IP Library Granted Patent US 9,837,294
Granted Patent B2
US 9,837,294 · App. 13/573,475 · Granted Dec 5, 2017

Wafer transport system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,837,294
App. No.
13/573,475
Granted
Dec 5, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A transport system includes, in a first environment, a driving screw having threads with a thread pitch. In a second environment, a driven member has a magnetic coupling with a driven member pitch substantially corresponding to the thread pitch. The magnetic coupling is coupled to a portion of threads and rotation of the driving screw displaces the magnetic coupling with respect to the driving screw.

Claims (29)

1. A transport system comprising:

in a first environment, a driving screw having threads, the threads having a thread pitch and a second and third driving screw having second and third threads respectively; and

in a second environment a driven member having a magnetic coupling, the magnetic coupling having a driven member pitch substantially corresponding to the thread pitch, the driven member further comprising a substrate support and a second and third magnetic coupling magnetically coupled to at least a portion of the second and third threads respectively;

wherein, the magnetic coupling is magnetically coupled to at least a portion of the threads and wherein rotation of the driving screw displaces the magnetic coupling with respect to the driving screw; and

wherein, rotation of the first driving screw displaces the substrate support in a first direction and wherein rotation of the second driving screw displaces the substrate support in a second direction and wherein rotation of the third driving screw displaces the substrate support in a third direction.

2. The transport system of claim 1 , wherein the driven member comprises a nut substantially surrounding at least a portion of the driving screw.

3. The transport system of claim 1 , wherein the driven member comprises a gear.

4. The transport system of claim 1 , wherein the driven member has a support bearing movably coupled to a sleeve, the sleeve disposed between the driving screw and the driven member.

5. The transport system of claim 1 , wherein the driven member comprises magnets.

6. A substrate transport system comprising:

a non magnetic barrier sleeve isolating a first environment from a vacuum environment;

a driving screw having threads, the threads having a thread pitch and located within the first environment and a second and third driving screw having second and third threads respectively; and

a driven member located within the vacuum environment, the driven member operably coupled to a substrate support, the driven member having a magnetic coupling, the magnetic coupling having a driven member pitch substantially corresponding to the thread pitch, driven member further comprising a second and third magnetic coupling magnetically coupled to at least a portion of the second and third threads respectively;

wherein, the magnetic coupling is magnetically coupled to at least a portion of the threads and wherein rotation of the driving screw displaces the magnetic coupling with respect to the driving screw displacing the substrate support, and;

wherein, rotation of the driving screw displaces the substrate support in a first direction and wherein rotation of the second driving screw displaces the substrate support in a second direction and wherein rotation of the third driving screw displaces the substrate support in a third direction.

7. The transport system of claim 6 , wherein the driven member comprises a nut substantially surrounding at least a portion of the driving screw.

8. The transport system of claim 6 , wherein the driven member comprises a gear.

9. The transport system of claim 6 , wherein the driven member has a support bearing movably coupled to the sleeve, the sleeve disposed between the driving screw and the driven member.

10. The transport system of claim 6 , wherein the driven member comprises magnets.

11. A substrate transport system comprising:

first and second non magnetic barrier sleeves isolating a vacuum environment;

first and second driving screws having threads located within the first and second non magnetic barrier sleeves respectively outside of the vacuum environment, the first driving screw having first threads, the second driving screw having second threads;

a driven member located within the vacuum environment, the driven member operably coupled to a substrate support, the driven member having a first magnetic coupling magnetically coupled to the first threads, the driven member having a second magnetic coupling magnetically coupled to the second threads and a third driving screw having third threads, the driven member farther comprising a third magnetic coupling magnetically coupled to at least a portion of the third threads;

wherein, rotation of the first driving screw displaces the substrate support in a first direction and wherein rotation of the second driving screw displaces the substrate support in a second direction; and

wherein, rotation of the third driving screw displaces the substrate support in a third direction.

12. The transport system of claim 11 , wherein the first magnetic coupling comprises a nut substantially surrounding at least a portion of the first driving screw.

13. The transport system of claim 11 , wherein the first magnetic coupling comprises a gear.

14. The transport system of claim 11 , wherein the driven member has a support bearing movably coupled to the first and second sleeves.

15. The transport system of claim 11 , wherein the driven member comprises magnets.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2017
From: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
To: PERSIMMON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042248/0893 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: PERSIMMON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 037358/0063 →
NEGATIVE PLEDGE AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 17, 2013
From: PERSIMMON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: MASSACHUSETTS DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AGENCY
Reel/Frame 031422/0225 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2012
From: HOSEK, MARTIN
To: PERSIMMON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029093/0813 →