Wafer debonding and cleaning apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A wafer debonding and cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a wafer debonding module configured to separate semiconductor wafers from carrier wafers;
a first wafer cleaning module configured to perform a first cleaning process to clean surfaces of a first plurality of the semiconductor wafers;
a second wafer cleaning module configured to perform a second cleaning process to clean surfaces of a second plurality of the semiconductor wafers;
a storage unit configured to store multiple wafer assemblies respectively having one of the semiconductor wafers bonded to one of the carrier wafers by an adhesive;
a first automatic wafer handling module comprising a first robotic arm; and
a second automatic wafer handling module comprising a second robotic arm that is separated from the storage unit by the first automatic wafer handling module and that is located between the first wafer cleaning module and the second wafer cleaning module, wherein the second automatic wafer handling module is configured to transfer the first plurality of the semiconductor wafers from the first automatic wafer handling module directly to the first wafer cleaning module and to transfer the second plurality of the semiconductor wafers from the first automatic wafer handling module directly to the second wafer cleaning module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wafer debonding and cleaning apparatus comprises a wafer debonding module configured to separate a semiconductor wafer from a carrier wafer. The wafer debonding and cleaning apparatus also comprises a first wafer cleaning module configured perform a first cleaning process to clean a surface of the semiconductor wafer. The wafer debonding and cleaning apparatus further comprises an automatic wafer handling module configured to transfer the semiconductor wafer from one of the wafer debonding module or the first wafer cleaning module to the other of the wafer debonding module or the first wafer cleaning module. The semiconductor wafer has a thickness ranging from about 0.20 μm to about 3 mm.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wafer debonding and cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a wafer debonding module configured to separate semiconductor wafers from carrier wafers; a first wafer cleaning module configured to perform a first cleaning process to clean surfaces of a first plurality of the semiconductor wafers; a second wafer cleaning module configured to perform a second cleaning process to clean surfaces of a second plurality of the semiconductor wafers; a storage unit configured to store multiple wafer assemblies respectively having one of the semiconductor wafers bonded to one of the carrier wafers by an adhesive; a first automatic wafer handling module comprising a first robotic arm; and a second automatic wafer handling module comprising a second robotic arm that is separated from the storage unit by the first automatic wafer handling module and that is located between the first wafer cleaning module and the second wafer cleaning module, wherein the second automatic wafer handling module is configured to transfer the first plurality of the semiconductor wafers from the first automatic wafer handling module directly to the first wafer cleaning module and to transfer the second plurality of the semiconductor wafers from the first automatic wafer handling module directly to the second wafer cleaning module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wafer debonding and cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a wafer debonding module configured to perform a wafer debonding process to separate semiconductor wafers from carrier wafers; a first wafer cleaning module configured to clean surfaces of a first plurality of the semiconductor wafers; a second wafer cleaning module configured to clean surfaces of a second plurality of the semiconductor wafers, wherein the first wafer cleaning module and the second wafer cleaning module are configured to perform a same type of cleaning operation; an automatic wafer handling module configured to transfer the semiconductor wafers into and out of the wafer debonding module, the first wafer cleaning module, and the second wafer cleaning module, wherein the semiconductor wafers have thicknesses ranging from about 0.20 um to about 3 mm; and a storage unit comprising a front opening unified pod (FOUP), wherein the FOUP is arranged along a first side of the automatic wafer handling module and is configured to mate to the wafer debonding module, and wherein the first wafer cleaning module and the second wafer cleaning module are arranged along a second side of the automatic wafer handling module opposing the first side. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A workpiece debonding and cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a debonding module configured to separate semiconductor workpieces from carrier workpieces; a first cleaning module configured to perform a first cleaning operation on a first plurality of the semiconductor workpieces; a second cleaning module configured to perform a second cleaning operation, which is a same type as the first cleaning operation, on a second plurality of the semiconductor workpieces different than the first plurality of the semiconductor workpieces; an automatic workpiece handling module configured to transfer the semiconductor workpieces from the debonding module to the first cleaning module or to the second cleaning module; a control unit configured to determine if the first cleaning module and the second cleaning module are in use and to operate the automatic workpiece handling module to transfer one of the semiconductor workpieces from the debonding module directly to either the first cleaning module or to the second cleaning module depending on the determined use of the first cleaning module and the second cleaning module; and a storage unit configured to store the first plurality of the semiconductor workpieces, wherein the storage unit is moveable and is configured to store multiple wafer assemblies and to align to and to mate with the debonding module, and wherein the automatic workpiece handling module is configured to transfer the first plurality of the semiconductor workpieces from the storage unit to the debonding module and to return the first plurality of the semiconductor workpieces from the debonding module to the storage unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification