Patent · US Expired

Method of and apparatus for removing contaminants from surface of a substrate

US6701942B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
8References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 12, 2001
Grant dateMar 9, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 13, 2022

Classification

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

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus for removing contaminants from the surface of a substrate includes two parts: one which produces an aerosol including frozen particles and directs the aerosol onto the surface of the substrate to remove contaminants from the surface by physical force, and another part in which a fluid including a gaseous reactant is directed onto the surface of the substrate while the surface is irradiated to cause a chemical reaction between the reactant and organic contaminants on the surface, to chemically removing the organic contaminants. In the method of cleaning the substrate, the physical and chemical cleaning processes are carried out in a separate manner from one another so that the frozen particles of the aerosol are not exposed to the effects of the light used in irradiating the surface of the substrate. Therefore, the effectiveness of the aerosol in cleaning the substrate is maximized.

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