Wafer cleaning apparatus and associated wafer processing methods
US6368183B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S414/136
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and method for cleaning, rinsing and drying work pieces such as semiconductor wafers. The apparatus can be combined, in an integrated apparatus, with a CMP machine. The apparatus includes one or more brush boxes with water tracks to convey work pieces to and from the brush boxes. Each brush box and its associated water track provide for the containment of cleaning agents such as HF used in the cleaning process so that different cleaning agents used in different brush boxes are kept segregated. The efficiency of the brush box is enhanced by providing for movement of work pieces back and forth through the brush box. Thus work pieces can make more than one pass through a brush box.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.