Patent Publication Number: US-2012043199-A9

Title: Fluid-confining apparatus and method of operating the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention provides a fluid-confining apparatus and method of operating it, and especially a fluid-confining apparatus that can be applied to a plating process, a cleaning process or a polishing process. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Technologies used for depositing a metal material layer include a physical vapor deposition, a chemical vapor deposition, an electroless plating process, an electro-chemical deposition, and so forth at present. With advantages of low cost and high throughput, electro chemical plating (ECP) technology is widely used in the semiconductor industry. During the process of electro chemical plating, the uniformity of the surface of the formed layer is affected by factors such as a component of an electrolyte fluid, temperature, current density, and a cleanness of the deposited surface. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are schematic diagrams illustrating a prior art electro chemical plating process. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a wafer  10  and a plating apparatus  20  are first provided. The plating apparatus  20  includes an electrolytic tank  12 , an electrolyte fluid  22 , an anode system  14 , a cathode electrode  16  and a fixing component  18 . The electrolytic tank  12  is applied for storing the electrolyte fluid  22 , and the main component of the electrolyte fluid  22  is metal ions. The anode system  14  includes an anode chamber  30 , an anode electrode  24 , a filter membrane  26 , a diffuser membrane  28 , and an electrolyte fluid supplying tube  32 . 
     The wafer  10  is positioned between the cathode electrode  16  and the fixing component  18  so that the wafer  10  is clamped tightly by both the cathode electrode  16  and the fixing component  18 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the wafer  10  is a little bit inclined so that the wafer  10  and the liquid surface of the electrolyte fluid  22  have a small angle. The wafer  10  is dipped into the electrolyte fluid  22  slowly so that bubbles will not attach to the surface of the wafer  10 . Afterward, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the wafer  10  is electrically connected the cathode electrode  16  for being plated. For improving the uniformity of the deposited thin film, the cathode electrode  16  normally spins so as to ensure that the wafer  10  can continually contact a fresh electrolyte fluid during the electro chemical deposition process. When an external voltage or current is applied to the plating apparatus  20 , a circuit including the anode system  14 , the electrolyte fluid  22 , the cathode electrode  16  will conduct, and a reduction reaction occurs around the cathode electrode  16  so that the metal material is deposited on the wafer  10 . 
     The prior art electro chemical plating process not only forms the metal material on the front side of the wafer  10 , but also forms the metal material on the edge bevel of the wafer  10 . However, the metal material attached to the edge bevel is actually unnecessary for the products. Pealing of the remaining metal material frequently occurs in subsequent processes due to thermal stress or other reasons, leading to the cracking of the metal material. Flakes and particles of the metal material caused by the cracking frequently fall on the lower wafers and contaminate top surfaces of the semiconductor wafers positioned under the semiconductor wafer  10  during either a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process or the transportation of the semiconductor wafers. Thus, the performance of the products is greatly affected. 
     In order to avoid the above-mentioned problem, an additional removing process, an additional cleaning process and an additional drying process should be carried out to remove the metal material attached to the edge bevel after the prior art electro chemical plating process. It will not only increase the process time and the process cost, but also increases the complexity of the process. As a result, the yield of products is decreased. Referring to the electrolyte fluid  22 , since the whole anode system  14 , the whole wafer  10  and the whole electrode  16  should be bathed in the electrolyte fluid  22 , and the wafer  10  has to be inclined when the wafer  10  is going into the electrolyte fluid  22 , a huge electrolytic tank  12  and a great deal of the electrolyte fluid  22  are required for the prior art electro chemical plating process. After a period of the electro chemical plating process, the process should be paused for exchanging the electrolyte fluid  22 . The old electrolyte fluid  22  should be poured out, and then the new electrolyte fluid  22  is infused into the electrolytic tank  12 . Accordingly, the exchange of the electrolyte fluid  22  takes a long time and therefore reduces the output. 
     On the other hand, in order to perform the prior art electro chemical plating process, a single wafer  10  is first disposed between the cathode electrode  16  and the fixing component  18  by a robot arm, and is disposed into the electrolyte fluid  22  at an angle. Thereafter, the plating apparatus  20  is opened to perform the plating reaction. Next, the wafer  10  is removed from the electrolytic tank  12 , and undergoes the subsequent processes, such as a cleaning process and a drying process. According to the operational limitation of the prior art plating apparatus  20 , the electro chemical plating process cannot handle a great deal of wafer  10  in batch, and seriously affects the output of products. Furthermore, it is difficult for the prior art plating apparatus  20  to perform an in-situ measurement on the wafer  10 . As a result, the electro chemical plating process cannot be accurately and quickly controlled, and an additional time is required for the measurement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a fluid-confining apparatus and its operating method so as to solve the above-mentioned problem. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a fluid-confining apparatus applied for plating. The fluid-confining apparatus includes at least a substrate holder, at least a cathode electrode, at least an anode system, at least a confining fluid supplying tube, at least a confining fluid recovering tube, at least a process fluid supplying tube and at least a process fluid recovering tube. The substrate holder is applied for holding at least a semiconductor substrate. The cathode electrode is disposed around a surface of the substrate holder, adapted for electrically connecting to the semiconductor substrate. The anode system is positioned above the substrate holder, substantially corresponding to the semiconductor substrate. The anode system and the substrate holder is a reaction height apart. At least a treatment region and at least a non-treatment region are defined between the anode system and the cathode electrode. The confining fluid supplying tube and the confining fluid recovering tube are both corresponding to the non-treatment region, adapted for providing and recovering at least a confining fluid respectively. The process fluid supplying tube and the process fluid recovering tube are both corresponding to the treatment region, adapted for providing and recovering at least an electrolyte fluid respectively. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a fluid-confining apparatus is provided. First, at least a fluid-confining apparatus is provided. The fluid-confining apparatus includes at least a substrate holder, at least a confining fluid supplying tube and at least a confining fluid recovering tube. At least a treatment region and at least a non-treatment region are defined on the substrate holder. Subsequently, at least a semiconductor substrate is provided, and the semiconductor substrate is fixed on the substrate holder. Next, the confining fluid supplying tube and confining fluid recovering tube are opened, so that at least a confining fluid continually flows from the confining fluid supplying tube to the confining fluid recovering tube. The confining fluid flows the non-treatment region of the fluid-confining apparatus. Thereafter, at least a process fluid is supplied. The process fluid contacts the treatment region of the fluid-confining apparatus, and the process fluid does not dissolve in the confining fluid. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  are schematic diagrams illustrating a prior art electro chemical plating process; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating a fluid-confining apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating the anode system shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are schematic diagrams illustrating the substrate holder shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are schematic diagrams illustrating the cathode electrode shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  through  FIG. 12  are schematic cross-sectional diagrams illustrating the tubes shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating another fluid-confining apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating an operating method of the fluid-confining apparatus shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  through  FIG. 18  are schematic diagrams illustrating other operating methods of the fluid-confining apparatus shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20  are schematic cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a fluid-confining apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  through  FIG. 24  are schematic diagrams illustrating other operating methods of the fluid-confining apparatus shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating a fluid-confining apparatus according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 26  is a schematic diagram illustrating another operating method of a fluid-confining apparatus; 
         FIG. 27  is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 28  is a schematic three-dimensional diagram illustrating the transferring device shown in  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 29  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating the process equipment shown in  FIG. 27 ; 
         FIG. 30  is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 31  is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 32  is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 33  is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment according to an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating a fluid-confining apparatus  220  applied for plating according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating the anode system  114  shown in  FIG. 4 , where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements. It is to be understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale and are served only for illustration purposes. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a fluid-confining apparatus  220  applied for plating is provided in this embodiment. The fluid-confining apparatus  220  includes a fluid-confining system  120  and an anode system  114 . The fluid-confining system  120  includes a substrate holder  130 , a cathode electrode  116 , at least a first tube  132 , at least a second tube  134 , at least a third tube  142  and at least a fourth tube  144 . 
     The anode system  114  is disposed above the substrate holder  130 , and is substantially corresponding to the semiconductor substrate  110 . The anode system  114  and the substrate holder  130  are a reaction height H apart. On one hand, the anode system  114  can provide a required voltage for the plating reaction. On the other hand, the anode system  114  can help the fluid-confining apparatus  220  to control the height that the process fluid occupies. For the fluid-confining apparatus  220 , the anode system  114  can be a rotary system or a fixed system. In other words, relative to the substrate holder  130 , the anode system  114  can take a rotation, or can keep in a fixed position. In addition, the substrate holder  130  can also rotate, or keep in a fixed position. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the anode system  114  can include an anode electrode  124 , and can optionally include at least a fifth tube  136  and a sensor  122 . In another embodiment, the anode system  114  can include a detector (not shown in the drawing). Furthermore, the anode system  114  can also include other components, such as an anode chamber  118 , a filter membrane  126  or a diffuser membrane  128 . 
     The substrate holder  130  is applied for holding at least a semiconductor substrate  110 . The substrate holder  130  of the present invention can have a belt type structure or a ring type structure, as shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . The substrate holder  130  shown in  FIG. 6  has a conveying belt  130   a  so that numerous semiconductor substrates  110 , which wait to be processed, can be transferred into the fluid-confining apparatus  220  through the substrate holders  130 . The substrate holder  130  of  FIG. 7  has at least a ring type structure  130   b  so as to place the semiconductor substrates  110  that need to be treated. It should be noticed that the substrate holder  130  could have a ring type structure and a conveying belt in the meantime (not shown in the drawing). The ring type structure can be applied for holding the semiconductor substrate  110 , and the conveying belt can be applied for transferring the ring type structure and the semiconductor substrate  110 . 
     The cathode electrode  116  is disposed on a surface of the substrate holder  130 , and can be electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate  110 . In the fluid-confining apparatus  220 , the cathode electrode  116  can also be a fixing component to fix the semiconductor substrate  110  in a predetermined position of the substrate holder  130  in this embodiment. In light of this, the cathode electrode  116  can have an electrostatic chuck (e-chuck), a vacuum chuck, a ring type structure or a clamp type structure, as shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . The cathode electrode  116  shown in  FIG. 8  can move from a position above the semiconductor substrate  110  toward the semiconductor substrate  110  so as to fix the semiconductor substrate  110  to the surface of the substrate holder  130 . The cathode electrode  116  shown in  FIG. 9  can be fixed to the substrate holder  130 , and clamps the semiconductor substrate  110  from the side of the semiconductor substrate  110  toward the center of the semiconductor substrate  110 . A treatment region (not shown in the drawing) and a non-treatment region (not shown in the drawing) are defined on the substrate holder  130 , and in a space between the anode system  114  and the cathode electrode  116 . A portion of the semiconductor substrate  110 , which will be disposed in the treatment region, will undergo the plating process, and a portion of the semiconductor substrate  110 , which will be disposed in the non-treatment region, will not undergo the plating process. 
     The first tube  132 , the second tube  134 , the third tube  142  and the fourth tube  144  are all disposed around the anode system  114  to provide or recover the needed substances, such as chemical substances, additives, deionized water, gases, or the confining fluid. Relative to the semiconductor substrates  110  that waits to be treated, the third tube  142  and the fourth tube  144  are disposed outside the first tube  132  and the second tube  134 . The first tube  132 , the second tube  134 , the third tube  142  and the fourth tube  144  can have any possible shape. For instance, the cross-sections of the above-mention tubes might be a circle, a semicircle, an arc, an ellipse, a rectangle, a polygon, and so on. Taking the structure shown in  FIG. 10  as an example, the first tube  132  and the second tube  134  shown in  FIG. 10  are both circular pipes, while the cross-section of the third tube  142  and the cross-section of the fourth tube  144  are arcs. 
     In addition, the fluid-confining apparatus in the present invention can also include a plurality of first tubes  132 , a plurality of second tubes  134 , a plurality of third tubes  142 , or a plurality of fourth tubes  144 . The numerous tubes can be arranged in any shape, such as a circle, a semicircle, an arc, an ellipse, a straight line or a rectangle. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the first tube  132 , the second tube  134 , the third tubes  142  and the fourth tubes  144  are all circular pipes, while the third tubes  142  and the fourth tubes  144  are arranged in a circular pattern respectively. On other hand, as shown in  FIG. 12 , when the fluid-confining apparatus  220  includes sidewalls  152  on the substrate holder  130 , the third tubes  142  and the fourth tubes  144  can have linear shapes in the cross-sections respectively, and can be parallel with each other. It should be noted that all the tubes shown in the drawings incline toward the center of the semiconductor substrate  110 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . However, the present invention should not be limited thereto. The fluid-confining apparatus  220  in the present invention can be arranged perpendicular to the front side of the semiconductor substrate  110 , can incline toward the surroundings, or even be arranged parallel with the front side of the semiconductor substrate  110 . 
     In addition to the inner part of the anode system  114 , any portion of the fluid-confining apparatus  220  can include a tube. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the fluid-confining system  120  can further include at least a sixth tube  146  and at least a seventh tube  148 . The sixth tube  146  and the seventh tube  148  are disposed in the substrate holder  130 , and around the semiconductor substrate  110 . Similar to the above-mentioned tubes, the cross-section of the sixth tube  146  and the cross-section of the seventh tube  148  might be any possible shape, while a plurality of sixth tubes  146  and a plurality of the seventh tubes  148  can be arranged in any possible pattern. The fluid-confining apparatus  220  can control the on/off state of the first tube  132 , the second tube  134 , the third tube  142 , the fourth tube  144 , the fifth tube  136 , the sixth tube  146  and the seventh tube  148  by valves of these tubes or by the various fluid pressures in these tubes. In addition, the fluid-confining apparatus  220  can also control the kind of flowing fluid, the flowing direction, the flow rate in each tube, and even controls the angle and position of each tube. 
     In addition to the inner part of the anode system  114 , a detector or various sensors  122 , such as a temperature sensor, a flow rate sensor, or a sensor system for measuring the surface condition of the wafer (the wafer flatness or the thickness), can be included in any portion of the fluid-confining apparatus  220  in practice. For example can be included. For example, a sensor  122  can be included in the first tube  132 , and another sensor  122  can be included in the second tube  134 . An in-situ measurement for the process condition or for the process fluid can be performed by these sensors during the process, so the process condition can be accurately and quickly controlled. Thus, the process condition or the quality of process fluid can be fed back automatically, and therefore can be immediately adjusted. 
     In order to emphasize the characteristic of the present invention, an operating method of the present invention is explained while the fluid-confining apparatus  220  is applied to an electro chemical plating process. Please refer to  FIG. 14 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating an operating method of the fluid-confining apparatus  220  applied for plating shown in  FIG. 13 , where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the fluid-confining apparatus  220  shown in  FIG. 13  is first provided. Subsequently, at least a semiconductor substrate  110  is provided. The semiconductor substrate  110  is fixed on the substrate holder  130  by the cathode electrode  116  or other fixing components. The semiconductor substrate  110  can be a wafer, a silicon substrate or a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. In this embodiment, the semiconductor substrate  110  is a wafer. Because the front side of the wafer should undergo the plating process, and the edge bevel of the wafer should not undergo the plating process, the front side of the wafer should be corresponding to the treatment region  102  of the fluid-confining apparatus  220 , while the edge bevel of the wafer should be corresponding to the non-treatment region  104  of the fluid-confining apparatus  220 . The front side of the wafer can be positioned face-up, and toward the anode system  114 . 
     Next, the third tube  142  and the fourth tube  144  are opened so that a confining fluid  154  continually flows from the fourth tube  144 to the third tube  142 , where the sixth tube  146  and the seventh tube  148  are closed. The confining fluid  154  is applied to confine the process fluid, such as the chemical substance or the cleaning fluid, so that the process fluid will not contact the portion of the semiconductor substrate  110  that should not undergo the plating process. For example, the confining fluid  154  can contain an inert gas, such as nitrogen gas. The fourth tube  144  and the third tube  142  are both disposed around the semiconductor substrate  110 , are applied to provide and recover the confining fluid  154  respectively. A path for the confining fluid flowing from the fourth tube  144  to the third tube  142  is a flowing path P. According to the arrangements of the third tube  142  and the fourth tube  144 , the confining fluid  154  flows the non-treatment region of the fluid-confining apparatus  220 . 
     Thereafter, the first tube  132  and the second tube  134  are opened so that an electrolyte fluid  156  continually flows from the first tube  132 , and is recovered by the second tube  134 . The electrolyte fluid  156  is the process fluid in the electro chemical plating process. The first tube  132  and the second tube  134  are applied for providing and recovering the electrolyte fluid  156  respectively, and are disposed between the semiconductor substrate  110  and the flowing path P of the confining fluid  154 . In order to make the electrolyte fluid  156  and the confining fluid  154  to flow continuously, a pump can be included inside or outside the fluid-confining apparatus  220 , functioning as a power source, but should not be limited thereto. In other embodiments of the present invention, the process fluid does not have to be provided and recovered continuously. First, a certain amount of the process fluid may be provided to help the reaction. The process fluid might be recovered thereafter, or a new process fluid might be provided thereafter in according to the process condition. 
     Because it is hard for the electrolyte fluid  156  and the confining fluid  154  to dissolve in each other, the confining fluid  154  can control the flowing space of the electrolyte fluid  156 . Thus, the electrolyte fluid  156  will not contact the portion of the semiconductor substrate  110  that should not undergo the process, and only contacts the portion of the semiconductor substrate  110  that should undergo the process. Accordingly, the fluid-confining apparatus  220  can control the occupied space of the electrolyte fluid  156  by means of controlling the flow rate of the confining fluid  154 , the flow rate of the electrolyte fluid  156 , the position of each tube, and the angle of each tube. 
     The anode electrode  124  and the cathode electrode  116  can be electrically connected to the different voltages respectively after or before the electrolyte fluid  156  flows into the fluid-confining apparatus  220 . Thus, a circuit including the anode electrode  124 , the electrolyte fluid  156 , and the cathode electrode  116  conducts, and a reduction reaction occurs around the cathode electrode  116  so that the metal material is deposited on the front side of the semiconductor substrate  110 . 
     In the above-mentioned condition, the confining fluid  154  and the electrolyte fluid  156  will not react with each other. The reason that confining fluid  154  can confine the position and the shape of the electrolyte fluid  156  is that the confining fluid  154  and the electrolyte fluid  156  do not dissolve in each other. In the present invention, the process fluid or the confining fluid can flow in liquid state, gas state, vapor state, or gel state. For example, the electrolyte fluid  156  can flow in liquid state, and the confining fluid  154  can be in gas state. In another embodiment, the electrolyte fluid  156  and the confining fluid  154  can both flow in liquid state. The confining fluid  154  can even include a supercritical fluid, such as carbon dioxide. In other embodiments of the present invention, the confining fluid  154  can further include a variety of substances so as to help the process operation or to assist in controlling the electrolyte fluid  156 . For instance, the confining fluid  154  can include an ionized gas, a hot gas or a cold gas so as to change the process temperature, the temperature of the electrolyte fluid  156 , or the characteristics of the electrolyte fluid  156 . Thus, the confining fluid  154  not only maintains the shape and the position of the process fluid, but also enhances the process. The confining fluid  154  can even remove residues positioned on the semiconductor substrate  110 . 
     It is a characteristic of the present invention that a confining fluid is applied to confine the process fluid into a predetermined space and to keep the process fluid in a predetermined position in place of the prior art tank. For the above-mentioned purpose, the confining fluid and the process fluid should not dissolve in each other. The process fluid might be confined by the flowing path P of the confining fluid, by a magnetic force between the confining fluid and the process fluid, by an electric force between the confining fluid and the process fluid. In light of this, the confining fluid  154  can include a magnetic substance, a charged substance, a magneto-rheological fluid (MRF), an electro-rheological fluid (ERF), or even a solid particle. Accordingly, the fluid-confining apparatus  220  can control the characteristics of the confining fluid  154  or the characteristics of the electrolyte fluid  156  by magnetic force or by electric force, so the position of the electrolyte fluid  156  is controlled. 
     The above-mentioned operating method is merely one of the various operating methods of the present invention, the actual flowing paths of the confining fluid  154  and the electrolyte fluid  156  be adjusted according to the process. In other words, the confining fluid  154  and the electrolyte fluid  156  can be supplied in any possible tube, and can be recovered in any appropriate tube. Please refer to  FIG. 15  to  FIG. 18 , which are schematic diagrams illustrating other operating methods of the fluid-confining apparatus  220  applied for plating shown in  FIG. 13 , where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements. The operating methods shown in  FIG. 15  to  FIG. 18  can also be applied to an electro chemical plating process. The main differences among these operating methods lie in the flowing tubes for the confining fluid  154  and the electrolyte fluid  156 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the confining fluid  154  still flows from the fourth tube  144 , and is recovered by the third tube  142 . However, the electrolyte fluid  156  in this operating method flows from the second tube  134 , and is recovered by the first the tube  132 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , the flowing path P of the confining fluid  154  is similar to the above-mentioned operating methods, while the electrolyte fluid  156  in this operating method flows from the fifth tube  136 , and is recovered by both the first tube  132  and the second tube  134 . As shown in  FIG. 17 , the electrolyte fluid  156  flows from the first the tube  132 , and is recovered by the second tube  134 . The confining fluid  154  flows from the sixth tube  146 , and is recovered by the third tube  142 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , the electrolyte fluid  156  flows from the first the tube  132 , and is recovered by the second tube  134 . The confining fluid  154  flows from both the sixth tube  146  and the seventh tube  148 , and is recovered by both the third tube  142  and the fourth tube  144 . 
     It deserves to be mentioned that the above-mentioned fluid-confining apparatus  220 , the flowing path P of the confining fluid  154 , and the flowing path of the electrolyte fluid  156  can be applied to the solvent cleaning process. The fluid-confining apparatus  220  of the present invention can be applied to any process that utilizes fluid, such as a drying process, a wet etching process, an electroless plating process, a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process, or an electro chemical mechanical polishing process. When the fluid-confining apparatus  220  is applied to the cleaning process, it is not necessary for the anode electrode  124  and the cathode electrode  116  to be electrically connected to the different voltages, and the electrolyte fluid  156  is replaced by a cleaning fluid, such as a deionized water (DI water) or a supercritical fluid. Therefore, after a semiconductor substrate  110  undergoes an electro chemical plating process in the fluid-confining apparatus  220 , the voltages applied the anode electrode and to the cathode electrode can be turned off, and the process fluid can be changed, so that the semiconductor substrate  110  can undergo a cleaning process or a drying process in the same apparatus. 
     It is worthy of note that the anode electrode and the cathode electrode of the fluid-confining apparatus are unnecessary in a cleaning process. Please refer to  FIG. 19 , which is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating a fluid-confining apparatus  320  applied for cleaning according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements. As shown in  FIG. 19 , a fluid-confining apparatus  320  applied for cleaning is provided in this embodiment. The main difference between the fluid-confining apparatus  320  and the fluid-confining apparatus  220  is that the fluid-confining apparatus  320  applied for cleaning has no cathode electrode  116  and no anode system  114 . Therefore, the fluid-confining apparatus  320  includes a fixing component  216  for fixing the semiconductor substrate  110 , and includes a tube system  214  to control the reaction height H of the process. The fixing component  216  can be an electrostatic chuck, a vacuum chuck or a clamp type structure. The tube system  214  is disposed above the substrate holder  130 , and is substantially corresponding to the semiconductor substrate  110 . The tube system  214  and the substrate holder  130  are a reaction height H apart. A treatment region (not shown in the drawing) and a non-treatment region (not shown in the drawing) are defined on the substrate holder  130 . A portion of the semiconductor substrate  110 , which will be disposed in the treatment region, will undergo the plating process, and a portion of the semiconductor substrate  110 , which will be disposed in the non-treatment region, will not undergo the plating process. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, the fluid-confining system  120  itself can perform a cleaning process, an etching process or a drying process. The position of the process fluid can be controlled by the gravity of the process fluid and the confining fluid, as shown in  FIG. 20 . 
     When the fluid-confining apparatus  320  is applied to an etching process or a cleaning process, the flowing paths of the confining fluid and the process fluid can be different from the above-mentioned flowing paths. Please refer to  FIG. 21  to  FIG. 24 , which are schematic diagrams illustrating other operating methods of the fluid-confining apparatus  320  applied for cleaning shown in  FIG. 19 , where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements, and the semiconductor substrate  110  can still be a wafer. As shown in  FIG. 21 , when the front side of the semiconductor substrate  110  should be cleaned, the cleaning fluid  256  flows from both the first the tube  132  and the second tube  134  and is recovered by the fifth tube  136 . The confining fluid  154  is supplied from both the sixth tube  146  and the seventh tube  148 , flows from bottom to top, and is recovered by the third tube  142  and the fourth tube  144 . Otherwise, as shown in  FIG. 22 , the confining fluid  154  can be supplied from both the third tube  142  and the fourth tube  144 , flows from top to bottom, and is recovered by the sixth tube  146  and the seventh tube  148 . 
     When the edge bevel of the semiconductor substrate  110  should be cleaned, the treatment region of the fluid-confining apparatus  320  corresponds to the edge bevel of the semiconductor substrate  110 , and the non-treatment region of the fluid-confining apparatus  320  corresponds to the front side of the semiconductor substrate  110 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , the confining fluid  154  flows from both the first the tube  132  and the second tube  134  and is recovered by the fifth tube  136  so to prevent the front side of the semiconductor substrate  110  from the cleaning fluid  256 . The cleaning fluid  256  flows from the sixth tube  146 , and is recovered by the third tube  142 . Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 24 , when the back surface of the semiconductor substrate  110  should be cleaned, the semiconductor substrate  110  is slightly lifted by the fixing component  216 . Afterward, the cleaning fluid  256  flows from the sixth tube  146 , and is recovered by the third tube  142 . The confining fluid  154  flows from both the first the tube  132  and the second tube  134  and is recovered by the fifth tube  136 . 
     The fluid-confining apparatus  220  and the fluid-confining apparatus  320  can further be applied to the chemical mechanical polishing process, which includes the traditional chemical mechanical polishing process and the electrochemical polishing process. Please refer to  FIG. 25 , which is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating a fluid-confining apparatus  720  according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 25 , a fluid-confining apparatus  720  can include a polishing system  714  and a fluid-confining system  120 . The polishing system  714  can include a polishing pad  751 , a pad holder  724 , and a polishing slurry  158 . 
     When the fluid-confining apparatus  720  is applied to the electrochemical polishing process, the fixing component  216  can be an anode electrode, and the pad holder  724  can be a cathode electrode so to increase the polishing rate by electricity. Furthermore, when the fluid-confining apparatus  720  is applied to the traditional chemical mechanical polishing process, the voltages applied the anode electrode and to the cathode electrode can be turned off, so that the semiconductor substrate  110  can undergo a traditional chemical mechanical polishing process in the same apparatus. In other words, the semiconductor substrate  110  can easily undergo a variety of processes, in the same apparatus by changing the process fluids, some components, or switching components therein. For instance, the semiconductor substrate  110  can undergo a cleaning process in the same apparatus immediately after a chemical mechanical polishing process. 
     A treatment region (not shown in the drawing) and a non-treatment region (not shown in the drawing) are defined on the substrate holder  130 . A portion of the semiconductor substrate  110 , which will be disposed in the treatment region, will undergo the chemical mechanical polishing process, and a portion of the semiconductor substrate  110 , which will be disposed in the non-treatment region, will not undergo the chemical mechanical polishing process. It deserves to be mentioned that the flowing paths P of the confining fluid  154 , and the flowing paths of the process fluid can be applied to the chemical mechanical polishing process. The height and the position of the polishing pad  751  can be adjusted according to the process design. In order to operate a chemical mechanical polishing process in the fluid-confining apparatus  720 , the polishing pad  751  can press down on the surface of the semiconductor substrate  110 , or the semiconductor substrate  110  can be lifted to the surface of the polishing pad  751  by the substrate holder  130  or the fixing component  216 . 
     The polishing system  714  can further include a sensor  722  for measuring the wafer flatness condition or measuring the thickness of a material layer. An in-situ measurement for the wafer condition can be performed by the sensor  722  during the process, so the process condition can be fed back automatically, and be immediately adjusted. In addition, the polishing system  714  can include various polishing devices, such as a rotary type device, a linear type device, an orbital type device, or a fixed abrasive web system. When a fixed abrasive web system is applied, the fixed abrasive web system employs a roll of polishing pad  751  that contains the polishing abrasive to polish the semiconductor substrate  110  instead of using the polishing slurry. In such a case, the polishing slurry  158  may be diluted water (DI water) or other polishing fluid. The fluid-confining apparatus  720  can do the full wafer polishing, do critical layer polishing, or just do rework flow at local area, such as an outstanding structure of a material layer on the surface of a wafer. In practice, the size of the polishing pad  751  can be larger than, smaller than, or equal to the size of the semiconductor substrate  110 . 
     Accordingly, the fluid-confining apparatus  320  applied for cleaning can also be applied to the traditional chemical mechanical polishing process, when at least a polishing pad is included in the fluid-confining apparatus  320 . 
     Because a confining fluid is applied to confine the polishing slurry  158  or DI water, and the height and the position of the polishing pad  751  can be adjusted to polish a predetermined portion of the semiconductor substrate  110  or the whole semiconductor substrate  110 , the fluid-confining apparatus  720  has the following benefits. Firstly, the position of treatment region, the position of non-treatment region and the relative position of the semiconductor substrate  110  can be easily adjusted, so a predetermined portion of the semiconductor substrate  110  can be polished without polishing or damage other portion of the semiconductor substrate  110  or other material layer. 
     Subsequently, the poor uniformity issue usually exists in the surface of a semiconductor substrate  110  or in the surface of a certain material layer after a traditional etching process, a traditional deposition process, or a traditional polishing process. For example, the edge of a semiconductor substrate  110  is usually thinner than the center of the semiconductor substrate  110  after a traditional polishing process. Since the position of treatment region and the position of non-treatment region can be easily adjusted, and the flatness condition of the semiconductor substrate  110  or of the material layer can be in-situ measured, a semiconductor substrate  110  or a material layer having an optimal uniformity can be automatically formed. 
     Furthermore, since the position of the treatment region is determined by using a confining fluid, the size of the polishing pad  751  is no longer limited to the traditional size. The fluid-confining apparatus  720  can include a polishing pad  751  having any proper size. In addition, because the polishing slurry  158  or DI water is applied to only the treatment region, the fluid-confining apparatus  720  can prevent portions of the semiconductor substrate  110  positioned within the non-treatment region from contacting the polishing slurry  158  or DI water. As a result, portions of the semiconductor substrate  110  positioned within the non-treatment region are protected from pollution, and consumed quantity of the polishing slurry  158  or DI water is decreased. 
     It should be noted that all the fluid-confining apparatus  220  applied for plating, the fluid-confining apparatus  320  applied for cleaning, and the fluid-confining apparatus  720  applied for polishing can perform a local process on a particular region of a wafer. Please refer to  FIG. 26 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating another operating method of a fluid-confining apparatus. As shown in  FIG. 26 , a fluid-confining apparatus can includes a fluid-confining system  120  and a system  914 , where the system  914  can be the anode system  114 , the tube system  214 , or the polishing system  714 . The fluid-confining apparatus can perform a local plating process, a local cleaning process or a local polishing process on the semiconductor substrate  110 . The treatment region should not be limited to the front side or the edge bevel of the wafer. The treatment region can correspond to any portion of the semiconductor substrate  110 , such as a certain active region of a wafer, while the other portions of the semiconductor substrate  110 , such as a peripheral region of the wafer, correspond to the non-treatment region. In other embodiments, the treatment region can correspond to a front side, a backside, an edge bevel, or any local area of the wafer, while the other portions of the wafer correspond to the non-treatment region. 
     In sum, because a confining fluid is applied to confine the process fluid, the present invention needs no electrolytic tank, and saves a great deal of the electrolyte fluid. In addition, both the confining fluid and the process fluid can circulate and be reused in the present invention. After the confining fluid or the process fluid is recovered by the tubes, the confining fluid or the process fluid can directly reflow into the fluid-confining apparatus through another tube. Otherwise, the recovered confining fluid or the recovered process fluid can undergo an in-situ treatment or an ex-situ treatment, and then reflow into the fluid-confining apparatus to help the process. In other words, the recovered confining fluid or the recovered process fluid can be adjusted according to the condition and the composition of the recovered confining fluid or the recovered process fluid. For example, a different fluid or a fresh solution can be added into the recovered confining fluid or the recovered process fluid. Otherwise, an appropriate separation might be performed on the recovered confining fluid or the recovered process fluid, and then the treated confining fluid or the treated process fluid can reflow into the fluid-confining apparatus. Thus, the condition and the composition of the process fluid are adjusted easily and immediately so to maintain a great operation for the process. A long time and a huge cost for exchanging the process fluid are therefore saved, and a consumption of the process fluid is reduced. 
     In addition, a heating device can be provided in the fluid-confining apparatus according to the process design. The heating device can heat the semiconductor substrate or the process fluid so that the reaction temperature of the process is increased or that that reaction is speeded. 
     On the other hand, merely a predetermined portion of the semiconductor substrate will undergo the process by controlling the tube and the flow rate, and there is no metal layer deposited on the edge bevel in the electro chemical plating process. Therefore, the edge bevel removal step (EBR step) can be saved. Accordingly, the process time and the process cost are also saved, and the complexity of the process is simplified. 
     Because a confining fluid is applied to confine the process fluid in place of the prior art electrolytic tank, the process equipments are no longer limited to the traditional equipment. Please refer to  FIG. 27  to  FIG. 29 .  FIG. 27  is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment  350  according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 28  is a schematic three-dimensional diagram illustrating the transferring device  372  shown in  FIG. 27 , and  FIG. 29  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustrating the middle level of the process equipment  350  shown in  FIG. 27 , where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements. As shown in  FIG. 27  to  FIG. 29 , the process equipment  350  includes a column-shaped platform  360 , an automatic process control system (APC system)  324 , a plurality of fluid-confining apparatuses  322 , at least a loading/unloading device  366 , and at least a transferring device  372 . The column-shaped platform  360  can be a vertical platform. The process equipment  350  includes an upper level, a middle level and a lower level, and each level can connect to six process devices or process apparatuses. In this embodiment, one of the process apparatuses at the middle level can be the said loading/unloading device  366 , while the other process apparatuses can include the fluid-confining apparatuses  322  or other reaction chamber. The APC system  324  is capable of real-time detecting the performances of the process so as to real-time regulate the settings of process parameters in the process equipment  350 . 
     The fluid-confining apparatus  322  can have a structure similar to the fluid-confining apparatus  220 , the fluid-confining apparatus  320  or the fluid-confining apparatus  720 , and is disposed on at least a sidewall of the column-shaped platform  360 . The fluid-confining apparatus  322  can be applied to any possible semiconductor process, such as an electro chemical plating process, a cleaning process, or a chemical mechanical polishing process. In other words, each fluid-confining apparatus  322  can include a substrate holder  130  and a process system  368 . When the fluid-confining apparatus  322  is applied to an electro chemical plating process, the process system  368  can be the anode system  114 ; When the fluid-confining apparatus  322  is applied to a cleaning process, the process system  368  can be the tube system  214 ; and when the fluid-confining apparatus  322  is applied to a CMP process, the process system  368  can be the polishing system  714 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 29 , the column-shaped platform  360  includes a cylindrical brace  362  and a shell  364  having a prism structure. In this embodiment, the shell  364  is a hexagonal columnar structure that has six column sides. The cylindrical brace  362  can connect to five process systems  368  and a loading/unloading device  366  at the middle level, and each process system  368  or the loading/unloading device  366 corresponds to a column side of the shell  364 . In other embodiments of the present invention, the column-shaped platform  360  can include a brace having various shapes, or a shell having various shapes. For example, the column-shaped platform  360  might include any prism brace, a helical brace, or a cylindrical shell. 
     The transferring device  372  is disposed around the column-shaped platform  360  so as to transfer a plurality of semiconductor substrates  110  in to the loading/unloading device  366  individually. In order to handle the semiconductor substrates  110 , a robot arm  374  of the transferring device  372  moves to the location of the untreated semiconductor substrates  110 , and picks one semiconductor substrate  110 . Subsequently, the semiconductor substrate  110  is moved toward the loading/unloading device  366 , and is rotated parallel with the loading/unloading device  366 . Afterward, the semiconductor substrate  110  is put onto the platform of the loading/unloading device  366 . The loading/unloading device  366  is disposed parallel with the sidewalls of the column-shaped platform  360 , and are applied for loading and/or unloading the semiconductor substrate  110  into/from the column-shaped platform  360 . The loading/unloading device  366  can include a vacuum sucker for holding the semiconductor substrate  110 . The robot arm  374  is preferred a robot arm having a multiple blades. The joints of the robot arm can move or rotate in any direction so that the gripper head of the robot arm  374  can move free in three dimensions. 
     After a single semiconductor substrate  110  is put onto the loading/unloading device  366 , the column-shaped platform  360  can be rotated horizontally and/or moved vertically so that the said semiconductor substrate  110  is disposed on one substrate holder  130  of the fluid-confining apparatus  322 . The loading/unloading device  366  is substantially moved toward its original position, and faces the transferring device  372 . At this time, the transferring device  372  can repeat the transferring step so the semiconductor substrates  110  are transferred one by one until each substrate holder  130  at each level of the process equipment  350  has a semiconductor substrate  110 . 
     Next, an electro chemical plating process, a front side/back side/edge bevel cleaning process, a CMP process, and/or an electro chemical mechanical polishing process can be performed on each of the semiconductor substrates  110  in the meantime by one of the above-mentioned operating methods. Thereafter, the cylindrical brace  362  can be rotated horizontally and/or moved vertically so that each of the semiconductor substrates  110  can be unloaded from the column-shaped platform  360 . Afterward, the cylindrical brace  362  can move again to load the untreated semiconductor substrates  110 . 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, the position of the loading/unloading device  366 , the positions of the fluid-confining apparatuses  322 , and the performing processes in the fluid-confining apparatuses  322  are adjustable, and can be exchanged. In addition, the process equipment  350  can include other process devices, such as a drying device. 
     Because the process fluid is confined by a confining fluid, the process fluid is no longer placed in a tank. As a result, the fluid-confining apparatus  322  and the semiconductor substrate  110  not only can be arranged horizontally, but also can be arranged vertically. Therefore, the process equipment  350  can be designed as a vertical equipment, and the loading device and the unloading device can be integrated into the process equipment  350 , so the occupied area of the process equipment  350  is effectively saved. In addition, a plurality of semiconductor substrates  110  can be handled in batch by the process equipment  350 , so the output of the process is significantly improved. 
     Furthermore, the fluid-confining apparatus and various reaction apparatuses can be integrated into a single process equipment in the present invention. Please refer to  FIG. 30 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment  450  according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention, where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements. As shown in  FIG. 30 , the process equipment  450  includes an APC system  324 , a loading device  466 , at least a fluid-confining apparatus  420 , at least a transferring device  472 , at least a seed layer deposition chamber  478 , at least a barrier layer deposition chamber  482 , at least a drying chamber  484  and at least a chamber  486  for pre-deposition, such as a solvent cleaning chamber or a plasma cleaning. 
     In this embodiment, the transferring device  472  can be a robot arm. After the semiconductor substrate  110  is loaded into the loading device  466  of the process equipment  450 , the semiconductor substrate  110  can be transferred among the loading device  466 , the fluid-confining apparatus  420 , the seed layer deposition chamber  478 , the barrier layer deposition chamber  482 , the drying chamber  484  and the pre-deposition chamber  486  through the transferring device  472 . The loading device  466  in this embodiment can also function as an unloading device. In other embodiments, the process equipment  450  can further include an unloading device. 
     The fluid-confining apparatus  420  can have a structure similar to the fluid-confining apparatus  220 , the fluid-confining apparatus  320  or the fluid-confining apparatus  720 , and is applied to any possible semiconductor process, such as an electro chemical plating process, a cleaning process, or a chemical mechanical polishing process. The seed layer deposition chamber  478  can be applied for performing a seed layer deposition process on the semiconductor substrate  110 . The barrier layer deposition chamber  482  can be applied for performing a barrier layer deposition process on the semiconductor substrate  110 . The drying chamber  484  can be applied for performing a drying process and/or an annealing process on the semiconductor substrate  110 , and the pre-deposition chamber  486  can be applied for performing a pre-deposition process on the semiconductor substrate  110 . 
     It should be noted that the seed layer deposition chamber  478 , the barrier layer deposition chamber  482 , the drying chamber  484  and the pre-deposition chamber  486  are actually not necessary in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the fluid-confining apparatus  420  of the present invention need not contain a huge electrolytic tank, the semiconductor substrate  110  need not be fixed by both the cathode electrode and the fixing component in advance, and the process need not be performed in a vacuum. As a result, the fluid-confining apparatus  420  can be easily integrated with various reaction apparatuses in one process equipment  450 . Therefore, it should be understood by a person skilled in this art that the seed layer deposition chamber  478 , the barrier layer deposition chamber  482 , the drying chamber  484  and the pre-deposition chamber  486  in this embodiment are actually can be replaced by other process chambers, such as a post-deposition chamber, grinding process chamber, sputtering process chamber, any chemical vapor deposition chamber or any physical vapor deposition chamber. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 31 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment  850  according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention, where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements. As shown in  FIG. 31 , the process equipment  850  is an all-in-one system or a cluster system, including a load part  816 , a single wafer load lock chamber (SWLL chamber)  830 , two pre-cleaning chambers  840 ,  822 , at least a tantalum/tantalum nitride (Ta/TaN) deposition chamber  852 , at least a copper (Cu) seed layer deposition chamber  812 , two buffer chambers  832 ,  842 , two Cu ECP chambers  860 ,  802 , two Cu CMP chambers  870 ,  890 , at least a cap layer forming chamber  880 , and three robot arms  872 . All processes for fabricating chips can be performed in this system in vacuum. 
     The load port  816 , as an entrance and an exit of the process equipment  850 , is used for loading a plurality of pods containing wafers for processing. The load port  816  can include at least a wafer interface  810 . The wafer interface  810  may be a standardized mechanical interface (SMIF) for loading a plurality of standardized SMIF pods for adapting to the technique of mini-environment. Otherwise, the wafer interface  810  of the load port  816  may be provided to accommodate to the front opening unified pod (FOUP). It should be noted that the process equipment  850  can include a plurality of load ports  816 , and a load port  816  can include a plurality of wafer interfaces  810 . These load ports  816  or wafer interfaces  810  can be disposed at any possible position in the process equipment  850  in practice. 
     The single wafer load lock chamber  830  can include an orientor to orient a wafer by its orientation or notch. Otherwise, the single wafer load lock chamber  830  can perform processes, such as a degas step, a cooling step, a pumping step, or a purge step, on the semiconductor substrate  110 . The pre-cleaning chamber  840  and the pre-cleaning chamber  822  can be applied for performing a pre-cleaning process on the semiconductor substrate  110  before a deposition process. The Ta/TaN deposition chamber  852  can be applied for depositing a Ta layer and/or a TaN layer on the semiconductor substrate  110 . The Ta layer or the TaN layer can function as a barrier layer between a dielectric layer and a copper layer. The Cu seed layer deposition chamber  812  can be applied for depositing a Cu seed layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate  110 . The buffer chamber  832  and the buffer chamber  842  can be applied for performing perform processes, such as a degas step, a cooling step, a pumping step, a purge step, a anneal step, or a metrology step, on the semiconductor substrate  110 . 
     The Cu ECP chamber  860  and the Cu ECP chamber  802  can have a structure similar to the fluid-confining apparatus  120 , and is applied for performing an electro chemical plating process on the semiconductor substrate  110  so that a Cu layer is formed on the surface of the above-mentioned Cu seed layer. The Cu CMP chamber  870  and the Cu CMP chamber  890  can have a structure similar to the fluid-confining apparatus  720 , and is applied for performing a chemical mechanical polishing process on the semiconductor substrate  110 . The Cu ECP chamber  860 , the Cu ECP chamber  802 , the Cu CMP chamber  870  and the Cu CMP chamber  890  all can be applied for performing a pre-cleaning process, a post process, or a drying process. The cap layer forming chamber  880  can be applied for depositing a cap layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate  110  so as to protect the semiconductor substrate  110 . As a result, there is no oxide formed on the Cu layer of the semiconductor substrate  110  after the semiconductor substrate  110  leave the process equipment  850 , and the material layers or devices located below the Cu layer are protected from external pollutants. 
     In this embodiment, the robot arm  872  can be a robot arm having single blade, or a robot arm having multiple blades. After the semiconductor substrate  110  is loaded into the process equipment  850 , the semiconductor substrate  110  can be transferred among the load port  816 , the single wafer load lock chamber  830 , the buffer chambers  832 ,  842  and the chambers  802 ,  812 ,  822 ,  840 ,  852 ,  860 ,  870 ,  880 ,  890  through the robot arms  872 . 
     It should be understood by a person skilled in this art that the chambers  802 ,  812 ,  822 ,  840 ,  852 ,  860 ,  870 ,  880 ,  890  in this embodiment are actually can be replaced by other process chambers, such as a post-deposition chamber, sputtering process chamber, any chemical vapor deposition chamber or any physical vapor deposition chamber, according to the product throughput and the product quality. A copper process is taken as an example to illustrate the present invention applied to an all-in-one system in a back-end-of-the-line process (BEOL process). However, it should also be understood by a person skilled in this art that the present invention should not be limited to the copper process. The present invention can be applied for forming any needed material layer or semiconductor device. 
     Furthermore, a conveying belt can be utilized in the present invention as a transferring tool for transferring the semiconductor substrate  110  inside the process equipment. Please refer to  FIG. 32 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment  550  according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention, where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements. As shown in  FIG. 32 , the process equipment  550  includes an APC system  324 , a loading device  466 , at least a fluid-confining apparatus  520 , at least a transferring device  572 , at least a seed layer deposition chamber  478 , at least a barrier layer deposition chamber  482 , at least a drying chamber  484  and at least a pre-deposition chamber  486 . The fluid-confining apparatus  520  can have a structure similar to the fluid-confining apparatus  220 , the fluid-confining apparatus  320 , or the fluid-confining apparatus  720 , and is applied to any possible semiconductor process, such as an electro chemical plating process, a cleaning process, or a chemical mechanical polishing process. 
     The main difference between this embodiment and the fifth embodiment is that the transferring device includes a conveying belt  572  in this embodiment. The semiconductor substrate  110  can be among the fluid-confining apparatus  420 , the seed layer deposition chamber  478 , the barrier layer deposition chamber  482 , the drying chamber  484  and the pre-deposition chamber  486  through the conveying belt  572  after the semiconductor substrate  110  is loaded in the process operation  466  of the process equipment  550 . Since the semiconductor substrate  110  need not be fixed by both the cathode electrode and the fixing component in advance, the semiconductor substrate  110  can be easily transferred into different chambers through a simple conveying belt  572  and directly undergoes various processes in the process equipment  550 . 
     The traditional ECP process, the traditional cleaning process, or the traditional CMP process is usually an opening system. In these opening systems, the process fluid or chemical substances contained in the process fluid evaporates easily into the surroundings. The moisture around the operation device or the chamber is therefore increased, and pollutant substances might exist around the operation device or the chamber. Thus, these traditional devices or traditional chambers cannot be integrated with other devices or chamber. Since the consumed quantity of the process fluid in the present invention is decreased, and the process fluid is immediately recovered through the fluid-confining apparatus, there is less moisture inside and around the fluid-confining apparatus. Accordingly, the fluid-confining apparatus of the present invention can be integrated with other devices or chamber in a process equipment. On one hand, time for transferring the semiconductor substrate among chambers can be saved. On the other hand, the material layer of the semiconductor substrate is protected from being oxidized, so the process time and process cost for removing oxide is saved. 
     In addition, a conveying belt and a robot arm can be simultaneously used as the transferring device of the process equipment in the present invention. Please refer to  FIG. 33 , which is a schematic diagram illustrating a process equipment  650  according to an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, where like number numerals designate similar or the same parts, regions or elements. As shown in  FIG. 33 , the process equipment  650  includes an APC system  324 , at least a fluid-confining apparatus  620 , a conveying belt  672  and a robot arm  674 . The fluid-confining apparatus  620  can have a structure similar to the fluid-confining apparatus  220 , the fluid-confining apparatus  320 , or the fluid-confining apparatus  720 , and is applied to any possible semiconductor process, such as an electro chemical plating process, a cleaning process, or a chemical mechanical polishing process. The robot arm  674  is applied for transferring the semiconductor substrate  110  between the conveying belt  672  and the fluid-confining apparatus, and the conveying belt  672  is applied for transferring the semiconductor substrate  110  in or out of the process equipment  650 . 
     The semiconductor substrate  110 , which is waiting to be treated, is first transferred to a position around the fluid-confining apparatus  620  through the conveying belt  672 . Subsequently, the above-mentioned semiconductor substrate  110  is clamped by the robot arm  674 , and is transferred onto the substrate holder  130  of the fluid-confining apparatus  620 . Thereafter, a process, such as an electro chemical plating process or a cleaning process, can be performed on the semiconductor substrate  110  by the fluid-confining apparatus  620 . After the said process, the semiconductor substrate  110  is transferred onto the conveying belt  672  through the robot arm  674 , and is then transferred toward the following process equipments. Accordingly, the process equipment  650  can keep on handling the next semiconductor substrate  110 . 
     Since the semiconductor substrate need not be disposed between the cathode electrode and the fixing component in advance, and need not be inclined when the semiconductor substrate is going into the electrolyte fluid, a great deal of semiconductor substrates  110  can be handled in batch by the process equipment. Thus, the output of the process is significantly improved. Furthermore, the semiconductor substrate can be easily transferred into different chambers through a disk type structure or through a belt type structure on the substrate holder, and directly undergoes the processes in a predetermined position. As a result, a loading device can even be omitted, and it is easier to wet the semiconductor substrate. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.