Patent ID: 7694650
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A spin coating apparatus for coating a semiconductor wafer substrate with a photoresist, said spin coating apparatus adapted to measure a flow rate of a gas during a spin coating process, said spin coating apparatus comprising: a spin coating apparatus cup disposed to surround said semiconductor wafer, said during said spin coating process, said spin coating apparatus cup comprising an opened top, said opened top comprising an opening extending upward through a top covering portion of said spin coating apparatus cup; an exhaust monitoring cup comprising a gas flow cup, said gas flow cup having an intake opening, said intake opening disposed above said opened top to receive the gas emanating upward from the spin coating apparatus coater cup; a cup extension carried by said gas flow cup and wherein said gas flow opening is provided in said cup extension; a first flow rate measuring apparatus disposed in fluid communication with said gas flow opening, said flow rate measuring apparatus disposed to receive and measure the flow rate of the gas from said gas flow opening an air tube having an inlet end disposed adjacent to said gas flow opening and an outlet end spaced from said inlet end and wherein said first flow rate measuring apparatus engages said outlet end; a second flow rate measuring apparatus disposed in fluid communication with an exhaust conduit, said exhaust conduit disposed to receive a remaining portion of said gas from said coater cup not received by said gas flow cup; and a secondary gas exhaust conduit disposed to receive the gas from said first flow rate measuring apparatus wherein said secondary gas exhaust conduit and said exhaust conduit are in fluid communication with a common exhaust manifold.