Substrate processing system and method to reduce a number of external connectors provided on the system

Abstract

Embodiments of substrate processing systems and methods are provided for reducing the number of external connectors provided on a substrate processing system for receiving liquids and gases from external liquid and gas sources. In one embodiment, a substrate processing system includes a plurality of processing units for processing a substrate; a plurality of external connectors for receiving liquids and/or gases from a plurality of sources stored outside of the substrate processing system; and a plurality of internal distribution lines for routing the liquids and/or gases from the external connectors to the processing units. The disclosed substrate processing system reduces the number of external connectors provided on the system by: (a) including only one external connector for each liquid and gas source, and (b) providing a plurality of internal distribution lines within the substrate processing system for routing liquids and gases from the external connectors to the processing units.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.