Method and apparatus for enhanced cleaning of a workpiece with mechanical energy
First Claim
1. An apparatus for cleaning a workpiece, said apparatus comprising:
- a cleaning element configured to contact said workpiece during a cleaning process wherein said cleaning element comprises a substantially rigid core configured to conduct mechanical energy and a cleaning material coupled to said core, said cleaning material contacting said workpiece during said cleaning process; and
a mechanical energy emitter in communication with said cleaning element, said mechanical energy emitter being configured to apply mechanical energy to said cleaning element during said cleaning process, said mechanical energy emitter comprising means for transforming an excitation signal into ultrasonic mechanical energy, and means for directing said ultrasonic mechanical energy to said cleaning element.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved cleaning apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafers, rigid memory disks, flat panel displays, and other workpieces employs vibrational mechanical energy in addition to contact mechanical cleaning. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning element configured to contact and scrub a workpiece during a cleaning process. The cleaning clement is coupled to a mechanical energy emitter that generates low frequency mechanical vibrations (or ultrasonic mechanical energy) at a predetermined frequency. The mechanical energy is conducted through the cleaning element and to the workpiece to facilitate removal of particulate and debris from the surface of the workpiece. Use of ultrasonic energy also causes the cleaning solution to cavitate, thus providing ultrasonic cleaning to the workpiece via the cleaning solution.
52 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for cleaning a workpiece, said apparatus comprising:
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a cleaning element configured to contact said workpiece during a cleaning process wherein said cleaning element comprises a substantially rigid core configured to conduct mechanical energy and a cleaning material coupled to said core, said cleaning material contacting said workpiece during said cleaning process; and a mechanical energy emitter in communication with said cleaning element, said mechanical energy emitter being configured to apply mechanical energy to said cleaning element during said cleaning process, said mechanical energy emitter comprising means for transforming an excitation signal into ultrasonic mechanical energy, and means for directing said ultrasonic mechanical energy to said cleaning element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for cleaning a workpiece, said apparatus comprising:
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a cleaning element configured to contact and mechanically clean said workpiece during a cleaning process, said cleaning element comprising a substantially rigid core; and means for applying mechanical energy at a predetermined frequency to said core during said cleaning process, said predetermined frequency being within a range of approximately 30 kHz to 50 kHz.;
wherein;said core is tuned to facilitate conduction of mechanical energy at said predetermined frequency; said cleaning element is substantially cylindrical in shape; said cleaning element is configured to rotate about its longitudinal axis during said cleaning process; and said means for applying mechanical energy causes said cleaning element to mechanically vibrate at approximately said predetermined frequency during said cleaning, process. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for cleaning workpieces, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a cleaning element configured to contact a workpiece, wherein said cleaning element is substantially cylindrical in shape; translationally moving said cleaning element relative to said workpiece to thereby perform mechanical cleaning of said workpiece by rotating said cleaning element about its longitudinal axis; and applying vibrational energy to said cleaning element during said moving step to thereby perform vibrational mechanical cleaning of said workpiece, wherein said applying step causes said cleaning element to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for cleaning workpieces, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a cleaning element configured to contact a workpiece; dispensing a cleaning solution onto said cleaning element; translationally moving said cleaning element relative to said workpiece to thereby perform mechanical cleaning of said workpiece, said moving step being performed after said dispensing step; and applying vibrational energy to said cleaning element during said moving step to thereby perform vibrational mechanical cleaning of said workpiece, said applying step causing said cleaning element to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification