Patent ID: 6406553
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of removing contamination from semiconductor wafers comprising the steps of:placing at least one semiconductor wafer in an input-output (I-O) chamber, the chamber initially being at outside atmospheric pressure, the chamber being an input portion of a semiconductor processing line and sealable therefrom; sealing the chamber; flowing a dry inert purge gas into the chamber in close proximity to the semiconductor wafer to form a covering blanket of purge gas flowing over and around the semiconductor wafer to reduce contaminants from the semiconductor wafer; exhausting the purge gas and residual contamination away from the semiconductor wafer and out of the chamber; reducing the pressure at a first rate within the chamber to an intermediate pressure level below outside atmospheric pressure; and thereafter reducing the pressure at a second rate within the chamber from the intermediate pressure level to a lower base pressure level at which the processing line is to be operated, the second rate being faster than the first rate.