Patent · US Expired

Wafer cleaning method and apparatus therefor

US5158100A · kind A · utility

43Cited by
8References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 4, 1990
Grant dateOct 27, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 4, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S134/902
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wafer cleaning method and apparatus in which a cleaning solution is caused to evaporate at a temperature below its boiling point, and cleaning vapor thus produced is applied at a temperature above its dew point to a wafer such as a semiconductor wafer. The wafer is cleaned without formation of colloidal silica in the absence of aerosol, or etched uniformly free of impurities. The wafer cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning solution storage, a vapor generating section, a wafer supporting position of a wafer supporting device and a vapor supply section. These components are arranged in a housing to overlap one another in plan view and to lie vertically close to one another. The apparatus has a compact overall construction with simplified seals for preventing leakage of the cleaning vapor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.