Method and apparatus for enhanced cleaning of a workpiece with mechanical energy
US5975094A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 26, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 26, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/67046
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved cleaning apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafers, rigid memory disks, flat panel displays, and other workpieces employs vibrational mechanical energy in addition to contact mechanical cleaning. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning element configured to contact and scrub a workpiece during a cleaning process. The cleaning clement is coupled to a mechanical energy emitter that generates low frequency mechanical vibrations (or ultrasonic mechanical energy) at a predetermined frequency. The mechanical energy is conducted through the cleaning element and to the workpiece to facilitate removal of particulate and debris from the surface of the workpiece. Use of ultrasonic energy also causes the cleaning solution to cavitate, thus providing ultrasonic cleaning to the workpiece via the cleaning solution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.