Abstract:
Method and apparatus for drying and/or cleaning a workpiece, such as an electronic part, semiconductor wafer, printed circuit board or the like. As the workpiece is withdrawn from a processing liquid, a selected drying liquid, such as hydrofluoroether (HFE), ethylated HFE, an HFE azeotrope or an ethylated HFE azeotrope, that has a very small surface tension, is volatile, and has a density that is greater than the processing liquid density, is sprayed on, dribbled on or otherwise transferred to an exposed surface of the workpiece. The exposed surface may be stationary, may be rotating or may be moving along a selected path. The workpiece can be dried in 5-60 seconds, or less, in most situations and can be cleaned using the invention. Drying and/or cleaning can be performed in a single workpiece process, a single workpiece continuous process or a batch process.
Abstract:
Method and system for controllable deposit of copper onto an exposed surface of a workpiece, such as a semiconductor surface. A seed thickness of copper is optionally deposited onto the exposed surface, preferably using oxygen-free liquid ammonia to enhance this deposition. The workpiece exposed surface is then immersed in an electroplating solution, including copper and liquid ammonia at a suitable pressure and temperature, and copper is caused to plate onto the exposed surface at a controllable rate. When the copper deposited on the exposed surface reaches a selected total thickness, electroplating is discontinued, the electroplating solution is removed, and the gaseous and liquid ammonia are recovered and recycled for re-use.
Abstract:
Method [and apparatus ] for quickly and controllably removing chemical residues and particle accumulations from an exposed surface of an object. A slurry, containing a slurry liquid and containing small scrubber particles that optionally have a range of at least two distinct particle sizes, is directed at the exposed surface to remove most or all of the residues and accumulations from the exposed surface. The slurry flow may be pulsed or be relatively constant. The exposed surface of the object is then partly or fully submerged in a rinse liquid that includes a strong base and/or a strong oxidizing agent. The rinse liquid is subjected to ultrasonic wave motion with a chosen wave displacement direction, and the ultrasonic waves have one or more distinct wavelengths, chosen to cover a range of expected sizes of chemical residues, particle accumulations and/or scrubber particles to be removed. Optionally, the ultrasonic wave displacement direction is chosen approximately parallel to an exposed surface from which residues, accumulations and/or scrubber particles are to be removed. Optionally, the ultrasonic wavelength(s) may be varied with time over a selected range of wavelengths that cover the range of sizes of particles to be removed.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for promoting a substantially uniform cavitation field. With system (100) including a diaphragm (109) dividing a container (103), a second energy pulse corresponding to a first energy pulse arising from collapse of a cavity C is produced and is used to determine whether to adjust a corresponding transducer 121-k. In system (16), a cavity creating unit (11), including an assembly of transducers 15-i, is moveable from a test liquid to a particle removal (PR) liquid after transducer testing. In another system, a sensor plate (170) having an array of sensors 171-j provides a virtual wafer. A substantially uniform field of cavitation may be maintained by a cavity enhancement liquid, or adjustment of transducer energy. Mechanisms of holding an object produce substantially uniform cavitation. Opposed transducers in a container having monotonically decreasing and/or increasing cavitation density produce substantially uniform cavitation density.
Abstract:
A method, probe, and system for detecting presence of cavitation in a fluid and measuring cavitation density and intensity of a specific locale in the fluid. A first cavitation void and associated energy perturbation, produced in a first fluid, moves within the first fluid and is received at a very thin plate, which separates the first fluid from a second fluid and is part of a light-proof chamber containing the second fluid. An energy perturbation in the first fluid is received at the thin plate and produces at least one cavitation void or associated energy perturbation in the second fluid; and the energy perturbation in the second fluid is eventually converted into an electromagnetic signal. This signal is received by a photomultiplier and converted to an electronic signal that indicates the presence of cavitation. The system can distinguish between cavitation voids produced at one location and/or time interval and voids produced at another location and/or another time interval.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for cleaning and/or drying objects that may have been wetted or contaminated in a manufacturing process. The objects are submerged in a rinse liquid in an enclosed chamber, and aerosol particles from a selected liquid are introduced into the chamber above the rinse liquid surface, forming a thin film on this surface. As the rinse liquid is slowly drained, some aerosol particles settle onto the exposed surfaces of the objects, and displace and remove rinse liquid residues from the exposed surfaces by a “chemical squeegeeing” effect. Surface contaminants are also removed by this process. Chamber pressure is maintained at or near the external environment pressure as the rinse liquid is drained from the chamber. Inert gas flow is employed to provide aerosol particles of smaller size and/or with greater dispersion within the chamber. Continuous filtering and shunt filtering are employed to remove most contaminants from the selected liquid. A flow deflector redirects initial flow of the selected liquid to a supplementary filter, to remove most of the contaminant particle “spike” that appears when a system is first (re)activated. An improved surface for aerosol particle production is provided.
Abstract:
Methods for drying and cleaning objects that may have been wetted or contaminated in a manufacturing process. The objects are submerged in a rinse liquid in an enclosed chamber, and aerosol particles from a selected liquid are introduced into the chamber above the rinse liquid surface, forming a thin film on this surface. As the rinse liquid is slowly drained, some aerosol particles settle onto the exposed surfaces of the objects, and displace and remove rinse liquid residues from the exposed surfaces, possibly by a "chemical squeegeeing" effect. Surface contarminants are also removed by this process, which may be carried out at or near room temperature. Chamber pressure is maintained at or near the external environment pressure as the rinse liquid is drained from the chamber.
Abstract:
A method, probe, and system for detecting presence of cavitation in a fluid and measuring cavitation density and intensity of a specific locale in the fluid. A first cavitation void and associated energy perturbation, produced in a first fluid, moves within the first fluid and is received at a very thin plate, which separates the first fluid from a second fluid and is part of a light-proof chamber containing the second fluid. An energy perturbation in the first fluid is received at the thin plate and produces at least one cavitation void or associated energy perturbation in the second fluid; and the energy perturbation in the second fluid is eventually converted into an electromagnetic signal. This signal is received by a photomultiplier and converted to an electronic signal that indicates the presence of cavitation. The system can distinguish between cavitation voids produced at one location and/or time interval and voids produced at another location and/or another time interval.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for processing a workpiece in a chemical bath liquid contained in a liquid container. The liquid container is fabricated from a material such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), poly-amide-imide (PAI) or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). A vibration generator is positioned on each of one or more container walls to introduce vibrations with a selected frequency (20-750 kHz) through the container wall(s) and into the chemical bath liquid. Two or more vibration generators may introduce vibrations with different frequencies into the chemical bath liquid and at different angles. The chemical bath liquid may be an acid such as HCl, H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, HNO.sub.3, H.sub.2 PO.sub.3 and HF, or may be an oxidizer or base such as NH.sub.4 OH and H.sub.2 O.sub.2. The chemical bath may be used to process semiconductor wafers and circuits, printed circuit boards, optical components and similar workpieces.
Abstract translation:用于处理容纳在液体容器中的化学浴液体中的工件的方法和装置。 液体容器由聚醚醚酮(PEEK),聚酰胺 - 酰亚胺(PAI)或聚苯硫醚(PPS)等材料制成。 振动发生器位于一个或多个容器壁中的每一个上,以通过容器壁引入选定频率(20-750kHz)的振动并进入化学浴液体。 两个或更多个振动发生器可以将不同频率的振动引入化学浴液体并以不同的角度。 化学浴液可以是酸如HCl,H 2 SO 4,HNO 3,H 2 PO 3和HF,或者可以是氧化剂或碱如NH 4 OH和H 2 O 2。 化学浴可用于处理半导体晶片和电路,印刷电路板,光学部件和类似的工件。
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for drying single or multiple parts or objects wherein the apparatus uses a drying chamber for containing said object or objects, said drying chamber having a closeable entryway for providing access to said drying chamber, the use of a sonic head disposed in said drying chamber attached to a source of drying liquid and an adjustable supply and drain attached to said drying chamber for introducing and removing said drying fluid to and from said drying chamber.