Patent · US Active

Single wafer apparatus for drying semiconductor substrates using an inert gas air-knife

US8322045B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
269References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 12, 2008
Grant dateDec 4, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 8, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67034
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In one aspect, a substrate processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for forming a meniscus on a surface of a substrate by moving the substrate through a fluid; an air knife apparatus positioned to apply an air knife to shorten the meniscus formed on the surface of the substrate; and a drying vapor nozzle positioned to direct a drying vapor to the meniscus shortened by the air knife. Numerous other aspects are provided.

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