Methods for rinsing microelectronic substrates utilizing...

Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Using sequentially applied treating agents

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C134S018000

Reexamination Certificate

active

08070884

ABSTRACT:
Rinsing and drying a surface of a microelectronic device and the enhanced removal of rinse fluid from the surface of the microelectronic device while the microelectronic device is rotated is provided as part of a spray processing operation. Rinse fluid is generally directed to the surface of the microelectronic device by a dispensing device while one or more such microelectronic devices are supported on a turntable in a generally horizontal fashion. Drying gas is supplied after the rinsing step. During at least a portion of both rinsing and drying steps, a drying enhancement substance, such as IPA, is delivered to enhance the rinsing and drying. Particle counts and evaporation thicknesses are reduced by delivering a tensioactive compound like IPA, during at least portions of the rinsing and drying steps while a microelectronic device is controllably rotated. The tensioactive compound is preferably delivered into the processing chamber during rinsing and drying and rinse fluid, preferably DI water, is preferably dispensed to the microelectronic device surface at a temperature below the dew point of the tensioactive compound. Moreover, the rotational speeds of the microelectronic device during drying and the tensioactive compound delivery concentration, timing and duration are preferably optimized to achieve further reduced particle counts and evaporation thicknesses.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4695327 (1987-09-01), Grebinski
patent: 4749440 (1988-06-01), Blackwood et al.
patent: 4781764 (1988-11-01), Leenaars
patent: 4857142 (1989-08-01), Syverson
patent: 5271774 (1993-12-01), Leenaars et al.
patent: 5542441 (1996-08-01), Mohindra et al.
patent: 5571337 (1996-11-01), Mohindra et al.
patent: 5651379 (1997-07-01), Mohindra et al.
patent: 5882433 (1999-03-01), Ueno
patent: 5896875 (1999-04-01), Yoneda
patent: 5921257 (1999-07-01), Weber et al.
patent: 6012472 (2000-01-01), Leenaars et al.
patent: 6139645 (2000-10-01), Leenaars et al.
patent: 6170495 (2001-01-01), Leenaars et al.
patent: 6199298 (2001-03-01), Bergman
patent: 6221781 (2001-04-01), Siefering et al.
patent: 6240938 (2001-06-01), Oshinowo
patent: 6247481 (2001-06-01), Meuris et al.
patent: 6261377 (2001-07-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 6264036 (2001-07-01), Mimken et al.
patent: 6312597 (2001-11-01), Mohindra et al.
patent: 6328809 (2001-12-01), Elsawy et al.
patent: 6334902 (2002-01-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 6354311 (2002-03-01), Kimura et al.
patent: 6401732 (2002-06-01), Bergman
patent: 6530385 (2003-03-01), Meuris et al.
patent: 6533872 (2003-03-01), Leenaars et al.
patent: 6551409 (2003-04-01), DeGendt et al.
patent: 6568408 (2003-05-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 6592676 (2003-07-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 6632751 (2003-10-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 6676765 (2004-01-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 6754980 (2004-06-01), Lauerhaas et al.
patent: 6875289 (2005-04-01), Christenson et al.
patent: 2001/0000575 (2001-05-01), Meuris et al.
patent: 2001/0022186 (2001-09-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 2001/0053585 (2001-12-01), Kikuchi et al.
patent: 2001/0055857 (2001-12-01), Meuris et al.
patent: 2002/0011257 (2002-01-01), Degendt et al.
patent: 2002/0016082 (2002-02-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 2002/0125212 (2002-09-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 2002/0148483 (2002-10-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 2002/0170573 (2002-11-01), Christenson et al.
patent: 2002/0185152 (2002-12-01), Lauerhaas et al.
patent: 2002/0185154 (2002-12-01), Hosack et al.
patent: 2003/0145878 (2003-08-01), Meuris et al.
patent: 2003/0192577 (2003-10-01), Thakur et al.
patent: 2004/0010933 (2004-01-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 2004/0045589 (2004-03-01), Holsteyns et al.
patent: 2004/0194801 (2004-10-01), Verhaverbeke
patent: 2005/0000549 (2005-01-01), Oikari et al.
patent: 2006/0070638 (2006-04-01), Aegerter et al.
patent: 410256221 (1998-09-01), None
patent: 11087305 (1999-03-01), None
“Excalibur 2000 Vapor HF Etching System,” FSI International, Inc., Data Sheet, 2 pages, 2000.
“Ultraclean Marangoni Drying,” J. Marra, Particles in Gases and Liquids 3: Detection, Characterization and Control, K.I. Mittal, ed., Plenum Press, New York, pp. 269-282, 1993.
“Novel Drying Concepts for Single-Wafer Wet Cleaning,” IMEC Newsletter No. 27, pp. 1-2, Jul. 2000.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Methods for rinsing microelectronic substrates utilizing... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Methods for rinsing microelectronic substrates utilizing..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Methods for rinsing microelectronic substrates utilizing... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-4265066

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.