Patent · US Expired

Load lock system for ion beam processing

US7585141B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
21References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 1, 2005
Grant dateSep 8, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 23, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S414/139
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A load lock system includes a first load lock defining a first chamber, a second load lock defining a second chamber, and a vacuum pumping system to vacuum pump the first and second chambers. The vacuum pumping system includes a high vacuum pump, a first valve to connect the first chamber to an inlet of the high vacuum pump in a first pumping mode, and a second valve to connect the second chamber to the inlet of the high vacuum pump in a second pumping mode. The high vacuum pump may be a turbomolecular pump. The vacuum pumping system may include a valve manifold block located between the first and second load locks. The first and second valves may be mounted in the valve manifold block. The vacuum pumping system may further include a shared water pump.

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