gatos, US 24 642
Lue, Brian Mountain View, US 30 1768
Pinson, Jay D San Jose, US 23 409
Quach, David H San Jose, US 43 954
Rice, Michael Pleasanton, US 97 5256
Roberts, Rick J San Jose, US 25 1263
Salek, Mohsen S Saratoga, US 16 313
Volfovski, Leon Mountain View, US 44 1228
Wang, Chongyang San Jose, US 39 914
Weaver, William Tyler Austin, US 31 600

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