Abstract:
A vortex unit suitable for providing a desired environment for a semiconductor process may include a vortex tube and a semiconductor processing device suitable for performing a semiconductor processing function. The vortex tube includes an air inlet for receiving compressed air, a first air exhaust for outputting an air stream having a temperature greater than the received compressed air, and a second air exhaust for outputting an air stream having a temperature lower than the received compressed air. The semiconductor processing device is connected to the second air exhaust of the vortex tube so that the semiconductor processing device receives a cooled air stream from the vortex tube, the cooled air stream providing an environment suitable for enabling the semiconductor processing device to perform the semiconductor processing function.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of semiconductor manufacture and testing, and particularly to a vortex unit for providing desired environmental conditions in manufacture and/or testing of semiconductor devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The manufacture and testing of semiconductor devices is a laborious process. Because of the complexity of the process, a high failure rate may be encountered during the manufacture of the devices. Thus, the devices must be tested extensively to ensure operation within desired parameters. Additionally, testing of the semiconductor device may require not only the testing of the ability of the semiconductor to perform desired operations, but also the ability of the semiconductor to perform the operations in contemplated environmental conditions. 
     Semiconductor devices may encounter a wide range of environmental conditions. From extreme heat to cold, and every temperature in between, users desire the operation of the semiconductor within desired parameters for the contemplated environmental conditions. Therefore, it may also be desirable to test the semiconductor devices within the contemplated operational temperature range to ensure the robustness of the device. 
     For example, previous methods used to test a semiconductor device may involve a liquid cooled temperature controller for cooling the environment of a desired process, such as testing of a device. However, liquid cooled units are expensive, units may cost several tens of thousands of dollars each, may utilize environmentally undesirable CFC, and are large in size. Thus, the unit may require a large space in a manufacturing facility and may be expensive to maintain, due to a large quantity of complex parts. Further, the units may generate electromagnetic interference with the testing equipment, thereby requiring extensive shielding to ensure accurate test results. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a vortex unit for providing a desired environment in a semiconductor manufacturing and/or testing process. By utilizing the present invention, a desired environment for the testing and/or manufacture of a semiconductor device may be provided in an efficient and cost-effective manner without encountering electromagnetic interference that limited the implementation of previous environmental systems. 
     In a first aspect of the present invention, a vortex unit suitable for providing a desired environmental condition for a semiconductor process includes a vortex tube and a semiconductor processing device suitable for performing a semiconductor processing function. The vortex tube includes an air inlet for receiving compressed air, a first air exhaust for outputting an air stream having a temperature greater than the received compressed air, and a second air exhaust for outputting an air stream having a temperature lower than the received compressed air. The semiconductor processing device is connected to the second air exhaust of the vortex tube so that the semiconductor processing device receives a cooled air stream from the vortex tube, the cooled air stream providing an environment suitable for enabling the semiconductor processing device to perform the semiconductor processing function. 
     In a second aspect of the present invention, a vortex unit suitable for providing a desired environmental condition for a testing a semiconductor device includes a vortex tube and a semiconductor testing device suitable for testing at least one function of a semiconductor. The vortex tube includes an air inlet for receiving compressed air, a first air exhaust for outputting an air stream having a temperature greater than the received compressed air, and a second air exhaust for outputting an air stream having a temperature lower than the received compressed air. The semiconductor testing device is connected to the second air exhaust of the vortex tube so that the semiconductor testing device receives a cooled air stream from the vortex tube, the cooled air stream cooling a semiconductor device to a desired testing temperature enabling the semiconductor testing device to perform the test of the at least function of the semiconductor device at the desired temperature. 
     In a third aspect of the present invention, a vortex unit suitable for providing a desired environmental condition for testing a semiconductor includes a means for providing a vortex and a means for testing a semiconductor device. The vortex means includes an air inlet for receiving compressed air, a first air exhaust for outputting an air stream having a temperature greater than the received compressed air, and a second air exhaust for outputting an air stream having a temperature lower than the received compressed air. The semiconductor testing means is connected to the second air exhaust of the vortex means so that the semiconductor testing means receives a cooled air stream from the vortex means, the cooled air stream providing an environment suitable for enabling the semiconductor testing means to perform a semiconductor testing function. 
     It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention in which function of a vortex tube suitable for being employed by the present invention is shown; and 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention in which an exemplary vortex unit utilized in conjunction with a semiconductor processing device is shown. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring generally now to FIGS. 1 through 2, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown. Generation of electromagnetic interference, system cost and size of the units were problems typically encountered through the use of previous environmental systems in semiconductor processes. For instance, liquid cooled environmental units are expensive, may cost several tens of thousands of dollars each, may utilize environmentally undesirable CFCs, and are large in size. Thus, the unit may require a large space in a manufacturing facility and may be expensive to maintain, due to a large quantity of complex parts. Further, the units may generate electromagnetic interference that may hamper operation of testing equipment, thereby requiring extensive shielding to ensure accurate test results. The present invention provides a desired environment for the testing and/or manufacture of semiconductor devices in an efficient and cost-effective manner without encountering electromagnetic interference that limited the implementation of previous environmental systems. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment  100  of the present invention is shown wherein a vortex tube suitable for cooling in accordance with the present invention is shown. A vortex tube  102  receives a stream of compressed air  104  and separates the stream into two air streams  106  &amp;  108 , a hot air stream and a cool air stream. The compressed air  104  enters a cylindrical generator  110  that is proportionally larger than a connected long tube  112 . The cylindrical generator  110  causes the air to rotate as a first air stream  106 . The rotating air  106  is forced down the end of the tube  112  against the inner walls of the tube  112 . A portion of the first air stream  106  exits the tube  112 , preferably through a valve  114 , and is exhausted as hot air. 
     The remaining air returns through the center of the first air stream  106  as a second air stream  108 , the second air stream  108  moving in the opposite direction slower that the first air stream  106 . Heat in the second air stream  108  is transferred to the faster moving first air stream  106 , which cools the second air stream  108 . The second cooled air stream  108 , after passing through the center of the cylindrical generator  110 , exits through an exhaust port  116  as cooled air. 
     Thus, the vortex tube  102  creates two types of vortices, a free vortex, wherein the angular velocity of a fluid particle increases when moved toward the center of the vortex, and a forced vortex, wherein the velocity is directly proportion to the radius of the vortex, wherein the center of the vortex of the forced vortex has a slower velocity. In relation to the present figure, FIG. 1, the first air stream  106 , or hot outer air stream is a free vortex and the second sir stream  108 , or cold air stream is a forced vortex. The second air stream  108  flows inside the first air stream  110  at a velocity that is lower that the first air stream  110 . 
     Since energy of the air streams is proportional to the square of the velocity, and the first air stream  106  and the second air stream  108  are coupled via turbulence as a single rotational mass, the second air stream loses resultant energy by heat transfer to the first air stream  106 . In other words, the energy from the second air stream  108  is transferred to the first air stream  106  as heat, thereby cooling the second air stream  108 . By utilizing this effect, a cooling apparatus may be provided that does not use refrigerants, does not require moving parts, thereby improving reliability, and does not require electricity, thereby limiting radio frequency interference in the manufacturing and testing process. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, an embodiment  200  of the present invention is shown wherein a vortex system is utilized in a semiconductor testing process. A vortex tube  202  may be connected to a semiconductor-processing machine, such as a tester, assembler, and the like to provide a desired environment. 
     In this example, the vortex tube  202  is connected to a wafer sort and testing machine  204  to provide a desired environment for testing wafers. House compressed air  206 , such as that supplied in a manufacturing facility for powering tools and the like, is connected to an “in” port  208  of the vortex tube  202 . The vortex tube  202  has three orifices, compressed air in  208 , cooled air exhaust  210  and hot air exhaust  212 . An exhaust tube, such as a high temperature Teflon tube, may be connected to the hot air exhaust  212  and run to a lower compartment of a machine cabinet, such as a wafer sort machine  204 , to direct hot air away from the desired area, such as a platen area of the machine. 
     The percentage of total input air volume  206  released through the cooled air exhaust  210  of the vortex tube  202  is called the Cold Fraction. Generally, the less cooled air  214  released, the colder the air. The cold fraction may be a function of how the vortex generator is configured, such as by utilizing a “high cold fraction” or “low cold fraction” generator, as described in FIG.  1 . For instance, the vortex generator may be configured as desired to alter airflow and temperature ranges produced by the vortex tube  202  as contemplated by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Additionally, a valve  216  located in the hot air exhaust of the vortex tube may be used to control the cold fraction. For example, as previously stated, the lower the amount of released air  214 , the cooler the air. Thus, by using a valve  216  controllable by a user, the vortex tube  202  may supply a variety of atmospheres as desired by a user. Further, it may be preferable to control the valve and/or air input  206  by utilizing a temperature sensor  218  disposed in the desired apparatus, such as the wafer sort machine  204 , operably linked to the valve  216  to enable the valve  216  and/or air supply  206  to be controlled automatically, such as through the use of a logic device  220 , and the like as contemplated by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In this instance, a cooled air stream  214  from the vortex tube  202  is directed through a manifold  222 . The manifold  222  is connected to a plurality of tubes  224 ,  226  &amp;  228 , in this instance three poly tubes having ¼” inside diameter, ⅜” outside diameter. The tubes  224 ,  226  &amp;  228  preferable duct the cooled air through three equal size holes in a side panel of a cabinet of the semiconductor-processing machine. 
     In additional contemplated embodiments, the size of the ducts, configuration of the manifold, size of the entry holes, position of the entry holes on the device, and the like are configured to provide a desired environmental result as contemplated by a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, cooled air may be directed to the platen area of a prober in order to effectively cool a wafer for testing. In this way, a wafer may be tested at a desired temperature range, such as at approximately 25 degrees Celsius, 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, below 30 degrees Celsius, and like temperature ranges without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, by cooling a probe to 25 degrees for testing purposes, cooling parts of a wafer for testing, cooling the environment around the wafer, and the like, the noise table may be lowered, thereby enabling more precise measurements. In other contemplated embodiments, an additional manifold may be provided linking the cold air exhaust  210  and the host air exhaust  212  ports to provide a range of hot and cold temperature in a device, such as a testing device without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The vortex tube  202  may be mounted in an enclosure and encapsulated in insulating material, such as expanding insulating foam, to eliminate freezing condensation on the cooled end  210  of the vortex tube  202 . In contemplated manufacturing of a vortex unit of the present invention, a unit may be produced for approximately $350, versus previous liquid cooled temperature controlled units that cost in the range of $24,000 to $38,000. Thus, a vortex unit of the present invention may fulfill a long-felt need in the semiconductor industry to provide an inexpensive cooling unit, which does not cause electromagnetic interference, is reliable because it does not require moving parts, and is capable of being utilized in a small space, thereby decreasing the space needed in a manufacturing facility. 
     It is believed that the vortex unit of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.