US Patent:
20140079514, Mar 20, 2014
Inventors:
James L'HEUREUX - Santa Clara CA, US
Christopher T. LANE - San Jose CA, US
Susanne SCHLAEFER - Aschaffenburg, DE
Juergen HENRICH - Limeshain, DE
Josef Thomas HOOG - Novato CA, US
Calvin R. AUGASON - Los Altos CA, US
International Classification:
H01L 21/677
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for transferring one or more substrates from a first pressure environment to a second pressure environment is provided. In one embodiment, a load lock chamber is provided. The load lock chamber comprises a first circular housing, and a second circular housing disposed within and movable relative to the first circular housing, one of the first circular housing or the second circular housing comprising a plurality of discrete regions, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of discrete regions are in selective fluid communication with one of at least two vacuum pumps based on the angular position of the second circular housing relative to the first circular housing.