Patent · US Expired

Processing apparatus having integrated pumping system

US7051759B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
12References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 21, 2004
Grant dateMay 30, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 17, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/86163
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus 115 for processing a substrate 20, comprises an integrated pumping system 155 having a high operating efficiency, small size, and low vibrational and noise levels. The apparatus 115 comprises a chamber, such as a load-lock chamber 110, transfer chamber 115, or process chamber 120. An integrated pump 165 is abutting or adjacent to one of the chambers 110, 115, 120 for evacuating gas from the chambers. In operation, the pump is located within the actual envelope or footprint of the apparatus and has an inlet 170 connected to a chamber 110, 115, 120, and an outlet 175 that exhausts the gas to atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the integrated pump 165 comprises a pre-vacuum pump or a low vacuum pump and is housed in a noise reducing enclosure having means for moving the pump between locations and means for stacking pumps vertically in use.

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