Patent · US Expired

Thermophoretic vacuum wand

US6072157A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
15References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 1998
Grant dateJun 6, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 11, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T279/11
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A thermophoretic vacuum wand that is particularly suited for transporting articles in a cleanroom environment so that potential particle contaminants in the air do not become adhered to the surface of the article is described. The wand includes a housing having a platen with a front surface with suction port(s) through the platen; a vacuum source for applying a negative pressure to the suction port(s); and heating device for the object. Heating the article when it is held by the vacuum wand affords thermophoretic protection that effectively prevents particles in the air from depositing onto the article.

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