The present application relates to a wafer transfer module in a semiconductor manufacturing machine, relating to semiconductor integrated circuit manufacturing machines, wherein two sets of transmitter/receivers are provide on sidewalls of the wafer transfer module to monitor the travel position of an elevator, two sets of transmitter/receivers are provide on the sidewalls of the wafer transfer module to monitor the position of a transfer arm, a signal received by the receiver is transmitted to a control system such that the control system determines, according to the travel position of the elevator and the transfer arm position, whether the transfer arm can obtain a to-be-transferred wafer, thereby preventing the problem of a wafer scratch caused by an elevator position deviation or a transfer arm position deviation.

A carriage robot includes a robot arm being configured to transport a plurality of containers, a robot hand connected to an end of the robot arm, the robot hand being configured to support a first container having a first size among the containers, and a gripper provided under the robot hand, the gripper being configured to grip a second container having a second size different from the first size. Thus, the carriage robot is capable of transport the containers, each having a size different from each other.

Embodiments herein relate to a transport system and a substrate processing and transfer (SPT) system. The SPT system includes a transport system that connects two processing tools. The transport system includes a vacuum tunnel that is configured to transport substrates between the processing tools. The vacuum tunnel includes a substrate transport carriage to move the substrate through the vacuum tunnel. The SPT system has a variety of configurations that allow the user to add or remove processing chambers, depending on the process chambers required for a desired substrate processing procedure.

A mask arrangement for masking a substrate in a processing chamber is provided. The mask arrangement includes a mask frame having one or more frame elements and is configured to support a mask device, wherein the mask device is connectable to the mask frame; and at least one actuator connectable to at least one frame element of the one or more frame elements, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to apply a force to the at least one frame element.

There is provided a technique that includes: at least one process chamber in which at least one substrate is processed; a mounting stage configured to be capable of mounting the at least one substrate on the mounting stage; a transport chamber including a conveyor configured to be capable of holding the mounting stage at least two places in a vertical direction and transporting the mounting stage; and a controller configured to be capable of performing a transport control of the conveyor in the transport chamber.

A semiconductor wafer cassette warehouse transportation structure system includes a wafer cassette lift transportation structure body, a wafer cassette frame structure body, an arm structure body, an arm gripping wafer cassette structure body, and a wafer cassette warehouse structure body. The suspension support rods are suspended on a ceiling. The wafer cassette lift transportation structure body lifts the wafer cassettes to the inlet and outlet. The arm structure body grips the wafer cassettes and puts same on the tracks so that the wafer cassettes can be transported to the wafer cassette warehouse structure body to be precisely accessed. The system saves space and facilitates the access of the wafer cassettes because the wafer cassettes are stored on the wafer cassette warehouse structure body suspended on the ceiling.

A holding arrangement for holding a substrate is described. The holding arrangement includes a body having a first wall of flexible material; an adhesive arrangement configured for attaching the substrate, wherein the adhesive arrangement is provided on a first side of the first wall, and a force transmission arrangement configured for applying a force to a second side of the first wall opposing the first side of the first wall.

A process chamber guide, designed for linearly guiding a substrate carrier that can be displaced in the process chamber guide in a direction of guidance such that by displacement of the substrate carrier in a process position, an at least regional demarcation of a process chamber guide can be formed by the process chamber guide and substrate carrier. The invention is characterized in that the process chamber guide has a roller bearing for the substrate support and at least one sealing surface, which extends parallel to the direction of guidance and is designed and arranged in such a way that, whenever the substrate carrier arranged in the process chamber guide is in a process position, the sealing surface is spaced apart less than 1 mm from the substrate carrier. The invention further relates to a process chamber and to a method for guiding a substrate carrier in a processing position.

A vacuum processing system for routing a carrier with a substrate is described. The system includes a first vacuum processing chamber for processing the substrate on the carrier; a vacuum buffer chamber providing a processing time delay for the substrate; a second vacuum processing chamber for masked deposition of a material layer on the substrate; and one or more transfer chambers for routing the carrier from the first vacuum chamber to the vacuum buffer chamber and for routing the carrier from the vacuum buffer chamber to the second vacuum chamber.

A pod opener includes an elevating mechanism elevating the cassette in a vertical direction, a first hook member engaging with an engagement means of the cassette and supporting the cassette, a second hook member supported by the first hook member, a forward and backward movement mechanism moving the first hook member and the second hook member forward and backward with respect to the cassette, an urging member urging the second hook member upward, and an atmosphere maintaining device maintaining an internal space having the cassette disposed therein in a predetermined atmosphere and the second hook member is displaceable with respect to the first hook member.