An integrated lithographic fabrication cluster system, as presented
herein, comprises an exposure apparatus to expose a pattern onto a
substrate with an associated exposure controller to control the exposure
apparatus and a track apparatus interconnecting a plurality of processing
modules with an associated track controller to control the track
apparatus. The cluster system also comprises a wafer handling apparatus
coupled to the exposure apparatus and track apparatus that is configured
to transfer substrates between the processing modules utilized by the
exposure apparatus and track apparatus and a wafer handling controller to
control the wafer handling apparatus. The cluster system further
comprises a cluster controller that communicates control information to
at least one of the exposure controller, the track controller, and the
wafer handling controller to manage operations of the exposure apparatus,
the track apparatus, and the wafer handling apparatus during the
lithographic fabrication process.