Chuck for mounting a semiconductor wafer for liquid immersion processing
First Claim
1. A chuck for holding a wafer, the chuck comprising:
- a surface;
wherein the surface comprisesa plurality of vacuum channels connected to a vacuum source;
an inner ring; and
an outer ring;
wherein the inner ring surrounds the plurality of vacuum channels;
wherein the inner ring is operable to carry flushing gases;
wherein the outer ring surrounds the inner ring;
wherein the outer ring is in fluid communication with the inner ring;
wherein the outer ring is connected to a vacuum source and is operable for drawing a vacuum;
an exterior ring surrounding the outer ring and in fluidic communication with the outer ring;
wherein the exterior ring includes one or more ports that are connected to a source of solvent and are configured for supplying solvent;
wherein the exterior ring includes one or more ports that are connected to a vacuum source and are configured for applying a vacuum; and
wherein the exterior ring includes one of more ports configured for outflow of solvent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Chucks for mounting and retaining semiconductor wafers during processing are described, particularly suited for wafer processing involving total immersion of the wafer-chuck structure in a liquid. Chuck structures are disclosed for preventing or hindering processing chemicals from contacting and contaminating large portions of the underside of the wafer undergoing processing, limiting such chemical contact to readily cleaned, relatively small annular regions on the periphery of the wafer. Embodiments include structures with supplemental gas flows on the underside of the wafer as well as the creation of gas/liquid meniscusci to prevent chemical penetration of the wafer'"'"'s underside. Methods of processing semiconductor wafers employing such chucks are also described.
20 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A chuck for holding a wafer, the chuck comprising:
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a surface;
wherein the surface comprisesa plurality of vacuum channels connected to a vacuum source; an inner ring; and an outer ring; wherein the inner ring surrounds the plurality of vacuum channels; wherein the inner ring is operable to carry flushing gases; wherein the outer ring surrounds the inner ring; wherein the outer ring is in fluid communication with the inner ring; wherein the outer ring is connected to a vacuum source and is operable for drawing a vacuum; an exterior ring surrounding the outer ring and in fluidic communication with the outer ring; wherein the exterior ring includes one or more ports that are connected to a source of solvent and are configured for supplying solvent; wherein the exterior ring includes one or more ports that are connected to a vacuum source and are configured for applying a vacuum; and wherein the exterior ring includes one of more ports configured for outflow of solvent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification