Airflow management for low particulate count in a process tool

An airflow management system of a substrate production tool, the system comprising:

• a housing to couple the substrate production tool to a fan filter unit, the fan filter unit to provide filtered air to the housing;
• a facility connection to couple the substrate production tool to a reduced pressure exhaust mechanism;
• a process chamber;
• a substrate transfer section corresponding to a first volume of the process chamber, wherein the substrate transfer section includes a traverser mechanism within the first volume and is coupled, within the process chamber, between the fan filter unit and the facility connection, wherein the traverser mechanism includes one or more linear wafer carriers configured to transport wafers across the wafer transfer section, wherein the fan filter unit is arranged directly above the substrate transfer section such that the substrate transfer section is in continuous airflow communication with both the fan filter unit and the facility connection during operation of the substrate production tool, the facility connection to be maintained at a low pressure with reference to the fan filter unit and the substrate transfer section such that airflow flows from the fan filter unit to the substrate transfer section during operation of the substrate production tool;
• a substrate process area arranged within the process chamber, the substrate process area corresponding to a second volume of the process chamber below the substrate transfer section such that the substrate transfer section is directly between the fan filter unit and the substrate process area, wherein the substrate process area is arranged to be in continuous airflow communication with both the fan filter unit and the facility connection during operation of the substrate production tool;
• and
• one or more slots arranged in the process chamber to allow the airflow from the fan filter unit and the substrate transfer section to flow out of the process chamber and the substrate transfer section in order to preserve a higher pressure in the substrate transfer section than in the substrate process area during operation of the substrate production tool,
• wherein the process chamber substantially contains, within the process chamber, each of the substrate transfer section and the substrate process area, the process chamber being coupled to the housing to receive the filtered air and coupled to the facility connection to provide an exhaust for excess gas flow, the process chamber being configured to maintain a low pressure in the substrate process area relative to the substrate transfer section.