Patent ID: 6105592
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for processing a wafer, the apparatus comprising:a processing bowl defining a processing chamber having an opening;a wafer support structure adapted to support at least one wafer, the wafer support being mounted for rotation within the processing chamber, the opening of the bowl being positioned and of sufficient size to facilitate placement of the at least one wafer in the processing chamber through the opening of the processing bowl;a motor drive assembly connected to rotate the wafer support structure;at least one fluid nozzle for accepting processing fluid and spraying the processing fluid on the one or more wafers carried by the wafer support structure;a door for sealing the opening of the processing bowl, the door having a first opening that is open to atmosphere to facilitate passage of ambient gas into the door and a second opening that is open to the processing chamber to facilitate passage of ambient gas into the processing chamber;an ambient gas intake assembly disposed in the door between the first and second openings of the door, the ambient gas intake assembly comprisinga high efficiency filter disposed to filter ambient gas passing from the opening of the bowl to the processing chamber,a heater disposed to heat the ambient gas prior to entering the processing chamber.