WO1999057754A1 - Wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components - Google Patents
Wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1999057754A1 WO1999057754A1 PCT/US1999/009722 US9909722W WO9957754A1 WO 1999057754 A1 WO1999057754 A1 WO 1999057754A1 US 9909722 W US9909722 W US 9909722W WO 9957754 A1 WO9957754 A1 WO 9957754A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- flow
- barrier
- fluid
- processing
- vessel
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
- H01L21/67017—Apparatus for fluid treatment
- H01L21/67063—Apparatus for fluid treatment for etching
- H01L21/67075—Apparatus for fluid treatment for etching for wet etching
- H01L21/67086—Apparatus for fluid treatment for etching for wet etching with the semiconductor substrates being dipped in baths or vessels
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
- H01L21/67017—Apparatus for fluid treatment
- H01L21/67028—Apparatus for fluid treatment for cleaning followed by drying, rinsing, stripping, blasting or the like
- H01L21/6704—Apparatus for fluid treatment for cleaning followed by drying, rinsing, stripping, blasting or the like for wet cleaning or washing
- H01L21/67057—Apparatus for fluid treatment for cleaning followed by drying, rinsing, stripping, blasting or the like for wet cleaning or washing with the semiconductor substrates being dipped in baths or vessels
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
- H01L21/67017—Apparatus for fluid treatment
- H01L21/67063—Apparatus for fluid treatment for etching
- H01L21/67075—Apparatus for fluid treatment for etching for wet etching
- H01L21/6708—Apparatus for fluid treatment for etching for wet etching using mainly spraying means, e.g. nozzles
Definitions
- the present invention is directed to wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components and electronic component precursors, such as semiconductor wafers used in integrated circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to improved processes for the enclosed flow-line treatment of substrates with fluids, such as semiconductor wafers and flat panel display.
- wet processing is used extensively during the manufacture of integrated circuits, which typically comprise electronic component precursors such as semiconductor wafers, flat panels, and other electronic component precursors.
- the electronic component precursors are placed in a bath or a vessel and then contacted with a series of reactive chemical process fluids and rinsing fluids.
- the process fluids may be used, without limitation, for etching, photo resist stripping, and prediffusion cleaning and other cleaning steps of the electronic component precursors.
- An example of a treatment system for electronic component precursors is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,633,893 - McConnell et al., which is herein incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety.
- the electronic component precursors are treated in either a full flow vessel (a vessel closed to the environment), single tank, a wet bench, or bath.
- the electronic component precursors are exposed to reactive chemical process fluids to either remove (i.e., clean) contamination on the electronic component precursors or to etch some part of the surface. After this cleaning or etching is performed, the chemical will adhere to the surface or - 2 - surfaces of the electronic component precursors.
- the adhered chemical must then be removed before treating the electronic component precursors with the next reactive chemical process fluid so that the chemical residue does not contaminate the next reactive chemical process.
- the adhered chemical is removed using deionized (Dl) water.
- the standard wafer pitch for 300 mm wafers is 10 mm in a full load.
- Full-flow processors employing a single processing vessel have small vessel sizes such that the wafer pitch is one-half that of the pitch of wafers processed in an immersion tank. This processing at a reduced pitch in full-flow single processing vessels is desirable due to attendant reductions in water and chemical consumption. Moreover, since the flow velocity for an equivalent total flow volume within a single vessel will be increased for reduced pitch processing, rinsing of the wafers will improve accordingly.
- single vessel processing of wafers at less than one half the standard pitch, such as at one-third and one-quarter pitch processing is even more desirable than the known one-half pitch processing systems.
- the present invention presents, inter alia, wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components and electronic component precursors, such as semiconductor wafers used in integrated circuits. More specifically, this invention relates to methods of, for example, cleaning electronic component precursors using wet processing techniques where wafers having a pitch that is less than one-half the standard wafer pitch are effectively processed in a single processing vessels.
- the wafer pitch is reduced from the standard pitch to distances such as of one-half pitch, one-third pitch, and one-quarter pitch.
- a flow resistance barrier is secured within the wafer vessel housing, upstream of the wafer stack.
- the wafer stack could be a cassette of 300 mm wafers arranged at one-half the standard pitch for such wafers, and the stack is more preferably a cassette of 300 mm wafers arranged at one-third pitch or one-quarter pitch.
- the flow resistance barrier is designed such that fluid flowing upward through the barrier, prior to flow through the wafers, is distributed to push the flow toward the middle of the wafers, where the flow resistance is the highest.
- the flow resistance barrier is a screen of any suitable porous material where the holes in the screen are larger in the center of the screen (where the pressure in the chamber is higher) than the holes at the sides of the screen (where the pressure is lower).
- the holes in the screen can be spaced closer together in the center of the screen and spaced at a greater distance at the sides of the screen to allow more flow to enter the chamber where the pressure is higher and less flow to enter where the pressure is lower.
- the hole size can be the same throughout the screen or can be variable to provide a desired flow pattern.
- the hole pattern and the size of the holes are selected to provide the least resistance to the flow of fluid in the middle of the wafers and the most resistance to fluid flow at the sides of the wafers.
- the flow resistance barrier be designed to impart plug flow conditions for the flow of fluid onto the wafer.
- the number, shape, size - 5 - and arrangement of the holes within the screen can be selected by one skilled in the art based upon the flow parameters to accentuate the flow of fluids toward the center of the wafers. These parameters include the size and shape of the vessel, the chemical composition of the fluids in use, the flow velocity, and the flow pressure. It is preferred that the hole size be large enough to allow dissolved gas in the liquid to pass through the screen. Holes can be made in the barrier material using a laser or by known hole punching apparatus.
- Preferred materials for the flow resistance barrier include woven fabric material, to minimize blockage of the flow of fluid at the barrier, and a fiber mesh material wherein the fibers are distributed throughout the flow resistance barrier in a random fiber mesh. Because manufacturing imperfections in the flow resistance barrier can become dislodged from the barrier over time, thus adding contaminants into the treatment vessel, and can also trap chemicals thereon, thus clogging the barrier, a woven fabric material, which will generally have relatively few manufacturing imperfections, is a most preferred material for the flow resistance barrier.
- the flow resistance barrier is a chemical resistant polymeric screen material, with Teflon being the most preferred polymeric material. It is preferred that the flow resistance barrier be chemically resistant to the various chemicals used in the wafer treatment operations so as to avoid chemical degradation of the barrier material.
- flow injection apparatus such as controlled injection nozzles positioned in the processing vessel provide for increased flow of fluids into the middle of the wafers.
- the location and output parameters of the injection nozzles are determined based upon the known flow parameters described above with respect to the flow resistance barrier, and provide for a uniform distribution of the flow of fluid across the entire wafer surface in reduced pitch processing.
- Controlled fluid injection nozzles can be used in conjunction with the flow resistance barrier described herein to provide for uniform flow distribution across the wafer surface, or the controlled fluid injection nozzles can be used alone to provide a desired flow distribution throughout the processing vessel. Baffles or other flow control devices could also be used.
- the velocity profile of the cleaning or rinsing fluids entering the single bath must be - 6 - controlled in such a manner to overcome the high flow resistance found in sections of the bath.
- the highest resistance is found in the middle of the wafers (i.e., largest cross section) and the middle of the stack.
- Another step of the invention that can be used to provide for a uniform flow of wet processing fluids across a wafer stack arranged in less than one-half pitch spacing is to use megasonics during the chemical soaking of the wafers.
- the acoustic streaming that is developed during processing by the use of megasonics assists in the distribution of chemicals between the wafers.
- ultrasound around 500 KHz to 1 MHZ is distributed in a known manner through the cleaning fluid to dislodge particles on the wafer surface.
- Other frequencies or mixing techniques could be used to overcome the large boundary layers found between the wafers when high flow resistance is present.
- Another step of the invention that can be used to provide for a uniform flow of wet processing fluids across a wafer stack arranged in less than one-half pitch spacing is to use very high injection flow rates for the processing fluids.
- very high chemical injection flow speeds because of the momentum of the flow the chemicals are forced between the wafers that are spaced closely together in a one-third or one-half pitch arrangement.
- Preferred chemical injection flow rates to provide for efficient reduced pitch wet processing in a single vessel are 18 to 30 gpm in a wafer carrier with 100 - 300 mm wafers at pitch (i.e., .18-.30 gpm per wafer).
- Another step of the invention that can be used to provide for a uniform flow of wet processing fluids across a wafer stack arranged in less than one-half pitch spacing is to inject chemicals in a time sufficient to achieve equilibrium conditions in the processing area of the vessel.
- concentration of chemicals in the middle of the wafers will be about equal to the concentration of chemicals at the edge of the wafers.
- Preferred chemical injection times to provide for efficient - 7 - reduced pitch wet processing in a single vessel are from 60 second injection times to 120 second injection times depending on the flow rate and vessel size.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Cleaning Or Drying Semiconductors (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP99920316A EP1078394A1 (en) | 1998-05-04 | 1999-05-04 | Wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components |
AU37842/99A AU3784299A (en) | 1998-05-04 | 1999-05-04 | Wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components |
JP2000547648A JP2002514828A (en) | 1998-05-04 | 1999-05-04 | Wet treatment method for manufacturing electronic components |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US8409798P | 1998-05-04 | 1998-05-04 | |
US09/304,587 | 1998-05-04 | ||
US60/084,097 | 1998-05-04 | ||
US30458799A | 1999-05-04 | 1999-05-04 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1999057754A1 true WO1999057754A1 (en) | 1999-11-11 |
Family
ID=26770609
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1999/009722 WO1999057754A1 (en) | 1998-05-04 | 1999-05-04 | Wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU3784299A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999057754A1 (en) |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4633893A (en) * | 1984-05-21 | 1987-01-06 | Cfm Technologies Limited Partnership | Apparatus for treating semiconductor wafers |
US4838979A (en) * | 1986-09-19 | 1989-06-13 | Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Apparatus for processing substrate surface |
US4906328A (en) * | 1987-07-16 | 1990-03-06 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Method for wafer treating |
US5227001A (en) * | 1990-10-19 | 1993-07-13 | Integrated Process Equipment Corporation | Integrated dry-wet semiconductor layer removal apparatus and method |
US5286657A (en) * | 1990-10-16 | 1994-02-15 | Verteq, Inc. | Single wafer megasonic semiconductor wafer processing system |
US5318632A (en) * | 1992-05-25 | 1994-06-07 | Kawasaki Steel Corporation | Wafer process tube apparatus and method for vertical furnaces |
US5702618A (en) * | 1993-10-04 | 1997-12-30 | Research International, Inc. | Methods for manufacturing a flow switch |
US5745946A (en) * | 1994-07-15 | 1998-05-05 | Ontrak Systems, Inc. | Substrate processing system |
US5868854A (en) * | 1989-02-27 | 1999-02-09 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Method and apparatus for processing samples |
-
1999
- 1999-05-04 WO PCT/US1999/009722 patent/WO1999057754A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-05-04 AU AU37842/99A patent/AU3784299A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4633893A (en) * | 1984-05-21 | 1987-01-06 | Cfm Technologies Limited Partnership | Apparatus for treating semiconductor wafers |
US4838979A (en) * | 1986-09-19 | 1989-06-13 | Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Apparatus for processing substrate surface |
US4906328A (en) * | 1987-07-16 | 1990-03-06 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Method for wafer treating |
US5868854A (en) * | 1989-02-27 | 1999-02-09 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Method and apparatus for processing samples |
US5286657A (en) * | 1990-10-16 | 1994-02-15 | Verteq, Inc. | Single wafer megasonic semiconductor wafer processing system |
US5227001A (en) * | 1990-10-19 | 1993-07-13 | Integrated Process Equipment Corporation | Integrated dry-wet semiconductor layer removal apparatus and method |
US5318632A (en) * | 1992-05-25 | 1994-06-07 | Kawasaki Steel Corporation | Wafer process tube apparatus and method for vertical furnaces |
US5702618A (en) * | 1993-10-04 | 1997-12-30 | Research International, Inc. | Methods for manufacturing a flow switch |
US5745946A (en) * | 1994-07-15 | 1998-05-05 | Ontrak Systems, Inc. | Substrate processing system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU3784299A (en) | 1999-11-23 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20030084921A1 (en) | Semiconductor wafer cleaning apparatus and method | |
US8652344B2 (en) | Liquid treatment method and storage system | |
US5520205A (en) | Apparatus for wafer cleaning with rotation | |
KR100226548B1 (en) | Wet treating apparatus of semiconductor wafer | |
JP3343033B2 (en) | Substrate processing equipment | |
US7730898B2 (en) | Semiconductor wafer lifter | |
US6372051B1 (en) | Positive flow, positive displacement rinse tank | |
US6273107B1 (en) | Positive flow, positive displacement rinse tank | |
US6626196B2 (en) | Arrangement and method for degassing small-high aspect ratio drilled holes prior to wet chemical processing | |
US6132523A (en) | Method of cleaning a substrate in a cleaning tank using plural fluid flows | |
WO2014196099A1 (en) | Cleaning method and cleaning device | |
US6360756B1 (en) | Wafer rinse tank for metal etching and method for using | |
EP1078394A1 (en) | Wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components | |
WO1999057754A1 (en) | Wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components | |
WO2002062494A1 (en) | Controlled fluid flow and fluid mix system for treating objects | |
US6752897B2 (en) | Wet etch system with overflow particle removing feature | |
US6938629B2 (en) | Rinsing lid for wet bench | |
JPH06196466A (en) | Wafer cleaning device | |
TW413833B (en) | Wet processing methods for the manufacture of electronic components | |
JP3247322B2 (en) | Cleaning equipment | |
JPH05267262A (en) | Semiconductor-wafer cleaning apparatus | |
JPH06204198A (en) | Cleaning device for semiconductor substrate | |
JPH0831789A (en) | Surface treatment apparatus for substrate | |
JPH07297162A (en) | Cleaning equipment for semiconductor substrate | |
JP2003282512A (en) | Substrate treatment tank, dip type substrate treatment equipment and treatment method |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 99805751.7 Country of ref document: CN |
|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AE AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZA ZW |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SL SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2000 547648 Country of ref document: JP Kind code of ref document: A |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 1999920316 Country of ref document: EP |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: KR |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 1999920316 Country of ref document: EP |
|
REG | Reference to national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: 8642 |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Ref document number: 1999920316 Country of ref document: EP |