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:
Sep. 08, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2005
Morgan Evans, Manchester, MA (US);
Douglas E. May, Melrose, MA (US);
Morgan Evans, Manchester, MA (US);
Douglas E. May, Melrose, MA (US);
Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc., Gloucester, MA (US);
Abstract
A load lock system includes a first load lock defining a first chamber, a second load lock defining a second chamber, and a vacuum pumping system to vacuum pump the first and second chambers. The vacuum pumping system includes a high vacuum pump, a first valve to connect the first chamber to an inlet of the high vacuum pump in a first pumping mode, and a second valve to connect the second chamber to the inlet of the high vacuum pump in a second pumping mode. The high vacuum pump may be a turbomolecular pump. The vacuum pumping system may include a valve manifold block located between the first and second load locks. The first and second valves may be mounted in the valve manifold block. The vacuum pumping system may further include a shared water pump.