Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor wafer clamp device and method

US5733426A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
2References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 1995
Grant dateMar 31, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 23, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S269/903
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Semiconductor wafer clamp device includes at least one clamp apparatus, the clamp apparatus including a removable clamp finger coupled to a connecting block by a connector. The device allows access to clamp apparatus from a top surface of a substrate holder, eliminating the need to remove the substrate holder in order to perform maintenance or repair operations on clamp apparatus. Tempered springs in the clamp apparatus reduce resilience losses experienced with non-tempered springs. Plastic clamp shaft bushings and spring retainers extend the useful life of clamp apparatus components by eliminating wear caused by metal-to-metal contact of moving parts.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.