Patent Publication Number: US-9887107-B2

Title: Methodologies for rinsing tool surfaces in tools used to process microelectronic workpieces

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/157,695, filed Jun. 10, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/353,931 filed Jun. 11, 2010, entitled METHODOLOGIES FOR RINSING TOOL SURFACES IN TOOLS USED TO PROCESS MICROELECTRONIC WORKPIECES, wherein the entire disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/157,695 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/353,931 are incorporated herein by-reference in their respective entireties for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to improved methods and apparatuses to rinse tool surfaces in tools used to process microelectronic workpieces. More particularly, the present invention relates to generating and using swirling flows of rinse liquids to clean tool surfaces such as the underside surface of lids used to cover process chambers in which one or more microelectronic workpieces are being processed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The microelectronic industry relies on a variety of different processes to manufacture microelectronic devices. Many processes involve a sequence of treatments in which different kinds of treatment fluids are caused to contact the workpiece in accordance with desired recipes. These fluids may be liquids, gases, or combinations thereof. In some treatments, solids may be suspended or dissolved in a liquid or entrained in a gas. 
     Innovative tools for processing microelectronic workpieces are described in Assignee&#39;s issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,581 (hereinafter Assignee&#39;s Patent No. 1) as well as in Assignee&#39;s U.S. patent applications published as U.S. Patent Publication Nos. US-2007-0245954-A1, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,544,483 (and hereinafter referred to as the Application No. 1); 2008-0271763-A1, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,656,936 (and hereinafter referred to as Application No. 2); US-2008-0008834-A1, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,635 (and hereinafter referred to as Application No. 3); 2009-0038647-A1, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,913,706 (and hereinafter referred to as Application No. 4); and 2009-0280235-A1, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,235,062 (and hereinafter referred to as Application No. 5). The entireties of the &#39;581 patent and of these U.S. Patent Applications are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     The embodiments of the processing sections of these tools as described in the &#39;581 patent cited above and in the U.S. Patent Applications cited above advantageously include nested duct features that allow one or more duct pathways to be selectively opened and closed. For example, when the structures are moved apart relatively, a duct pathway opens and is enlarged between the structures. When the structures are moved together relatively, the duct between the structures is choked and is reduced in size. In preferred embodiments, multiple ducts can exist in the same volume of space depending upon how the moveable duct structures are positioned. Thus, multiple ducts can occupy a volume minimally larger than the volume occupied by only a single duct. The ducts are used to capture various treatment fluids, including liquid and/or gases, for recycling, discarding, or other handling. Different treatment fluids can be recovered in different, independent ducts to minimize cross-contamination and/or to use unique capture protocols for different fluids. Because of the nested character of the duct structures, the duct system also is extremely compact. 
     The &#39;581 patent cited above and the U.S. Patent Applications cited above also describe an innovative spray nozzle/barrier structure. This structure includes capabilities for dispensing treatment materials in multiple ways such as by a spray, a center dispense, and gas or vapor introduction. The barrier structure overlies the underlying workpiece. The lower surface of the barrier structure is shaped in preferred embodiments so that it defines a tapering flow channel over the workpiece. This approach offers many benefits. The tapering flow channel helps to promote radial flow outward from the center of the workpiece while minimizing recirculation zones. The taper also helps to smoothly converge and increase the velocity of flowing fluids approaching the outer edge of the workpiece. This helps to reduce liquid splash effects. The angle of the lower surface also helps liquid on the lower surface to drain toward the outer periphery. The tapering configuration also helps to reduce recirculation of particles back onto the workpiece. The configuration also helps facilitate chemical reclaim efficiency by better containment of fluids. 
     Notwithstanding all these benefits, further improvements are still desired. Firstly, during the course of treating a workpiece, the lower surface of the barrier structure may bear drops or films of liquid(s) used during the treatment and/or as a result of rinsing the barrier structure. For example, Assignee&#39;s Application No. 3 describes a rinsing strategy in which rinse tubes are led downward through a chimney leading into a process chamber, wherein the chimney provides a path of egress into the process chamber generally through a central region of the barrier structure. The rinse tubes extend into the process chamber so that their lower ends are generally at the same height as the lower surface of the barrier structure. A rinsing liquid is sprayed onto the lower surface through nozzles attached to the ends of the tubes. Assignee&#39;s Application No. 4 describes using a rinse manifold to generate a flow of rinse liquid on surfaces upstream from the process chamber. The rinse liquid is conveyed smoothly along these surfaces and then wets the underside of the barrier structure. 
     While these strategies effectively rinse the barrier structure, the resultant rinsing action may have more tendencies than desired to splash or drip when impacting the barrier structure. This can generate droplets or mists that, in turn, can lead to particle contamination on the underlying workpiece. Also, the alignment and dispense pattern of the rinses in either strategy can be more difficult to set up. The tubes and nozzles can collect moisture, which can drip and cause contamination. The tubes and nozzles can also obstruct and/or disrupt the flow of liquids and gases into the process chamber. Improved rinsing methodologies are therefore desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides improved rinsing methodologies and components to accomplish rinsing of tool surfaces in tools that are used to process one or more microelectronic workpieces. The invention is particularly advantageous when used to rinse the lower surface of lids and other structures such as a moveable barrier plate that overlies a workpiece being treated in such a manner to function in part as a lid over the process chamber while also defining a tapering flow channel over the workpiece. Rather than spray rinsing liquid onto the surface in a manner that generates undue splashing, droplet, or mist generation, a swirling flow of rinse liquid is generated on a surface of at least one fluid passage upstream from the surface to be rinsed. The swirling flow then provides smooth, uniform wetting and sheeting action to accomplish rinsing with a significantly reduced risk of generating particle contamination. 
     Advantageously, illustrative embodiments incorporate very few components, easing assembly and improving reliability. The components are much less sensitive to alignment variations that might arise during manufacture, shipment, or use. This further eases manufacture and use while allowing the present invention to retain a high level of rinsing performance over a wide tolerance range. The swirling flow pattern provides improved coverage and wetting uniformity of surfaces being rinsed. Substantially complete and uniform wetting of surface structures can be achieved very easily. The swirling action can wet the underside of a lid or other structure with much less tendency for the rinse to fall onto an underlying workpiece. 
     In one aspect of the present invention a method of rinsing an apparatus is provided. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing an apparatus comprising a process chamber in which at least one microelectronic workpiece is positioned during a treatment and a structure including a lower surface that overlies and at least partially covers the at least one workpiece; b) aiming a rinsing fluid obliquely toward a generally annular gap or portion thereof under conditions effective to generate a swirling flow of the rinsing fluid; and c) causing the swirling flow of rinsing liquid to wet the lower surface of the structure. 
     In another aspect of the present invention an apparatus for processing at least one microelectronic workpiece is provided. The apparatus comprises: a) a process chamber in which the at least one microelectronic workpiece can be positioned during processing; b) a structure including a lower surface and a generally annular gap, wherein the lower surface overlies and at least partially covers the at least one workpiece during processing; d) at least one nozzle in fluid communication with and obliquely directed toward the annular gap and configured so a swirling flow of a fluid is generated when the fluid is ejected through the nozzle and into the annular gap; and (e) at least one wall that fluidly directs the swirling flow of fluid to the lower surface of the structure. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention an apparatus for processing at least one microelectronic workpiece is provided. The apparatus comprises: a) a process chamber in which the at least one microelectronic workpiece can be positioned during processing; b) a structure including a lower surface that overlies and at least partially covers the at least one workpiece during processing; c) at least one diverging pathway providing an egress into the process chamber, the diverging pathway including a pathway surface that is fluidly coupled to the lower surface of the structure; and d) at least one nozzle obliquely directed toward a generally annular gap and configured so a swirling flow of a fluid is generated in the annular gap when the fluid is ejected through the nozzle and into the annular gap, wherein the annular gap is upstream from and fluidly coupled to the pathway surface so the swirling flow of fluid generated in the annular gap is conveyed to the lower surface of the structure via one or more surfaces comprising at least the pathway surface of the diverging pathway. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other advantages of the present invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a single wafer processing tool incorporating principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the collar used in the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the collar used in the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross-section view showing the intake manifolds mounted to the collar as used in the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is top perspective view of the intake manifold assembly used in the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the intake manifold assembly used in the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross-section view of the intake manifold assembly used in the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the cover used in the intake manifold assembly of  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the cover used in the intake manifold assembly of  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the base used in the intake manifold assembly of  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the base used in the intake manifold assembly of  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the base shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is top view of the cover shown if  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention. 
     The principles of the present invention may be used in connection with tools that process workpieces singly or in batches. For purposes of illustration,  FIG. 1  schematically shows an illustrative tool  10  that incorporates principles of the present invention and that is of the type in which a single workpiece  12  is housed in the tool  10  at any one time and subjected to one or more treatments in which liquid(s), gas(es), and/or other processing media are caused to contact the workpiece  12 . In the microelectronics industry, for instance, tool  10  may be referred to as a single wafer processing tool. Workpiece  12  typically comprises a semiconductor wafer or other in-process microelectronic substrate. Although the principles of the present invention are described in the context of tool  10 , the principles of the invention can be used to incorporate rinsing functionality into a wide range of other microelectronic processing systems as well. 
     As schematically shown in  FIG. 1 , tool  10  generally includes as main assemblies a base section  14  and a barrier/dispense section  16 . In actual use, the base section  14  and the barrier/dispense section  16  would be mounted to a framework (not shown) and enclosed within a housing (not shown) of tool  10 . This mounting can occur in any manner such as via screws, bolts, rivets, adhesives, welds, clamps, brackets, combinations of these, or the like. Desirably, though, the sections  14  and  16  and/or components thereof are independently and removably mounted to facilitate service, maintenance, upgrade, and/or replacement. 
     Base section  14  and barrier/dispense section  16  help define processing chamber  18  in which workpiece  12  is positioned during processing. Base section  14  and/or barrier/dispense section  16  include one or more features or capabilities to allow workpiece  12  to be loaded into and taken from processing chamber  18 . Such features and capabilities may include, for instance, a door (not shown) that may be opened or closed to provide the desired egress. Alternatively, and as contemplated in preferred modes of practice, one or both of base section  14  and barrier/dispense section  16  are moveable relative to each other to provide this egress. Conveniently, this relative movement may occur in an illustrative embodiment, for instance, by raising and lowering barrier dispense section  16  while keeping at least a portion of base section  14  fixed to the surrounding framework (not shown). In embodiments in which the base section  14  includes one or more moveable baffle members such as described in Assignee&#39;s Applications Nos. 1 and 2, the baffle member(s) can be raised and lowered to facilitate such egress. 
     Base section  14  generally includes a housing  20 , chuck  22 , backside dispense head  26 , and annular baffle members  34 ,  36 , and  38 . A motor (not shown) is used to rotatably drive the chuck. Inside processing chamber  18 , workpiece  12  is supported and held by chuck  22 . Chuck  22  may be stationary or it may be rotatable about a central axis. 
     For purposes of illustration, the figures illustrate an embodiment of tool  10  in which chuck  22  is rotatably driven by motor (not shown) so that workpiece  12  may be spun about an axis during processing. In those embodiments in which workpiece  12  is spun by a rotating chuck  22 , the spinning helps to spread dispensed treatment materials uniformly over the workpiece  12 . 
     Chuck  22  may secure workpiece  12  in any of a variety of different ways in accordance with conventional practices now or hereafter developed. Preferably, chuck  22  includes edge gripping structures (not shown) that securely hold workpiece  12  such that there is a gap  28  between workpiece  12  and the chuck  22 . This kind of positioning allows treatment chemicals, including rinse water, to be dispensed onto either the upper face or lower face of workpiece  12 . 
     Optionally, tool  10  may include dispense structure(s) for treating the lower face of workpiece  12 . An illustrative backside dispense mechanism is shown as a generally circular backside dispense head  26  through which one or more treatment chemicals may be dispensed toward lower face of workpiece  12 . Treatment chemicals are supplied to backside dispense head  26  via shaft  30  that passes through central bore  32  of chuck  22 . In embodiments in which chuck  22  rotates, there are gaps between shaft  30 , and central bore  32  so that the parts do not contact as the chuck  22  rotates. The backside dispense head  26  may be coupled to one or more supplies (not shown) of treatment materials to be dispensed as supplied or blended on demand. 
     The housing  20  helping to enclose the process chamber  18  generally includes base pan  33  and movable, annular baffle members  34 ,  36 , and  38 . The baffle members  34 ,  36 , and  38  provide movable boundaries defining at least a portion of exhaust ducts  42  and  44 . The ducts  42  and  44  are used to capture various treatment fluids for recycling, discarding, or other handling. Different treatment fluids can be recovered in different, independent ducts to minimize cross-contamination and/or to use unique capture protocols for different fluids. Each of the ducts  42  and  44  has a respective inlet  41  and  43  proximal to the outer periphery of the workpiece  12 . Each of the ducts  42  and  44  has a respective outlet  44  and  46  through which material(s) are discharged. 
     Adjacent baffle members are movable toward or away from each other in order to choke or open a corresponding duct pathway. For example, when adjacent baffle members are moved apart relatively, a duct pathway opens between them and is enlarged between the structures. When the structures are moved together relatively, the duct between the structures is choked and is reduced in size. For purposes of illustration, the exhaust duct  40  between the top baffle member  34  and the middle baffle member  36  is open, while the lower exhaust duct  42  between the middle baffle member  36  and the bottom baffle member  38  is choked. 
     For purposes of illustration, tool  10  includes three movable and nestable baffle members  34 ,  36 , and  38  with two exhaust ducts  42  and  44  formable between these members. However, other embodiments of the invention may include a greater or lesser number of baffle members than this, and thus a correspondingly greater or lesser number of exhaust ducts. 
     There may be a gap  48  between the base section  14  and the barrier/dispense section  16 . When the tool  10  is operated in a closed mode of operation, such as a treatment of workpiece  12  in which oxygen from the ambient or other sources is to be excluded from the process chamber  18 , it is desirable to block and/or eliminate this gap  48  so that oxygen cannot gain egress into the process chamber  18  through this gap  48 . This can be done in a variety of ways. As some options, the gap  48  may be sealed by using gaskets, other suitable sealing components, and/or even by using a curtain of flowing gas to form a boundary across the gap  48  to isolate the chamber  18  from the ambient external to the chamber  18 . This boundary in the form of a gas curtain can be established on demand at any time such as during at least a portion of any treatment in which it is desired to isolate the chamber  18  from the ambient for any reason. A pressurized gas supplied from a suitable source (not shown) via suitable plumbing (not shown), such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, combinations of these, and the like may be used to form a desired gas curtain. 
     In particularly preferred embodiments, the base section  202  is in the form of the “processing section  11 ” described and illustrated in Assignee&#39;s Applications Nos. 1 and 2. In such embodiments, an annular curtain of gas is provided between the inner rim of the baffle member and the outer periphery of the adjacent barrier plate structure. A representative embodiment of the invention having this structure is described in more detail in Assignee&#39;s copending Application No. 5. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative embodiment of barrier/dispense section  16  generally includes a barrier plate  56 , collar  200 , intake manifolds  300 , gas distribution system  400 , dispense features described further below, and plumbing (not shown). The barrier/dispense section  16  is similar to the “dispense assembly  554 ” of Assignee&#39;s Applications Nos. 1 through 5 and therefore may be coupled to the “moveable member  526 ” and substituted for the barrier/dispense sections described, shown, and/or referred to in these Applications. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, barrier plate  56  is generally annularly shaped, having a lower surface  58 . Advantageously, lower surface  58  of barrier plate  56  includes one or more features that help to collect and remove liquid that may be present. As one strategy, aspiration features and techniques may be used for liquid removal as described in Assignee&#39;s Application No. 3. To this end, tubing (not shown) is provided for aspirating liquid from the lower surface  58  of the bather plate  56 . Via z-axis movement, such as by using a component such as “moveable support member  526 ” according to Assignee&#39;s Applications Nos. 1 and 2, the position of barrier plate  56  relative to the underlying workpiece  12  can be controlled. 
     Preferably, at least lower surface  58  of barrier plate  56  is angled downward in a radially outward direction from the central axis  62  relative to the underlying plane of workpiece  12  to establish a tapering flow channel  64  between workpiece  12  and lower surface  58  of barrier plate  56 . The tapering configuration of channel  64  helps to promote radial flow outward from the center of workpiece  12  while minimizing recirculation zones. The taper also helps to smoothly converge and increase the velocity of flowing fluids approaching the outer edge of workpiece  12 . This helps to reduce liquid splash effects. The angle of lower surface  58  also helps motivate liquid on lower surface  58  to flow to the outer periphery, where the collected liquid can be aspirated away rather than drip downward onto workpiece  12 . The configuration also helps facilitate chemical reclaim efficiency by better containment of fluids. The angled lower surface  58  can have a variety of geometries. For instance, the geometry can be one or more of linear (conical), parabolic, polynomial, or the like. For purposes of illustration, the lower surface  58  generally linearly converges toward workpiece  12  in a radially outward direction. 
     Additionally with respect to this particular embodiment, the generally annular barrier plate  56  functions in one respect as a lid or cover over processing chamber  18  in order to help provide a protected environment for workpiece treatment and to help contain dispensed materials in the processing chamber  18 . However, because the barrier plate  56  is movable up and down in many embodiments, the generally annular barrier plate  56  preferably comes into close proximity, rather than direct physical contact with, other barriers helping to define processing chamber  18 , such as to establish the gap  48 . This minimizes particle generation that might otherwise occur as a result of such contact. This also minimizes the risk that a controller will lose track of stepper motor steps that might occur in the course of movement of the barrier plate  56 . Preferred embodiments of barrier plate  56  are further described in Assignee&#39;s Application Nos. 3 and 5. 
     A spray bar (not shown) can also be fitted to the underside of the barrier plate to provide dispense functionality to spray one or more treatment chemicals onto the workpiece  12 . Such a spray bar may have a footprint that spans all or a portion of the underlying workpiece. Spray bar embodiments are described in Assignee&#39;s Applications and issued patent cited herein. 
     A collar  200  is fitted onto the top of the barrier plate  56 . The collar  200  includes features for connecting plumbing, dispensing components, and other features while at the same time helping to isolate process chamber  18  from the ambient. Collar  200  can also provide functionality including helping to distribute rinse fluid(s), contain fumes, and providing a venturi function. As seen best in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , collar  200  includes a top flange  202 , a base flange  204 , and a body  206 . Base flange  204  is mounted to the underlying barrier plate  56  using any suitable fastening technique. For purposes of illustration, base flange  204  includes through apertures  208  for securing collar  200  to barrier plate  56  using suitable threaded fasteners (not shown). Alternative fastening techniques useful in this or any other fastening context of the present invention include rivets, glue, bolts, welds, clamps, tape, combinations of these, and the like. 
     Passageways  210  extend through collar  200  from inlets  214  to outlets  216 . Each passageway  210  is defined at least in part by walls  212 . As illustrated in this embodiment, each wall  212  smoothly diverges in a direction from relatively smaller inlet  214  that is generally round in cross-section to the relatively larger outlet  216  that is generally D-shaped in cross-section. The diverging geometry of each passageway  210  provides numerous benefits, including providing a relatively higher flow velocity at inlet  214  for containment, a relatively lower flow velocity at outlet  216  for smoother flow into process chamber  18 , and distribution of fluids such as rinsing fluids to the underside surface  58  of barrier plate  56 . Each outlet  216  is generally D-shaped to match the geometry of a corresponding aperture in the underlying barrier plate  56  in some embodiments. In use, each passageway  210  can be used to introduce process gases and/or vapors into the processing chamber  18  from one or more suitable sources that are fluidly coupled to the passageways. Accordingly, each passageway  210  desirably is smoothly contoured to promote smooth flow of these gases and/or vapors through collar  200  and then into the process chamber  18 . 
     In addition to a diverging geometry as shown, other geometries may also be used for passageways  210 . For instance, a portion of a passageway in alternative embodiments may include a portion that converges and then diverges such that the passageway includes a venturi feature such as is described in one or more of Assignee&#39;s patent properties cited herein. A venturi feature can help promote containment of processing gases and other fluids in the underlying process chamber  18 . 
     Threaded apertures  218  provide an easy way to attach plumbing and other components, such as intake manifolds  300 , to the top surface  220  of collar  200  using suitable fasteners. Optionally, suitable features such as grooves and corresponding fitted gaskets or the like can be provided in top surface  220  to help ensure a fluid tight seal between plumbing components and collar  200 . Similarly, features such as grooves and gaskets can be provided around the D-shaped outlets  216  to help provide a fluid tight seal between collar  200  and the underlying barrier plate  56 . 
     In the central region of collar  200 , pocket  224  provides a convenient pathway through which plumbing, nozzles, electrical lines, fiber optics, sensors, and other tool components may be led. A floor  222  is recessed within pocket  224  and includes apertures  226  which can be used to mount and/or lead such components. For example, a central dispense nozzle (see applications cited herein) can be mounted to a suitably located aperture in floor  222  in order to provide a pathway by which treatment fluids can be dispensed centrally onto an underlying workpiece  12 . Plumbing line(s) (not shown) that supply the spray bar (if any) also may be secured to and/or led through floor  222 . Rinsing lines also may be led into process chamber  18  through one or more of these apertures. Apertures  228  on pocket walls  230  can also be used to lead plumbing, electronic, or other lines into pocket  224  and then to the process chamber  18 . 
     As described further below, a swirling flow of rinsing fluid generated by rinsing techniques of the present invention may be used to rinse the underside of the barrier plate  56 . In many instances, the rinsing fluid will be water or another aqueous composition. This swirling flow will be guided to the underside of the barrier plate  56  at least in part by the walls  212  defining passageways  210 . To facilitate smooth conveyance of this swirling, aqueous flow to the barrier plate  56 , it is desirable to fabricate collar  200  from hydrophilic material(s). Quartz is an example of a suitable hydrophilic material. Another example of a suitable hydrophilic material comprises polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) having an appropriate surface treatment. Such surface treatments can include roughening, abrading, bead-blasting, chemically eroding, etching, and the like, for example. Another example of a suitable hydrophilic material can be obtained by irradiating polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), generally a hydrophobic material, with a suitable dosage of ionizing radiation such as ultraviolet radiation, electron beam radiation, or the like. The PPS often has a light yellow color as supplied. A suitable dosage of radiation modifies the color of the PPS to be yellowish-brown without unduly compromising the physical properties of the PPS. Often, the color change is a visual indicator that the surface has been rendered hydrophilic. A simple empirical test can be done by pouring water onto the treated material to see if the water beads up or sheets out. In some instances, a color change may be observed and yet the surface remains hydrophobic. The material can be retreated with the ionizing energy one or more times until the surface becomes hydrophilic. Combinations of two or more hydrophilic materials also may be used. 
     Referring mainly to  FIGS. 1 and 4-11 , intake manifolds  300  are connected to collar  200 . Each intake manifold  300  constitutes a portion of a pathway, along with the corresponding passageway  210 , through which one or more gases, vapors, or the like are supplied to processing chamber  18 . At least one of the intake manifolds, but preferably both, also incorporate rinse features that help to generate a swirling flow of water or other suitable liquid to be used to rinse surfaces  212  and the underside  58  of the barrier plate  56 . 
     As main components, each intake manifold  300  includes a base  302  and a cover  304  fitted onto the base  302 . Each base  302  in this illustrative embodiment includes a lower body portion  306  with a cylindrical cross-section, an upper body portion  308  with a square cross-section, and a mounting flange  310 . Mounting holes  312  in flange  310  can be used to help fasten intake manifold  300  to collar  200 . Passageway  314  extends through base  302  from inlet end  316  and outlet  318 . Proximal to inlet end  316 , passageway  314  is configured with a counterbore  320  including sidewall  324  and face  326 . Cylindrical wall  328  defines the remainder of passageway  314  extending from counterbore  320  to outlet  318 . 
     Base  302  desirably includes at least a portion of the features used to generate a swirling flow of rinsing liquid to wet and rinse the underside surface  58  of the barrier plate  56  as well as surfaces  212  of collar  200 . A plumbing connection  330  is provided on at least one side of upper body portion  308  to provide a site to attach a supply line (not shown) through which rinsing liquid is supplied from one or more suitable sources (not shown). A supply conduit  332  extends from inlet  334  at the tip  336  of the connection  330  to outlet  338  provided at face  326  (see  FIGS. 7 and 12 ). 
     For each manifold  300  in the illustrated embodiment, a cover  304  extends from top end  350  to bottom end  352  and includes as main components body  344 , mounting flange  346 , and stepped boss  348 . Apertures  347  in flange  346  facilitate mounting cover  304  to the corresponding base  302 . Passageway  356  extends through cover  304  from an inlet  358  proximal to top end  350  and an outlet  360  proximal to bottom end  352 . The passageways  356  serve as respective portions of the pathways along which gases, vapors, and the like are fed to process chamber  18 . Each manifold  300  is connected to collar  200  so that the passageway  356  is upstream from the corresponding passage  210  in collar  200 . Proximal to outlet  360 , each passageway  356  optionally may have a convex contour (not shown) to facilitate smooth delivery of fluids from passageway  356  into the corresponding passageway  210 . The portion of passageway  356  between inlet  358  and outlet  360  is defined by cylindrical wall  364 . O-ring(s) (not shown) in groove  366  proximal to top end  350  provide one illustrative way to couple cover  304  to supply lines  444  and  448 . 
     Stepped boss  348  includes body  367 , neck  369 , and collar  370 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , o-ring  380  fits into a circumferential groove  383  on body  367  to help form a fluid tight seal between body  367  and sidewall  324  when cover  304  is mounted to base  302 . 
     Cover  304  also includes at least a portion of the features used to generate the swirling flow of rinsing liquid. These features include guide wall  374  on collar  370 , which helps to create an annular gap  384  in which a swirling flow is generated. Additionally, a slot  376  (see  FIGS. 7 and 13 ) is provided on neck  369  and is aligned with the outlet  338 . Slot  376  forms a flow channel to allow liquid exiting outlet  338  to enter reservoir  382 . 
     A plurality of grooves  378  are formed in face  372  to serve as flow channels. The grooves  378  can be arranged in face  372  in a variety of ways. Generally, it is desirable to arrange the grooves  378  uniformly to help generate a more uniform sheeting action of generated swirling flows. In preferred embodiments as seen best in  FIG. 13 , the grooves are arranged in groups  391  with intervening lands  393 . Doing this allows placement of slot  376  in a land  393  without interfering with the uniform distribution of grooves  378  on face  372 . 
     The term obliquely in this context is contrasted to grooves that would be aimed generally radially inward toward central axis  342  ( FIG. 13 ). Oblique grooves  378  are generally collectively aimed non-radially in a manner to generate a swirling flow in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise fashion with respect to a top view of passageway  356 . Although each individual groove  378  need not be aimed obliquely to the same degree or even in the same oblique direction as other grooves  378 , it is desirable that all grooves  378 , if more than one groove is used, be aimed in substantially the same oblique direction to create either a clockwise swirling flow or a counterclockwise swirling flow. 
     As seen best in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , an annular reservoir  382  is formed in counterbore  320  when cover  304  is fitted into base  302 . Generally annular gap  384  is formed between guide wall  374  of collar  370  and the wall  328 . Guide wall  374  and wall  328  may be parallel in the area of gap  384  or may be nonparallel. In preferred embodiments, the gap  384  is slightly wider at the bottom. A diverging angle on the order of about 7 degrees would be suitable. 
     In use, rinsing liquid is supplied to rinsing supply conduit  332  by suitable plumbing supply lines (not shown). The rinsing liquid exits conduit  332  and fills annular reservoir  382  via outlet  338  and slot  376 . From reservoir  382 , the rinsing liquid is obliquely jetted inward toward guide wall  374  through flow channels formed by grooves  378 . The rinsing liquid thus enters the annular gap  384 . Due at least in part to the obliquely aimed grooves, a swirling flow of rinsing liquid is generated in gap  384 . The width of the gap  384  can impact the quality of the swirling action. For instance, if the gap is too wide, the swirl action may be less than might be desired. In one embodiment, a gap of 0.004 inches would be suitable. 
     The flow generated in gap  384  continues to swirl toward process chamber  18  through passageway  314 , sheeting across wall  328  without filling up passageways  314  and  356 , then through collar passageway  210  sheeting across wall  212  without filling up passageway  210 . The swirling rinsing liquid then flows outward from collar  200  onto the underside surface  58  of the barrier plate  56 . Effective, very uniform wetting and rinsing of surface  58  is achieved. The swirling sheeting flow helps to keep rinsing liquid on the surfaces desired to be rinsed and helps to minimize or eliminate dripping. 
     Several advantages result from this approach. Wetting of the full surface passages  210 ,  314 , and  356  via the swirling flow is desirably achieved as the swirling rinse liquid flows toward process chamber  18 . Achieving full surface coverage at this stage helps to promote a smooth, sheeting flow of liquid onto and across the lower surface of the barrier plate  56 . Gas flow accelerating through passages  210 ,  314 , and  356  further promotes spreading and thinning of the liquid flow on the lower surface  58  of the barrier plate  56 . 
     When dispensing water onto the preferably hydrophilic surfaces of the passages  210 ,  314 , and  356 , excellent sheeting action and coverage of the hydrophilic surfaces is observed with very little splashing or droplet formation. As the rinsing liquid flows onto the preferably hydrophilic lower surface  58  of the barrier plate  56 , the sheets of flowing rinsing liquid smoothly and uniformly sheet over and cover the lower, hydrophilic surface of the barrier plate. As the rinsing liquid flows outward toward the outer periphery of the barrier plate, aspiration techniques desirably are used to collect at least some of the rinse liquid as described in Assignee&#39;s Application No. 3. Aspiration may occur while rinsing and/or at the end of rinsing. 
     Being positioned above the collar  200 , the rinsing features incorporated into manifolds  300  also are well upstream from the process chamber  18 . This helps to protect the rinsing structures from contamination. This also allows the rinse to reach all surfaces likely to bear residual chemicals. As an additional advantage, it is easier to develop and implement a swirling fluid flow that achieves excellent surface wetting. All in all, these numerous features and benefits associated with the rinsing features integrated into the manifolds  300  provide reduced particle contamination. Barrier/dispense section  16  desirably includes one or more independent mechanisms for dispensing treatment materials into the processing chamber  18 . For instance, the illustrative embodiment includes at least one, preferably at least two, and more preferably at least three different kinds of dispensing capabilities. As one capability, a dispensing structure is included that sprays one or more treatment fluids downward toward workpiece  12 , generally across a radius of workpiece  12  so that full surface coverage is obtained via rotation of the workpiece  12  below the spray. In preferred embodiments, this capability is provided by a dispensing structure such as a spray bar mounted to barrier plate  56  and/or collar  200 . A preferred embodiment of such a spray bar and methods of incorporating such a spray bar into a barrier/dispense section are described in Assignee&#39;s Application No. 3 as “spray bar  178 ”. 
     As another dispensing capability, a dispensing structure may be included that dispenses treatment chemicals generally downward onto the center of the underlying workpiece  12 . As workpiece  12  spins, the centrally dispensed materials are distributed over the workpiece surface. In preferred embodiments, this capability is provided by a central dispense nozzle assembly (not shown) mounted to floor  222  of collar  200 . A preferred embodiment of such a nozzle is described as “center dispense nozzle assembly  518 ” in Assignee&#39;s Application No. 3. The mounting of this unit occurs similarly as is described in this application. 
     Additionally, gas distribution system  400  provides still yet another way to introduce processing materials, typically gases and/or vapors, optionally including entrained materials, into the processing chamber  18 . The gas distribution system  400  supplies such flows to passageways  210 ,  314 , and  356 . From these, the one or more flows are dispensed downstream into the process chamber  18 . 
     The dispensing components of the barrier/dispense section  16  may be coupled to one or more supplies (not shown) of treatment materials provided via suitable supply lines. These materials can be dispensed as supplied or blended on demand. A wide variety of treatment materials may be used, as tool  10  is quite flexible in the types of treatments that may be carried out. Just a small sampling of representative treatment materials include gases and liquids such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, ammonia, clean dry air, steam, argon, HF gas, aqueous HF, aqueous isopropyl alcohol or other alcohols and/or tensioactive material(s), deionized water, aqueous or other solutions of ammonium hydroxide, aqueous or other solutions of sulfuric acid and/or its desiccating species and precursors (e.g. sulfur trioxide (SO 3 ), thiosulfuric acid (H 2 S 2 O 3 ), peroxosulfuric acid (H 2 SO 5 ), peroxydisulfuric acid (H 2 S 2 O 8 ), fluorosulfuric acid (HSO 3 F), and chlorosulfuric acid (HSO 3 Cl)), aqueous or other solutions of nitric acid, aqueous or other solutions of phosphoric acid, aqueous or other solutions of hydrogen chloride, oxidizers such as hydrogen peroxide and/or ozone gas, aqueous ozone, surfactants, organic acids and solvents, chelating agents, oxygen scavengers, combinations of these and the like. 
     Gas supply system  400  is upstream from and is fluidly coupled to intake manifolds  300  to supply one or more gases, vapors, and/or the like to process chamber  18 . For purposes of illustration, system  400  is fluidly coupled to manifolds  300  via two supply lines  444  and  448 . In other embodiments, more or less supply lines may be used if desired. 
     System  400  incorporates amplified gas distribution station  462 . Amplified gas distribution station  462  includes as main components air amplifier  498 , valve  520 , and manifold  464 . On demand, the amplified gas distribution station  462  fluidly controllably couples the process chamber  18  to at least one source of ambient air. In preferred embodiments, amplified gas distribution station  462  is fluidly coupled to a source of ambient air in the robotics compartment associated with tool  10 . This is advantageous because such air is often purified to an extremely high degree, even higher than a surrounding clean room ambient external to tool  10 . This allows the amplified gas distribution station  462  to draw ambient air from a substantially particle free environment for very pure processing of microelectronic workpieces. Additionally, this conveniently places the station  462  in relative close proximity to the process chamber(s) served by the station. Of course, the amplified gas distribution station  462  can be placed in other locations as desired so long as a suitable source of ambient air is practically accessible. Other representative candidate locations include other compartments of the tool  10 , the surrounding clean room, other tools in the local clean room, or even distant tools or clean rooms. If the air intake of the air amplifier  498  is fitted with appropriate purification componentry, the air amplifier  498  can even be fluidly coupled to other sources of ambient air that would be purified by such componentry upstream from the air amplifier  498 . 
     An air amplifier refers to a device that uses a relatively low flow of pressurized gas to generate a much larger flow of a relatively lower pressure gas. In many instances, the lower pressure gas is the ambient air. An air amplifier device takes energy from a small volume of pressurized gas to produce a high velocity, high-volume, low-pressure output airflow. Amplification ratios in the range of from greater than 1 to as much as 75:1 are achieved in many commercially available units. In the present invention amplification ratios in the range from greater than one to about 25:1 preferably from greater than about two to about 10:1 would be suitable. Under one set of conditions, using an amplification ratio of 4:1 was found to be suitable. 
     Air amplifier  498  includes an inlet  504  for receiving a pressurized gas flow via line  505  and an air intake  502  for receiving a feed of ambient air. Due to the internal structure of the air amplifier, the pressurized gas both pulls a much larger volume of ambient air into the air amplifier  498  through air intake  502  and also motivates the amplified ambient air to flow downstream toward manifold  464 . Usually, the pressurized gas is sourced independently of the ambient air. Examples of other gases and vapors suitable for this application include nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, clean dry air, combinations of these, and the like. Even though the process chamber  18  is shown as being serviced by a single air amplifier  498 , more than one air amplifier may serve one or more process chambers in other embodiments. 
     When valve  520  is open and the air amplifier  498  is operating, the flow of ambient air flows to manifold  464 . From there, the air flows to intake manifolds  300  via lines  444  and  448 . When the valve  520  is closed whether or not the flow of pressurized gas into the inlet  504  of air amplifier  498  is stopped (although it is desirable to stop the flow of the pressured gas into inlet  504  when valve  520  is closed), the environmentally controlled fluid pathways extending through manifold  464 , supply lines  444  and  448 , manifolds  300 , and collar  200  are isolated from the ambient. Preferably, the valve  520  is normally closed so that, in the event of a power failure, the exposure of the downstream process chamber  18  to the ambient via is blocked. 
     A particularly preferred embodiment of an air amplifier is the model No. 40001 adjustable air amplifier commercially available from NEX except that the stainless steel locking nut provided with the commercially available unit is replaced with a locking nut manufactured from PVDF. The PVDF nut is substituted in order to cover and protect the stainless steel from chemical exposure. In other embodiments, additional components of the air amplifier, or even the entire air amplifier can be made from PVDF, PTFE, and/or other inert material(s). 
     Manifold  464  includes features that allow the manifold  464  to receive fluids from multiple sources and then distribute such fluids to one or more downstream destinations such as supply lines  444  and  448 , manifolds  300 , collar  200 , and process chamber  18 . Manifold  464  includes an inlet  468  for receiving a flow of amplified air and one or more independent inlets for receiving flows of non-ambient gases. For purposes of illustration, a single such independent inlet  472  is shown for supplying manifold with a supply of an inert gas such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or the like. 
     As an alternative to supplying a flow of amplified air, system  400  also may be used to supply other gases and vapors to process chamber  18 . For example, a flow of one or more non-ambient gases, such as an inert gas such as nitrogen, surface tension modifying agent (e.g., isopropyl alcohol), an etching gas, oxidizing gas, ammonia, CO 2 , clean dry air, and/or the like, can be introduced into the fluid pathways  444  and  448  via manifold  464  through supply line  472  by opening valve  66 . If it is desired to further isolate chamber  18  from the ambient so as to exclude oxygen or for any other reason, the a curtain of gas may be provided to establish a barrier across gap  48 . 
     Various modifications and alterations to this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It should be understood that this invention is not intended to be unduly limited by the illustrative embodiments and examples set forth herein and that such examples and embodiments are presented by way of example only with the scope of the invention intended to be limited only by the claims set forth herein as follows.