Patent ID: 8104488
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A workpiece processor comprising: a bowl having one or more process fluid inlets; a head which may be engaged with the bowl during workpiece processing; a rotor supported on the head and rotatable relative to the head, with the rotor adapted to hold a workpiece having a diameter D at a workpiece position and with the rotor having an outer annular sidewall around the workpiece position; a pressurized gas supply connected to a gas inlet line on the rotor; a plurality of gas inlets in the annular sidewall of the rotor, with the gas inlet line connecting to the gas inlets; an annular slot extending around the rotor, and concentric with a rotation axis of the rotor, and with the annular slot having a diameter less than D; a plurality of bores extending into the rotor and connecting into the annular slot; and wherein the pressurized gas supply and the gas inlets are configured to spray gas into a space above the workpiece position to hold a workpiece in the workpiece position using only gas pressure forces.