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:
Nov. 21, 2017
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2011
Vladimir Kuznetsov, Utrecht, NL;
Pieter Tak, Amersfoort, NL;
Vladimir Kuznetsov, Utrecht, NL;
Pieter Tak, Amersfoort, NL;
ASM INTERNATIONAL N.V., Almere, NL;
Abstract
A method, comprising: —providing a process space atmosphere at a process space atmosphere pressure; —providing an exterior atmosphere at an exterior atmosphere pressure that is different from the process space atmosphere pressure; —providing a passage via which the exterior atmosphere is in open communication with the process space atmosphere, and via which substrates are exchangeable between the exterior atmosphere and the process space atmosphere; —injecting an exchange fluid into the passage at at least one exchange fluid injection point, so as to effect a flow of exchange fluid that extends through at least a part of the passage, wherein said flow is directed towards —the exterior in case the exterior atmosphere pressure is greater than the process space atmosphere pressure; or —the process space in case the exterior atmosphere pressure is smaller than the process space atmosphere pressure.