Patent · US Expired

Substrate treating apparatus and method

US6832863B2 · kind B2 · utility

32Cited by
1References
52Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 9, 2003
Grant dateDec 21, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 9, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S414/14
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A series of substrate transport paths for transporting substrates is arranged on upper and lower stories. Substrates are transferable between the substrate transport path on the first story and the substrate transport path on the second story. The paths include a going-only path for transporting the substrates forward, and a return-only path for transporting the substrates in the opposite direction, these paths being arranged on the upper and lower stories. An indexer connects one end of the substrate transport path on one story to one end of the substrate transport path on the other story. An interface connects the other end of the substrate transport path on one story to the other end of the substrate transport path on the other story. This construction efficiently reduces a waiting time due to interference between the substrates transported along the going-only path and the substrates transported along the return-only path.

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