Patent ID: 8071908
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: B23K,H01L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for processing a surface of a substrate having a central portion, and a peripheral portion with the surface bounded by a downward extending substrate side wall, comprising: a radiation source adapted to emit a photonic beam of a selected beam wavelength; a stage adapted to support on a top surface and to move the substrate; a relay adapted to direct the photonic beam from the radiation source toward the substrate surface at a selected incidence angle and an intensity profile suitable for processing the central portion of the substrate surface; a shield mounted on the stage interposed between the relay and the substrate with an edge of the shield at a selected distance from or adjacent to the side wall of the substrate without extending above the substrate, the shield having a top surface at a greater height above the top surface of the stage than the surface of the substrate with the shield adapted to block the beam from illuminating the peripheral portion and/or the side wall of the substrate; and a controller operably coupled to the radiation source, relay, shield and/or stage and adapted to provide relative scanning movement between the beam and the stage to advance the beam across the top surface of the shield and onto the surface of the substrate to scan over and process the central portion of the substrate surface in a substantially uniform manner that maintains the intensity profile of any unblocked portion of the beam suitable for processing the central portion of the substrate surface.