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 1026
Backer, John A San Jose, US 11 276
Carlson, Charles Cedar Park, US 36 657
Herchen, Harald Los Altos, US 106 3155
Hudgens, Jeffrey San Francisco, US 34 496
Ishikawa, Tetsuya Saratogo, US 352 13005
Lowrance, Robert Los Gatos, US 24 644
Lue, Brian Mountain View, US 30 1771
Pinson, Jay D San Jose, US 23 410
Quach, David H San Jose, US 43 957
Rice, Michael Pleasanton, US 97 5271
Roberts, Rick J San Jose, US 25 1266
Salek, Mohsen S Saratoga, US 16 314
Volfovski, Leon Mountain View, US 44 1236
Wang, Chongyang San Jose, US 39 917
Weaver, William Tyler Austin, US 31 601

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