Abstract: A rapid thermal processing system for large area substrates, such as glass panels for flat panel displays, includes a processing chamber having a loading/unloading zone and a processing zone, a heating assembly for heating a substrate in the processing zone, and a transport assembly for transporting the substrate through the processing chamber. The transport assembly includes a feed conveyor for transporting the substrate from the loading/unloading zone through the processing zone and a substrate return assembly for transporting the substrate from the feed conveyor to the loading/unloading zone after the substrate is transported through the processing zone. The substrate return assembly may include a return conveyor for transporting the substrate to the loading/unloading zone and a substrate reverser for transferring the substrate from the feed conveyor to the return conveyor.

Abstract: A rapid thermal processing system for large area substrates, such as glass panels for flat panel displays, includes a processing chamber, a transport assembly for transporting a substrate through the processing chamber, and a heating assembly for heating the substrate. The heating assembly includes a bank of elongated heating elements disposed in the processing chamber. The heating elements have longitudinal axes aligned with the substrate transport direction. In one embodiment, heating elements on one side of the substrate have longitudinal axes aligned perpendicular to the substrate transport direction and heating elements on the opposite side of the substrate have longitudinal axes aligned parallel to the substrate transport direction.