Patent · US Expired

Method of cleaning semiconductor wafers and other substrates

US6143089A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
25References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 29, 1998
Grant dateNov 7, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 29, 2018

Classification

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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for cleaning a wafer oriented vertically is provided. The apparatus includes a first brush and a second brush located horizontally from the first brush. During use, a wafer is orientated vertically between the first and second brushes. The brushes are brought into contact with the wafer and rotated thereby engaging the wafer with rollers. By rotating the rollers, the wafer is also rotated. Liquid is sprayed towards the brushes and wafer. By orienting the wafer vertically, liquid and particulates contained therein readily fall from the wafer due to gravity. This is particularly advantageous when cleaning larger diameter wafers in which particulates must be removed from a larger wafer surface area.

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