Patent ID: 6273098
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: B08B,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for processing substrates, comprising the steps of:successively immersing one or more sets of one or more substrates in a stagnant chemical bath, wherein substrates are immersed in the chemical bath for a total amount of time greater than about 24 hours without replacing the bath fluid; andrinsing each substrate after the substrate has been immersed in the chemical bath, wherein the step of rinsing comprises the steps of:filling a rinsing tank with rinsing fluid, the substrate being positioned in the rinsing tank;spraying rinsing fluid on to the substrate;when rinsing fluid fills the rinsing tank to a first predetermined level, applying megasonic energy to the rinsing fluid in the rinsing tank;when rinsing fluid fills the rinsing tank to a second predetermined level, stopping the spraying of rinsing fluid on to the substrate;after the step of stopping the spraying of rinsing fluid on to the substrate, filling the rinsing tank with rinsing fluid so that the rinsing fluid cascades over the sides of the rinsing tank for a predetermined duration of time during the step of applying megasonic energy;after passage of the predetermined duration of time, stopping the application of megasonic energy to the rinsing fluid in the rinsing tank; anddumping the rinsing fluid from the rinsing tank.