CA1315923C - Non-contacting method of cleaning surfaces with a planar gas bearing - Google Patents

Non-contacting method of cleaning surfaces with a planar gas bearing

Info

Publication number
CA1315923C
CA1315923C CA000587985A CA587985A CA1315923C CA 1315923 C CA1315923 C CA 1315923C CA 000587985 A CA000587985 A CA 000587985A CA 587985 A CA587985 A CA 587985A CA 1315923 C CA1315923 C CA 1315923C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
gas
gas film
film
further including
ionizing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA000587985A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert L. Dean
Lydia J. Young
Lee H. Veneklasen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Etec Systems Inc
Original Assignee
Etec Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Etec Systems Inc filed Critical Etec Systems Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1315923C publication Critical patent/CA1315923C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08CLEANING
    • B08BCLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B5/00Cleaning by methods involving the use of air flow or gas flow
    • B08B5/02Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities

Landscapes

  • Cleaning Or Drying Semiconductors (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Cleaning And De-Greasing Of Metallic Materials By Chemical Methods (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A non-contact method of cleaning a surface comprising forming a thin gas film (10) of high velocity gas between a surface (14) to be cleaned and a cleaning device (16).
The gas film (10), being also a gas bearing, supports the cleaning device (16) and thus forms a self-regulating gap (G) between the surface (14) and the cleaning device (16) so that the cleaning device (16) never contacts the surface (14). The cleaning device (16) comprises a plurality of bores (22) for directing gas onto the surface (14) and an opening (24) for vacuum. In the preferred embodiment, the bores (22) are arranged in a circle and the opening (24) is located centrally of the circle. The thickness of the gas film (10) is determined by the pressure of the incoming gas and vacuum. The creation of turbulence and eddy currents and the use of an ionized gas are enhancements to the cleaning ability of the gas film (10). The method includes moving the cleaning device (16) relative to the surface (14) and vice versa.

Description

`~

~ 13~23 ~: NON-CONTACTING METHOD OF CLEANING SURFACES
. WITH A PLANAR GAS BEARING
-'.`; ~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a non-contacting method of cleaning surfaces by removing small particulate matter, on the order of a few microns, therefrom.
. 5 In the manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits in which a semiconductor substrate is subjected .
. : to various lithographic processes, it is necessary that the substrate surface be kept as clean as possible to ` - minimize the number of defects in the final product and, it is also necessary that the methods of cleaning are not destructive to the substrate surface in any way. This . : invention provides a simple, non-contacting and effective : way to clean particulates of a s1ze as low as 1 or 2 microns from these substrate surfaces.
~ ~:: While this inventi~on will be described in connection wlt~h cleaning of sem1co~nductor~su~bstrate surfaces, it is : understood that this invention~may be u~sed wherever it is s ~ necessary to remove small particulates from a surface.
It is therefore a :primary ~object of this invention to 20~ provide a non-contacting:method of removing very small particulate material from surf~aces.

.

~315~23 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method which accomplishes the foregoing objec~
involves the formation of a thin film of high veloci~y gas between the surface to be cleaned and a cleaning device. The gas film, being also a gas bearing, supports the cleaning device and thus forms a self-regulating gap between the cleaning device and the surface so that the cleaning device itself never contacts the surface to be . cleaned. The cleaning device comprises a plurality of bores for directing gas onto the surface and an opening for vacuum. Preferably the bores are arranged in a circle and the opening for vacuum is located centrally ; thereof. The gas film thickness is a function of incoming gas pressure and vacuum. Embodiments of the invention include creating areas of turbulence and eddy currents for aiding in the particulate removal. These : areas are created by forming pockets in the cleaning device to disturb the ~low of gas. The method includes the use of ionized gas and moving the cleaning device - 20 relative to the surface or moving the surface relative to the cleaning device.
It is recogni~ed that there is prior art showing the combination of air pressure and vacuum but this prior art ` does not utiiize this combination to create a planar gas type bearing having film thicknesses and high velocity flows which can dislodge and remove very small (1 or 2 micron) particulates. A t~pical example of the prior art is shown in the patents to TiIl et al No. 4,026,701 which deals with cleaning the imaging surface of an electrostatographic imaging member with gaps on the order of 0.003 to about 0.015 inches to remove particles on the order of Q.003 to 0.010 incXes. These cleaning devices operate in totally different environments,ie, paper ~ handling and printing, where the particles removed are -~ ~ ; 35 much larger than the particles removed by this invention.

;.

`:

9 ~ 3 , ,; , BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an elevational cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the cleaning device shown spaced from a surface to be cleaned and showing the flow of gases across the surface;
: Figure 2 is a bottom view of the cleaning device, taken along line 2-2 of figure 1, and looking in the ; direction of arrows and showing a plurality of bores for the flow of pressurized gas and a central opening for 10 vacuum;
Figure 3 illustrates the cleaning head spaced relatiYe to a rotating vacuum chuck which is holding a . semiconductor substrate to be cleaned; and Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view, enlarged over figures 1-3 showing a counterbore in one bore of the cleaning device as an alternative embodiment.

. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`~ As illustrated in the drawings~ a gas film 10 is formed between adjacent surfaces 12 and 14 which also forms a gas bearing to space the surface 12 of a cleaning . device 16 from the surface 14 of a substrate 20. This space is also denoted in the drawing as gap G. The cleaning device is often referred to as a "puck", and by adjusting the gas pressure appropriately, a small gap G, on the order of 20 to 50 microns, and hence a high velocity flow of gas can be achieved. This high velocity : flow of gas removes small particulates, on the order of a . few microns, from the surface 14 and also provides a : 30 non-contacting method of cleaning the surface 14.
In figures 1 and 2 it can be seen that the puck 16 : :: comprises a circular body with a plurality of bores 22 arranged preferably in:a circle as shown (although other : , geometries are feasible such as an oval, straight line, ~- 35 etc) about a centrally located larger opening 24. The bores 22 are connected by a circular conduit 26 and a , ": ,: :,, ~ ~, ." , ,, ~ .

- 131~92~
,. ,. ~ .

bore 30 to a source of gas under pressure illustrated as a block diagram 32 and the central opening 24 is connected to a vacuum pump 34 also illustrated as a block diagram; both being sho~n in figure 3. The bores 22 are ` S oriented to direct pressurized gas onto the surface 14 and the opening 24 is oriented to remove gas and particulate matter in the area of the center of the surface 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the puck is in two pieces l~a and 16b for manufacturing purposes and are suitably coupled together, with the conduit 26 and bore 30 for the flow of pressurized gas being formed by and between the two pieces.
The size of the gap G is self regulating and is determined by the gas pressure of about 60 psi and a vacuum about l to 10 Torr. With such values and with the bores 22 being about 0.010 inches in diameter, the resulting thickness of gap ~ lies between 20 and 50 microns providing the correct conditions to remove particles as low as 1 or 2 microns with high efficiency.
It is understood that to clean an entire surface, the cleaning device 16 is movable relative to the surface 14, , and vice versa. Figure 3 shows one way of cleaning the surface 14 by mounting the substrate 20 on a revolving vacuum chuck 36 and moving the cleaning device radially to clean the entire surface 14.
To enhance the cleaning ability of the gas film, the puck surface 12 is provided with a circular relief groove 40 of about 0.04 inches in depth surrounding the opening 24 and an outer ledge 42 of about the same size. The given depth is only by way~of example and other depth values sre feasible as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. These cr~ate turbulence and eddy currents in the high velocity flow of gas to disturb and remove the small particulates.
; ~ 35 In another embodiment, further turbulence and eddy ,~
, ~
.,.. ~,. ,.,~. ,, .. ,"~ ", .. .. .. . .

- - 131~92~ -,, ; currents in the high velocity flow are created by providing the bores 22 with counterbores 22a of about 0.001 to 0.002 inches in depth. The given depth is only by way of example and other depth values are feasible as . 5 will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Finally, if desired, the removal of small particulate : matter can further be enhanced by the use of an ionized gas from the source 32.
: It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that : 10 what makes this invention unique is the very small gap which causes removal of very small particles and that there are many other uses for this invention, such as cleaning flat optical surfaces or optical surfaces having : ~ a radius of curvature much larger than the puck ,;
lS dimensions of a few inches.

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Claims (20)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A method of cleaning very small particulates, on the order of 1 or 2 microns, from a surface, comprising the steps of:
forming a thin gas film on said surface between a cleaning device and said surface by impinging pressurized gas on said surface;
said gas film being planar and having the thickness in the order of 20 to 30 microns and providing a high velocity gas flow between said cleaning device and said surface; and moving said film across said surface.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including the step of ionizing said gas film.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of further providing a source of vacuum acting in cooperation with said gas film.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3 further including the step of ionizing said gas film.
5. The method as claimed in claim I wherein said source of vacuum is in the center of said gas film.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 further including the step of ionizing said gas film.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5 including the step of creating said gas film by impinging gas in an arrangement surrounding a centrally located vacuum area.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 further including the step of ionizing said gas film.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said arrangement of impinging gas iscircular.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9 further including the step of ionizing said gas film.
11. The method as claimed in claim 7 further including the step of forming areas of turbulence between said vacuum area and said arrangement of impinging gas.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11 further including the step of ionizing said gas film.
13. The method as claimed in claim 7 further including the step of forming areas of turbulence in said gas film outside the area between said arrangement of impinging gas.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13 further including the step of ionizing said gas film.
15. A non-contacting method of removing small particles in the order of I to 2 microns in size from a surface comprising the steps of:
providing a puck and positioning same near said surface; and forming a planar gas film on said surface by directing pressurized gas through said puck with sufficient pressure to form a gas bearing for supporting said puck from said surface by a gap size of 20 to 50 microns, and moving said film across said surface.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15 including the steps of ionizing said gas film.
17. The method as claimed in claim 15 further including the step of providing a centrally located vacuum area in said film and forming areas of turbulence between said vacuum area and said gas film.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17 including the step of ionizing said gas film.
19. The method as claimed in claim 15 further including the step of forming areas of turbulence outside the area of said gas film.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19 further including the step of ionizing said gas film.
CA000587985A 1988-01-11 1989-01-11 Non-contacting method of cleaning surfaces with a planar gas bearing Expired - Fee Related CA1315923C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US142,173 1980-04-21
US14217388A 1988-01-11 1988-01-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1315923C true CA1315923C (en) 1993-04-13

Family

ID=22498827

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000587985A Expired - Fee Related CA1315923C (en) 1988-01-11 1989-01-11 Non-contacting method of cleaning surfaces with a planar gas bearing

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0324435B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2755643B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1315923C (en)
DE (1) DE68909422T2 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4016089A1 (en) * 1990-05-18 1991-11-21 Siemens Nixdorf Inf Syst Device for removing dust from substrate surface for PCB mfr. - blows dust away by compressed air jets and removes by suction
JP2567191Y2 (en) * 1992-04-13 1998-03-30 株式会社伸興 Panel body dust remover
DE19950140C2 (en) * 1999-10-18 2001-10-31 Kessler Kg Maschf Method and device for treating bodies after fracture separation
JP4016598B2 (en) * 2001-01-16 2007-12-05 株式会社日立製作所 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3915739A (en) * 1974-07-12 1975-10-28 Montreal Method of cleaning foreign matter from a cavity in a semiconductor
US4026701A (en) * 1975-02-24 1977-05-31 Xerox Corporation Gas impingement and suction cleaning apparatus
JPS57165877A (en) * 1981-04-07 1982-10-13 Ricoh Co Ltd Cleaning device for image carrier in recorder
JPS5821742A (en) * 1981-07-31 1983-02-08 Nec Corp Positioning and exposing device
JPS61208051A (en) * 1985-03-12 1986-09-16 Nec Corp Reduced projecting and exposing device
JPS6292642U (en) * 1985-11-29 1987-06-13

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH01225125A (en) 1989-09-08
EP0324435A2 (en) 1989-07-19
DE68909422D1 (en) 1993-11-04
EP0324435A3 (en) 1990-10-31
JP2755643B2 (en) 1998-05-20
DE68909422T2 (en) 1994-01-27
EP0324435B1 (en) 1993-09-29

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKLA Lapsed
MKLA Lapsed

Effective date: 20030414