Seal configuration for use with a motor drive assembly in a microelectronic workpiece processing system

• US 6,334,453 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OEM Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Semitool Incorporated (Applied Materials Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bruner, Scott, Thompson, Raymon F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US09/503,784
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 134/902, 134/140, 134/153, 134/157, 134/159, 156/345.L, 156/345.LS
• US Class Current: 134/140
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67126 Apparatus for sealing, encapsulating, glassing, decapsulating or the like processes H01L23/02, H01L23/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 134/902 Semiconductor wafer

Abstract

An apparatus for processing a microelectronic workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, is set forth. The apparatus comprises a processing bowl that defines a processing chamber. A seal is provided to assist in removing fluids, such as processing fluids, from the processing chamber that are in the proximity of the seal. Further, the seal is provided to assist in preventing the fluids from entering the motor. To this end, flow generating threads and expulsion threads are provided at an end of a shaft assembly that is connected to be driven by the motor. A member substantially surrounds at least a portion of the flow generating threads and at least a portion of the expulsion threads. Together, the member defines a chamber with the shaft assembly. Rotation of the shaft assembly results in corresponding rotation of the flow generating threads and expulsion threads to drive fluids proximate the shaft assembly to an exhaust while concurrently assisting in preventing such fluids from entering the motor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in processing a microelectronic workpiece, the apparatus comprising:

a processing bowl defining a processing chamber;

a motor drive assembly connected to drive one or more components disposed in the processing chamber, the motor drive assembly comprising

a motor,

a shaft assembly connected to be driven by the motor about an axis of rotation, the shaft assembly having expulsion threads at an end thereof that is proximate the processing chamber; and

a chamber forming member substantially surrounding the expulsion threads at the end of the shaft assembly proximate the processing chamber to form an expulsion chamber about at least a portion of the expulsion threads,

rotation of the expulsion threads as the shaft assembly is driven by the motor thereby assisting in preventing foreign materials from entering the motor along the shaft assembly.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expulsion threads are in the form of a plurality of helical threads.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expulsion threads are in the form of a plurality of parallel grooves.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaft assembly is connected to drive a wafer support assembly disposed in the processing chamber.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the workpiece support assembly is adapted to support a plurality of microelectronic workpieces for batch processing in the processing chamber.

6. An apparatus for use in processing a microelectronic workpiece, the apparatus comprising:

a processing bowl defining a processing chamber;

a motor drive assembly connected to drive one or more components disposed in the processing chamber, the motor drive assembly comprising

a motor;

a shaft assembly that is connected to be rotated by the motor about an axis of rotation, the shaft assembly having flow generating threads at an end thereof that is proximate the processing chamber; and

a chamber forming member substantially surrounding the flow generating threads at the end of the shaft assembly proximate the processing chamber to thereby form a flow chamber about at least a portion of the flow generating threads,

rotation of the flow generating threads as the shaft assembly is driven by the motor urging a flow of fluid from the processing chamber toward an exhaust.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the shaft assembly comprises:

a drive shaft connected to the motor; and

a seal member disposed about a peripheral portion of the drive shaft and connected for co-rotation with the drive shaft, the seal member including

a peripheral surface that includes the flow generating threads.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the flow generating threads are in the form of helical threads disposed at the end of the shaft assembly.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the processing bowl comprises a wall boot.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the chamber forming member comprises:

a seal retainer cap disposed on a process chamber side of the wall boot, the seal retainer cap including an aperture;

a motor adapter secured with the seal retainer cap on a side of the wall boot opposite the process chamber side, the motor adapter including an aperture coinciding with the aperture of the seal retainer cap, the coinciding apertures being defined by surfaces that form the chamber about the flow generating threads, the motor adapter and the seal retainer cap gripping the boot wall.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the seal retainer cap and the motor adapter cooperate to form one or more fluid channels that conduct the flow of fluid provided by the flow generating threads to the exhaust.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein fluid conducted to the exhaust is exhausted to ambient atmosphere.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein fluid conducted to the exhaust is exhausted to a containment vessel.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein fluid conducted to the exhaust is exhausted to a recirculation system.

9. An apparatus as claimed in 6 wherein the chamber forming member comprises one or more fluid channels disposed to receive the flow of fluid provided by the flow generating threads.

10. An apparatus as claimed in 9 wherein the flow generating threads are in the form of helical threads and wherein the one or more fluid channels comprise an inlet vent disposed to receive the flow of fluid deflected from at least an angled surface of one of the helical threads proximate the inlet vent, the inlet vent being defined by one or more surfaces angled in general alignment with the angled surface of the one of the helical threads.

11. An apparatus as claimed in 9 wherein the one or more fluid channels comprise:

an inlet vent disposed to receive the flow of fluid from the flow generating threads;

an annular chamber in fluid communication with the inlet vent and disposed generally concentric with an axis of rotation of the shaft assembly; and

an exhaust port in fluid communication with the annular chamber.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein and further comprising:

an annular chamber in fluid communication with the inlet vent and disposed generally concentric with an axis of rotation of the shaft assembly; and

an exhaust port in fluid communication with the annular chamber.

19. An apparatus for use in processing a microelectronic workpiece, the apparatus comprising:

a processing bowl defining a processing chamber;

a motor drive assembly connected to drive one or more components disposed in the processing chamber, the motor drive assembly comprising

a motor;

a shaft assembly that is connected to be rotated by the motor about an axis of rotation, the shaft assembly having flow generating threads and seal threads at an end of the shaft assembly that is proximate the processing chamber, the flow generating threads being disposed further from the motor than are the seal threads; and

a chamber forming member substantially surrounding the flow generating threads and the seal threads to thereby form a flow chamber about at least a portion of the flow generating threads and about at least a portion of the seal threads,

rotation of the flow generating threads as the shaft assembly is driven by the motor urging a flow of fluid from the processing chamber to an outlet, concurrent rotation of the seal threads assisting in preventing the fluid flow from entering the motor.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the seal threads are in the form of a plurality of helical threads.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the seal threads are in the form of a plurality of parallel grooves.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the shaft assembly comprises:

a drive shaft connected to the motor; and

a seal member disposed about a peripheral portion of the drive shaft and connected for co-rotation with the drive shaft, the seal member including a peripheral surface that includes the flow generating threads.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the flow generating threads are in the form of helical threads disposed at the end of the shaft assembly.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the chamber forming member comprises one or more fluid channels disposed to receive the flow of fluid provided by the flow generating threads.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the processing bowl comprises a wall boot.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28 wherein the chamber forming member comprises:

a seal retainer cap disposed on a process chamber side of the wall boot, the seal retainer cap including an aperture;

a motor adapter secured with the seal retainer cap on a side of the wall boot opposite the process chamber side, the motor adapter including an aperture coinciding with the aperture of the seal retainer cap, the coinciding apertures being defined by surfaces that form the chamber about the flow generating threads, the motor adapter and the seal retainer cap gripping the boot wall.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein the seal retainer cap and the motor adapter cooperate to form one or more fluid channels that conduct the flow of fluid provided by the flow generating threads to an exhaust.

31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein fluid conducted to the exhaust is exhausted to ambient atmosphere.

32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein fluid conducted to the exhaust is exhausted to a containment vessel.

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein fluid conducted to the exhaust is exhausted to a recirculation system.

25. An apparatus as claimed in 24 wherein the flow generating threads are in the form of helical threads and wherein the one or more fluide channels comprise an inlet vent disposed to receive the flow of fluid as the fluid is deflected from an angled surface of one of the helical threads proximate the inlet vent, the inlet vent being defined by one or more surfaces angled in general alignment with the angled surface of the one of the helical threads.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein and further comprising:

an annular chamber in fluid communication with the inlet vent and disposed generally concentric with an axis of rotation of the shaft assembly; and

an exhaust port in fluid communication with the annular chamber.

27. An apparatus as claimed in 24 wherein the one or more fluid channels comprise:

an inlet vent disposed to receive the flow of fluid from the flow generating threads;

an annular chamber in fluid communication with the inlet vent and disposed generally concentric with an axis of rotation of the shaft assembly; and

an exhaust port in fluid communication with the annular chamber.