Abstract: A slit valve assembly includes a housing having an opening in a wall of the housing and through which a substate is to be transferred. The opening includes a first side to attach to a slit tunnel. A first channel is formed adjacent to a top surface of the opening. First plurality of gas holes extend from the first channel and is oriented so as to create a first gas curtain from a pressurized gas at a first angle towards a process chamber. A second channel is formed adjacent to a bottom surface of the opening. A second plurality of gas holes extend from the second channel and is oriented so as to create a second gas curtain from the pressurized gas at a second angle towards the chamber that is to intersect with, or be offset from, the first gas curtain to protect the slit tunnel from process chemistries.

Abstract: Disclosed is a slit valve gate. The slit valve gate includes a base portion configured to couple to a slit valve actuator and includes a first angled alignment feature. The slit valve gate further includes a seal portion coupled to the base portion. The seal portion is configured to create an airtight seal between the slit valve gate and a sealing surface of a slit valve opening. The slit valve gate further includes a clamp portion coupled to the base portion. The clamp portion includes a second angled alignment feature configured to interface with the first angled alignment feature of the base portion to align the clamp portion with respect to the base portion. The clamp portion retains the seal portion at least partially between the clamp portion and the base portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a slit valve gate. The slit valve gate includes a base portion configured to couple to a slit valve actuator. The slit valve gate further includes a seal portion coupled to the base portion. The seal portion is configured to create an airtight seal between the slit valve gate and a sealing surface of a slit valve opening. The slit valve gate further includes a clamp portion coupled to the base portion. The clamp portion retains the seal portion at least partially between the clamp portion and the base portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a slit valve gate. The slit valve gate includes a base portion configured to couple to a slit valve actuator. The slit valve gate further includes a seal portion coupled to the base portion. The seal portion is configured to create an airtight seal between the slit valve gate and a sealing surface of a slit valve opening. The slit valve gate further includes a clamp portion coupled to the base portion. The clamp portion retains the seal portion at least partially between the clamp portion and the base portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are a slit valve apparatus and a method for controlling a slit valve. The slit valve apparatus includes a slit valve assembly and a servo-control system in communication with the slit valve assembly. The slit valve assembly includes at least one gate able to transition between an open position and a closed position, at least one pneumatic actuator, at least one proportional pneumatic valve including a plurality of controllers, and a continuous position sensor. The servo-control system includes a centralized controller that generates a control signal and adjusts the movement of the at least one gate based on the position trajectory for the gate, a linear position measurement of the gate from the continuous position sensor, and fluid pressure/flow measurements from the plurality of controllers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wafer processing system, a dual gate system, and methods for operating these systems. The dual gate system may have a first gate, a second gate, a gate connector coupled to the first gate and to the second gate, and actuator coupled to the gate connector. The actuator is configured to seal the first gate against a first slot or open the first slot via vertical motion. The actuator is also configured to seal the second gate against a second slot or open the second slot via a combination of vertical motion and horizontal motion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wafer processing system, a dual gate system, and methods for operating these systems. The dual gate system may have a first gate, a second gate, a gate connector coupled to the first gate and to the second gate, and actuator coupled to the gate connector. The actuator is configured to seal the first gate against a first slot or open the first slot via vertical motion. The actuator is also configured to seal the second gate against a second slot or open the second slot via a combination of vertical motion and horizontal motion.

Abstract: Disclosed are a slit valve apparatus and a method for controlling a slit valve. The slit valve apparatus includes a slit valve assembly and a servo-control system in communication with the slit valve assembly. The slit valve assembly includes at least one gate able to transition between an open position and a closed position, at least one pneumatic actuator, at least one proportional pneumatic valve including a plurality of controllers, and a continuous position sensor. The servo-control system includes a centralized controller that generates a control signal and adjusts the movement of the at least one gate based on the position trajectory for the gate, a linear position measurement of the gate from the continuous position sensor, and fluid pressure/flow measurements from the plurality of controllers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for assessing/evaluating the verbal fluency of a user by obtaining a speech (audial/acoustic signal) from a user, detecting disrupted/stuttered and fluent speech time-intervals in the speech, calculating a Disrupted-time value and Fluent-time value based on the disrupted/stuttered and fluent speech time-intervals respectively, and deriving a speech efficiency score for the user/speech based on the Disrupted-time value and Fluent-time value.

Abstract: Slit valve doors including a door body made entirely of an Al2O3 ceramic material, and a seal coupled to the door body. Slit valve door assemblies and slit valve assemblies including the slit valve door are disclosed, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: Slit valve gates and methods for cleaning are provided. Slit valves include: a slit valve gate configured to seal an opening of a process chamber, the slit valve gate comprising a surface that faces an processing volume of the process chamber; and a non-porous anodized coating on the surface of the slit valve gate. Methods of cleaning include: immersing the slit valve gate in a tank comprising deionized water; sonicating the slit valve gate at a first power density of about 6 W/cm2 to about 15 W/cm2 and a frequency of about 25 kHz to about 40 kHz for a first period of time; sonicating the slit valve gate at a second power density of about 30 W/cm2 to about 45 W/cm2 and a frequency of about 25 kHz to about 40 kHz for a second period of time; and removing the slit valve gate from the tank.