The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 2009
Filed:
Jul. 11, 2006
Christopher Hofmeister, Hampstead, NH (US);
Martin Hosek, Lowell, MA (US);
Stuart Beale, Lowell, MA (US);
Christopher Hofmeister, Hampstead, NH (US);
Martin Hosek, Lowell, MA (US);
Stuart Beale, Lowell, MA (US);
Brooks Automation, Inc., Chelmsford, MA (US);
Abstract
A substrate processing apparatus is provided with a substrate transport apparatus. The transport apparatus is used for automating alignment of the processing apparatus. In one aspect, a through-beam sensor on the transport apparatus is used to level parts of the processing apparatus. In another aspect, a through-beam sensor on the transport apparatus is used to determine the locations and angular orientations of substrate stations within a plane. In another aspect, the transport apparatus teaches itself the accurate location of a substrate aligner by repeatedly placing the substrate on the aligner, recording positional data, constructing a cost function, and determining the location of the aligner by minimizing the cost function using a numerical technique.