Patent · US Expired

Temperature controlled gassification of deionized water for megasonic cleaning of semiconductor wafers

US6295998A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
7References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 25, 1999
Grant dateOct 2, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 25, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB08B3/12
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A system is provided to prepare deionized water having a 100% saturated concentration of a gas, e.g., nitrogen, at a hot temperature, e.g., 50-85.degree. C., and an attendant pressure, e.g., atmospheric pressure, to clean a semiconductor wafer, e.g., of silicon. The gas concentration of a first deionized water portion having a predetermined concentration of the gas at a cold temperature, e.g., 20-30.degree. C., is adjusted in a gassifier chamber having a pressure pump and a pressure sensor, to provide a predetermined under-saturated concentration of the gas at the cold temperature. The temperature of the adjusted gas concentration first water portion is then adjusted by mixing therewith a second deionized water portion having a predetermined concentration of the gas at a predetermined very hot temperature, e.g., 80.degree. C., in a predetermined ratio in a mixer having a temperature sensor. The flows of the first and second water portions are controlled by first and second flow controllers, to form a hot bath at the hot temperature having such saturated gas concentration to clean the wafer, e.g., in a cleaning tank under megasonic vibrations. A controller is connected to the pump, …

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