Patent ID: 8317932
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: H01L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for processing a substrate using a meniscus formed by upper and lower proximity heads, comprising: placing the substrate on a carrier having an opening sized for receiving the substrate and a plurality of support pins for supporting the substrate within the opening, the opening being slightly larger than a radial perimeter of the substrate such that a gap exists between the radial perimeter of the substrate and the carrier after the placing of the substrate; providing upper and lower proximity heads defined to generate a meniscus between respective faces of the upper and lower proximity heads, each of the upper and lower proximity heads including a plurality of meniscus nozzles formed in a spaced apart relationship along a linear axis on their respective faces, the meniscus nozzles configured to supply liquid to the meniscus, each of the upper and lower proximity heads including a plurality of vacuum ports formed in a spaced apart relationship on the respective face of each of the upper and lower proximity heads, the plurality of vacuum ports arranged to form a suction region that completely surrounds the plurality of meniscus nozzles on the respective face of each of the upper and lower proximity heads, wherein a centrally located portion of the plurality of vacuum ports along a trailing side of the linear axis is positioned farther away from the linear axis than a remaining portion of the plurality of vacuum ports along the trailing side of the linear axis; passing the substrate and carrier in a linear direction through the meniscus generated between the upper and lower proximity heads; and evacuating liquid of the meniscus from the gap between the radial perimeter of the substrate and the carrier so as to reduce a size and a frequency of at least one of entrance or exit marks on the substrate.