Patent ID: 8580045
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: B08B,B23P,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of processing a substrate with a chemical head comprising: placing a chemical head proximate to a surface of the substrate and in a first plane substantially parallel to the substrate surface; forming a liquid meniscus between a first flat region of a head surface of the chemical head and the substrate surface; and applying a vacuum to a trailing edge of the liquid meniscus, wherein the vacuum draws a substantially continuous flow of liquid from the liquid meniscus through a first plurality of return conduits, wherein the head surface includes a second flat region being in a plane substantially parallel to and offset from the first flat region such that a step is formed between the first flat region and second flat region, wherein the second flat region is offset to be nearer to the substrate surface than the first flat region such that the step functions to confine the meniscus between the chemical head and the substrate surface and wherein the second flat region includes a second return conduit through which both liquid and gas is drawn.