Patent · US Expired

Single workpiece processing system

US6930046B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
6References
82Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 21, 2003
Grant dateAug 16, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/913
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for processing a workpiece, includes workpiece processors. A robot is moveable within an enclosure to load and unload workpieces into and out of the processors. A processor includes an upper rotor having a central air flow opening. The upper rotor is magnetically driven into engagement with a lower rotor to form a workpiece processing chamber. A moveable drain mechanism aligns different drain paths with the processing chamber so that different processing fluids may be removed from the processing chamber via different drain paths. A moveable nozzle positioned in the air flow opening distributes processing fluid to the workpiece. The processing fluid is distributed across the workpiece surface, via centrifugal force generated by spinning the processing chamber, and removed from the processing chamber via the moveable drain mechanism.

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