Concentric proximity processing head
First Claim
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1. A method for processing a substrate using a proximity head, comprising:
- generating a first fluid meniscus on a surface of the substrate, the first fluid meniscus being generated by applying a first fluid to a surface of the substrate and by removing the first fluid from the surface of the substrate just as the first fluid is applied; and
generating a second fluid meniscus in contact with and at least partially surrounding the first fluid meniscus on the surface of the substrate, the second fluid meniscus being generated by applying a second fluid to a portion of the surface of the substrate at least partially surrounding the surface of the substrate in contact with the first fluid meniscus and by removing the second fluid from the portion of the surface of the substrate just as the second fluid is applied;
wherein during a substrate processing operation the first fluid meniscus and the second fluid meniscus being defined between a processing surface of the proximity head and the surface of the substrate.
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Abstract
In one of the many embodiments, a method for processing a substrate is disclosed which includes generating a first fluid meniscus and a second fluid meniscus at least partially surrounding the first fluid meniscus wherein the first fluid meniscus and the second fluid meniscus are generated on a surface of the substrate.
86 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for processing a substrate using a proximity head, comprising:
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generating a first fluid meniscus on a surface of the substrate, the first fluid meniscus being generated by applying a first fluid to a surface of the substrate and by removing the first fluid from the surface of the substrate just as the first fluid is applied; and generating a second fluid meniscus in contact with and at least partially surrounding the first fluid meniscus on the surface of the substrate, the second fluid meniscus being generated by applying a second fluid to a portion of the surface of the substrate at least partially surrounding the surface of the substrate in contact with the first fluid meniscus and by removing the second fluid from the portion of the surface of the substrate just as the second fluid is applied; wherein during a substrate processing operation the first fluid meniscus and the second fluid meniscus being defined between a processing surface of the proximity head and the surface of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising:
a proximity head capable of generating a first fluid meniscus on a substrate surface and capable of generating a second fluid meniscus on the substrate surface at least partially surrounding the first fluid meniscus, the proximity head capable of substantially maintaining an integrity of the second fluid meniscus when in contact with the first fluid meniscus, the first fluid meniscus and the second fluid meniscus being defined between a processing surface of a proximity head and the substrate surface during a substrate processing operation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising:
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a proximity head capable of generating a first fluid meniscus on a surface of the substrate and capable of generating a second fluid meniscus on the surface of the substrate at least partially surrounding the first fluid meniscus, the proximity head including, at least one first inlet defined in a processing surface of the proximity head configured to apply a first fluid to the surface of the wafer through the proximity head; at least one first outlet defined in the processing surface of the proximity head configured to remove the first fluid and at least a portion of a second fluid from the surface of the wafer through the proximity head; at least one second inlet defined in the processing surface of the proximity head configured to apply the second fluid to the surface of the wafer though the proximity head; and at least one second outlet defined in the processing surface of the proximity head configured to remove at least a portion of the second fluid from the surface of the wafer through the proximity head; and wherein the at least one second inlet and the at least one second outlet at least partially surrounds the at least one first outlet and the at least one first inlet on the processing surface of the proximity head, the first fluid meniscus and the second fluid meniscus being defined between the processing surface and the surface of the substrate during a substrate processing operation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification