Method and apparatus for cleaning the edge of a thin disc
First Claim
1. A method adapted to clean an edge of a thin disc comprising:
- providing a thin disc having an edge and a first major surface;
providing a first sonic nozzle that produces a jet of sonicated liquid;
positioning the first sonic nozzle so that the first sonic nozzle is radially spaced from the edge of the thin disk, and so that the jet of sonicated liquid strikes the edge of the thin disc at an angle approximately between 30° and
150°
from a tangent to the edge of the thin disc and approximately between 135° and
225°
from the first major surface of the thin disc; and
scanning the thin disc edge relative to the first sonic nozzle while maintaining the positioning of the first sonic nozzle so that the jet of sonicated liquid strikes the edge of the thin disc, thereby cleaning the edge of the thin disc with the jet of sonicated liquid from the first sonic nozzle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inventive edge cleaning device is provided for cleaning the edge a thin disc such as a semiconductor wafer. The inventive edge cleaning device has a sonic nozzle positioned so as to direct a liquid jet at the edge surface of the thin disc. Preferably the sonic nozzle is radially spaced from the thin disc'"'"'s edge so that scrubbing, spin rinsing or spin cleaning may be simultaneously performed on the major surfaces of the thin disc as the thin disc edge is cleaned by the sonic nozzle. The liquid jet may include deionized water, NH4OH, KOH, TMAH, HF, citric acid, a surfactant, or other similar cleaning solutions, and the nozzle may remain stationary as the thin disc rotates or the nozzle may scan the circumference of the thin disc to clean the entire edge of the thin disc.
7 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method adapted to clean an edge of a thin disc comprising:
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providing a thin disc having an edge and a first major surface;
providing a first sonic nozzle that produces a jet of sonicated liquid;
positioning the first sonic nozzle so that the first sonic nozzle is radially spaced from the edge of the thin disk, and so that the jet of sonicated liquid strikes the edge of the thin disc at an angle approximately between 30° and
150°
from a tangent to the edge of the thin disc and approximately between 135° and
225°
from the first major surface of the thin disc; and
scanning the thin disc edge relative to the first sonic nozzle while maintaining the positioning of the first sonic nozzle so that the jet of sonicated liquid strikes the edge of the thin disc, thereby cleaning the edge of the thin disc with the jet of sonicated liquid from the first sonic nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method adapted to clean an edge of a thin disc comprising:
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providing a thin disc having an edge and a major surface;
providing a sonic nozzle that produces a jet of sonicated liquid;
positioning the sonic nozzle so that the sonic nozzle is radially spaced from the edge of the thin disk, and so that the jet of sonicated liquid strikes the edge of the thin disc at an angle approximately between 30° and
150°
from a tangent to the edge of the thin disc and approximately between 135° and
225°
from the major surface of the thin disc;
scanning the thin disc edge relative to the sonic nozzle while maintaining the positioning of the sonic nozzle so that the jet of sonicated liquid strikes the edge of the thin disc, thereby cleaning the edge of the thin disc with the jet of sonicated liquid from the sonic nozzle;
providing a cleaning mechanism; and
cleaning the major surface of the thin disc via the cleaning mechanism.
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Specification