Patent · US Expired

Wafer processing equipment and method for processing wafers

US6491451B1 · kind B1 · utility

14Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 3, 2000
Grant dateDec 10, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 15, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S414/135
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wafer processing equipment comprises a track (10) for transporting wafers, a wafer launch station (20) for launching wafers into a section of said track (10), a first wafer processing tool (30) for performing a first process to wafers in said section of said track (10), a buffer (40) for storing wafers processed by said first wafer processing tool (30), a second wafer processing tool (50) for performing a second process to wafers processed by said first wafer processing tool (30), and control means (70) for controlling said wafer launch station (20) such that every wafer launched by said launch station (20) is processed by said second processing tool (50) within a predetermined time window.

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