Apparatuses and methods for determining if protective coatings on semiconductor substrate holding devices have been compromised
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured to determine if a protective coating on a semiconductor substrate receiving device has been compromised, a comprising:
- the semiconductor substrate receiving device, the device having at least one extension configured to hold a semiconductor substrate within a liquid bath, the device being configured to have at least a portion of the extension at least periodically within the liquid bath, the extension comprising a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material, the insulative protective material being configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath;
an electrode within the bath;
an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive material of the extension; and
a monitor configured to monitor a current flow state of a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is in a closed state or in an open state;
the state of the circuit being different if the protective material is compromised than if the protective material is not compromised.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, the invention includes an apparatus comprising a semiconductor substrate receiving device with at least one extension configured to hold a semiconductor substrate within a liquid bath. The device is configured to have at least a portion of the extension at least periodically placed within the liquid bath. The extension comprises a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material. The insulative protective material is configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath. The apparatus also comprises an electrode within the bath, and an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive material of the extension. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a monitor configured to monitor a current flow state of a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is in a closed state or in an open state. In another aspect, the invention includes methods for determining if a protective coating on a semiconductor substrate receiving device has been compromised.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus configured to determine if a protective coating on a semiconductor substrate receiving device has been compromised, a comprising:
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the semiconductor substrate receiving device, the device having at least one extension configured to hold a semiconductor substrate within a liquid bath, the device being configured to have at least a portion of the extension at least periodically within the liquid bath, the extension comprising a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material, the insulative protective material being configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath;
an electrode within the bath;
an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive material of the extension; and
a monitor configured to monitor a current flow state of a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is in a closed state or in an open state;
the state of the circuit being different if the protective material is compromised than if the protective material is not compromised.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus configured to determine if a protective coating on the semiconductor substrate lifting device has been compromised, comprising:
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the semiconductor substrate lifting device, the device having at least one extension configured to move a semiconductor substrate relative to a liquid bath, the device being configured to periodically place at least a portion of the extension within the liquid bath, the extension comprising a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material, the insulative protective material being configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is periodically placed in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath;
an electrode within the bath;
an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive is material of the extension; and
a monitor configured to monitor a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is closed and enables a predetermined current flow or open and does not enable the predetermined current flow;
the circuit being open unless the protective material is sufficiently compromised.- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for determining if a protective coating on a semiconductor substrate receiving device has been compromised, comprising:
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providing a semiconductor substrate receiving device, the device having at least one extension configured to hold a semiconductor substrate within a liquid bath, the device being configured to have at least a portion of the extension at least periodically within the liquid bath, the extension comprising a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material, the insulative protective material being configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath;
providing an electrode within the bath;
providing an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive material of the extension; and
monitoring a current flow state of a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is in a closed state or in an open state;
the state of the circuit being different if the protective material is compromised than if the protective material is not compromised.- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for determining if a protective coating on a semiconductor substrate receiving device has been compromised, comprising:
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providing a semiconductor substrate receiving device, the device having at least one extension configured to move a semiconductor substrate relative to a liquid bath, the device being configured to periodically place at least a portion of the extension within the liquid bath, the extension comprising a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material, the insulative protective material being configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is periodically placed in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath;
providing an electrode within the bath;
providing an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive material of the extension; and
monitoring a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is closed and accordingly enabling for a current flow, or open and not enabling for the current flow;
the circuit being open unless the protective material is compromised.- View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus configured to determine if a protective coating on a semiconductor substrate receiving device has been compromised, comprising:
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the semiconductor substrate receiving device, the device having at least one extension having a curved terminal end configured to hold a semiconductor substrate within a liquid bath, the device being configured to have at least a portion of the extension at least periodically within the liquid bath, the extension comprising a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material, the insulative protective material being configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath;
an electrode within the bath;
an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive material of the extension; and
a monitor configured to monitor a current flow state of a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is in a closed state or in an open state;
the state of the circuit being different if the protective material is compromised than if the protective material is not compromised.- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus configured to determine if a protective coating on the semiconductor substrate lifting device has been compromised, comprising:
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the semiconductor substrate lifting device, the device having at least one extension having a terminal end forming a hook, the device configured to move a semiconductor substrate relative to a liquid bath, the device being configured to periodically place at least a portion of the extension within the liquid bath, the extension comprising a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material, the insulative protective material being configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is periodically placed in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath;
an electrode within the bath;
an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive material of the extension; and
a monitor configured to monitor a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is closed and enables a predetermined current flow or open and does not enable the predetermined current flow;
the circuit being open unless the protective material is sufficiently compromised.
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33. A method for determining if a protective coating on a semiconductor substrate receiving device has been compromised, comprising:
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providing a semiconductor substrate receiving device, the device having at least one extension configured to hold a semiconductor substrate within a liquid bath, the device being configured to have at least a portion of the extension at least periodically within the liquid bath, the extension comprising a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material, the insulative protective material being configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath, the receiving device discrete from the semiconductor substrate;
providing an electrode within the bath;
providing an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive material of the extension; and
monitoring a current flow state of a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is in a closed state or in an open state;
the state of the circuit being different if the protective material is compromised than if the protective material is not compromised.
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34. A method for determining if a protective coating on a semiconductor substrate receiving device has been compromised, comprising:
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providing a semiconductor substrate receiving device, the device having at least one extension configured to move a semiconductor substrate relative to a liquid bath, the device being configured to periodically place at least a portion of the extension within the liquid bath, the extension comprising a conductive material at least partially coated with an insulative protective material, the insulative protective material being configured to protect the portion of the conductive material which is periodically placed in the bath from physically contacting the liquid of the bath, the receiving device discrete from the semiconductor substrate;
providing an electrode within the bath;
providing an electrical connection between the electrode and the conductive material of the extension; and
monitoring a circuit comprising the electrode, conductive material of the extension, and liquid bath to determine if the circuit is closed and accordingly enabling for a current flow, or open and not enabling for the current flow;
the circuit being open unless the protective material is compromised.
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Specification