Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a transport chamber, a drive section, a robot arm having an end effector at a distal end configured to support a substrate and being connected to the drive section generating at least arm motion in a radial direction extending and retracting the arm, an imaging system with a camera mounted in a predetermined location to image at least part of the robot arm, and a controller connected to the imaging system to image the arm moving to a predetermined repeatable position, the controller effecting capture of a first image of the robot arm proximate to the repeatable position decoupled from encoder data of the drive axis, wherein the controller calculates a positional variance of the robot arm from comparison of the first image with a calibration image, and from the positional variance determines a motion compensation factor changing the extended position of the robot arm.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame defining a chamber with a substrate transport opening and a substrate transfer plane defined therein, a valve mounted to the frame and being configured to seal an atmosphere of the chamber when closed, the valve having a door movably disposed to open and close the substrate transport opening, and at least one substrate sensor element disposed on a side of the door and oriented to sense substrates located on the substrate transfer plane.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a transport chamber, a drive section, a robot arm having an end effector at a distal end configured to support a substrate and being connected to the drive section generating at least arm motion in a radial direction extending and retracting the arm, an imaging system with a camera mounted in a predetermined location to image at least part of the robot arm, and a controller connected to the imaging system to image the arm moving to a predetermined repeatable position, the controller effecting capture of a first image of the robot arm proximate to the repeatable position decoupled from encoder data of the drive axis, wherein the controller calculates a positional variance of the robot arm from comparison of the first image with a calibration image, and from the positional variance determines a motion compensation factor changing the extended position of the robot arm.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame defining a chamber with a substrate transport opening and a substrate transfer plane defined therein, a valve mounted to the frame and being configured to seal an atmosphere of the chamber when closed, the valve having a door movably disposed to open and close the substrate transport opening, and at least one substrate sensor element disposed on a side of the door and oriented to sense substrates located on the substrate transfer plane.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a transport chamber, a drive section, a robot arm having an end effector at a distal end configured to support a substrate and being connected to the drive section generating at least arm motion in a radial direction extending and retracting the arm, an imaging system with a camera mounted in a predetermined location to image at least part of the robot arm, and a controller connected to the imaging system to image the arm moving to a predetermined repeatable position, the controller effecting capture of a first image of the robot arm proximate to the repeatable position decoupled from encoder data of the drive axis, wherein the controller calculates a positional variance of the robot arm from comparison of the first image with a calibration image, and from the positional variance determines a motion compensation factor changing the extended position of the robot arm.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including; a frame, a substrate transport arm connected to the frame, the substrate transport arm having an end effector, and a drive section having at least one motor coupled to the substrate transport arm, wherein the at least one motor defines a kinematic portion of the drive section configured to effect kinematic motion of the substrate transport arm, and the drive section includes an accessory portion adjacent the kinematic portion, wherein the accessory portion has another motor, different and distinct from the at least one motor, the another motor of the accessory portion is operably coupled to and configured to drive one or more accessory device independent of the kinematic motion of the substrate transport arm.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a transport chamber, a drive section, a robot arm having an end effector at a distal end configured to support a substrate and being connected to the drive section generating at least arm motion in a radial direction extending and retracting the arm, an imaging system with a camera mounted in a predetermined location to image at least part of the robot arm, and a controller connected to the imaging system to image the arm moving to a predetermined repeatable position, the controller effecting capture of a first image of the robot arm proximate to the repeatable position decoupled from encoder data of the drive axis, wherein the controller calculates a positional variance of the robot arm from comparison of the first image with a calibration image, and from the positional variance determines a motion compensation factor changing the extended position of the robot arm.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame defining a chamber with a substrate transport opening and a substrate transfer plane defined therein, a valve mounted to the frame and being configured to seal an atmosphere of the chamber when closed, the valve having a door movably disposed to open and close the substrate transport opening, and at least one substrate sensor element disposed on a side of the door and oriented to sense substrates located on the substrate transfer plane.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including; a frame, a substrate transport arm connected to the frame, the substrate transport arm having an end effector, and a drive section having at least one motor coupled to the substrate transport arm, wherein the at least one motor defines a kinematic portion of the drive section configured to effect kinematic motion of the substrate transport arm, and the drive section includes an accessory portion adjacent the kinematic portion, wherein the accessory portion has another motor, different and distinct from the at least one motor, the another motor of the accessory portion is operably coupled to and configured to drive one or more accessory device independent of the kinematic motion of the substrate transport arm.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame defining a chamber with a substrate transport opening and a substrate transfer plane defined therein, a valve mounted to the frame and being configured to seal an atmosphere of the chamber when closed, the valve having a door movably disposed to open and close the substrate transport opening, and at least one substrate sensor element disposed on a side of the door and oriented to sense substrates located on the substrate transfer plane.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame and at least one substrate transport arm having at least one end effector, each end effector having a base portion, a first and second substrate support tines mounted to and dependent from the base portion where at least one of the first and second substrate support tines is movable relative to the base portion, each of the first and second substrate support tines having respective substrate contacts configured to contact and support a substrate held by the end effector between the respective contacts of the first and second substrate support tines at a substrate support seat dimension span between the substrate contacts of the first and second substrate support tines, and an end effector drive section configured to vary a distance between the first and second substrate support tines relative to each other on the fly.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a transport chamber, a drive section, a robot arm having an end effector at a distal end configured to support a substrate and being connected to the drive section generating at least arm motion in a radial direction extending and retracting the arm, an imaging system with a camera mounted in a predetermined location to image at least part of the robot arm, and a controller connected to the imaging system to image the arm moving to a predetermined repeatable position, the controller effecting capture of a first image of the robot arm proximate to the repeatable position decoupled from encoder data of the drive axis, wherein the controller calculates a positional variance of the robot arm from comparison of the first image with a calibration image, and from the positional variance determines a motion compensation factor changing the extended position of the robot arm.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including; a frame, a substrate transport arm connected to the frame, the substrate transport arm having an end effector, and a drive section having at least one motor coupled to the substrate transport arm, wherein the at least one motor defines a kinematic portion of the drive section configured to effect kinematic motion of the substrate transport arm, and the drive section includes an accessory portion adjacent the kinematic portion, wherein the accessory portion has another motor, different and distinct from the at least one motor, the another motor of the accessory portion is operably coupled to and configured to drive one or more accessory device independent of the kinematic motion of the substrate transport arm.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a linearly elongated substantially hexahedron shaped substrate transport chamber having linearly elongated sides of the hexahedron and at least one end wall of the hexahedron substantially orthogonal to the linearly elongated sides. A plurality of process modules are linearly arrayed along the at least one of the linearly elongated sides. A substrate transport arm is pivotally mounted within the substrate transport chamber so that a pivot axis of the substrate transport arm is mounted, fixed relative to the substrate transport chamber. The substrate transport arm has a three link—three joint SCARA configuration, of which one link is an end effector with at least one substrate holder, that is articulate to transport the substrate, and held by the at least one substrate holder, in and out of the substrate transport chamber through the end and side substrate transport openings.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame and at least one substrate transport arm having at least one end effector, each end effector having a base portion, a first and second substrate support tines mounted to and dependent from the base portion where at least one of the first and second substrate support tines is movable relative to the base portion, each of the first and second substrate support tines having respective substrate contacts configured to contact and support a substrate held by the end effector between the respective contacts of the first and second substrate support tines at a substrate support seat dimension span between the substrate contacts of the first and second substrate support tines, and an end effector drive section configured to vary a distance between the first and second substrate support tines relative to each other on the fly.

Abstract: A substrate loading station including a frame forming a chamber configured to hold a controlled environment, a transfer robot connected to the frame and one or more substrate cassette holding locations each capable of having a substrate cassette holder disposed within the frame. Each of the one or more substrate cassette holding locations being configured to removably support a respective substrate cassette in a predetermined position for communication with the transfer robot to effect substrate transfer between a respective cassette and the transfer robot where the one or more substrate cassette holding locations are configured to effect the interchangeability of one or more substrate cassette holders with other substrate cassette holders for changing a substrate cassette holding capacity of the substrate loading station.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame defining a chamber with a substrate transport opening and a substrate transfer plane defined therein, a valve mounted to the frame and being configured to seal an atmosphere of the chamber when closed, the valve having a door movably disposed to open and close the substrate transport opening, and at least one substrate sensor element disposed on a side of the door and oriented to sense substrates located on the substrate transfer plane.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame defining a chamber with a substrate transport opening and a substrate transfer plane defined therein, a valve mounted to the frame and being configured to seal an atmosphere of the chamber when closed, the valve having a door movably disposed to open and close the substrate transport opening, and at least one substrate sensor element disposed on a side of the door and oriented to sense substrates located on the substrate transfer plane.

Abstract: A substrate loading station including a frame forming a chamber configured to hold a controlled environment, a transfer robot connected to the frame and one or more substrate cassette holding locations each capable of having a substrate cassette holder disposed within the frame. Each of the one or more substrate cassette holding locations being configured to removably support a respective substrate cassette in a predetermined position for communication with the transfer robot to effect substrate transfer between a respective cassette and the transfer robot where the one or more substrate cassette holding locations are configured to effect the interchangeability of one or more substrate cassette holders with other substrate cassette holders for changing a substrate cassette holding capacity of the substrate loading station.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame defining a chamber with a substrate transport opening and a substrate transfer plane defined therein, a valve mounted to the frame and being configured to seal an atmosphere of the chamber when closed, the valve having a door movably disposed to open and close the substrate transport opening, and at least one substrate sensor element disposed on a side of the door and oriented to sense substrates located on the substrate transfer plane.