Patent Description:
Removing a layer in a substrate such as a semiconductor die involves removing very small amounts and very thin layers of an integrated circuit, which contains metals and dielectrics, for example, to reveal the underlying circuitry in a precise and controlled manner. Ion beam milling is one method used to de-layer such a sample. In general, ion beam mills may be used for various other purposes in the semiconductor industry, such as film deposition or surface modification or activation.

In addition, an ion beam mill may also comprise elements to introduce various reactive and/or non-reactive gasses near the substrate's surface during the milling process. These gases or fluids released near the surface of a sample may be used to enhance for example the milling/etch rate or aspect ratio. These may include process gases used to generate reactive ions, or background gases released into the vacuum pumped chamber.

<CIT> relates to a pattern forming method using a charged particle beam process. <CIT> relates to a system and a method for processing and inspecting an object.

This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art or forms part of the general common knowledge in the relevant art.

The following presents a simplified summary of the general inventive concept(s) described herein to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to restrict key or critical elements of embodiments of the disclosure or to delineate their scope beyond that which is explicitly or implicitly described by the following description and claims.

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided an ion beam chamber fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid onto a substrate in an ion beam system during operation, said system comprising: a chamber comprising an ion beam gun oriented so as to cause ions to impinge the substrate, said chamber further comprising a sealable opening for receiving the substrate and said chamber having a fluid delivery conduit therein for delivering the fluid into the chamber; a transferable stage for holding the substrate, the transferable stage further configured to move at least in part through the sealable opening between an operating position inside the chamber and a payload position at least in part outside the chamber during non-operation, said payload position for receiving and removing said substrate; and a fluid delivery nozzle being affixed to the transferable stage, with an outlet position that is configured to deliver a fluid to a predetermined location on said transferable stage, the fluid delivery nozzle being in fluid communication with the fluid delivery conduit via a nozzle conduit connector that permits the fluid delivery nozzle to remain substantially fixed relative to the transferable stage when the stage is in the operating position; wherein the fluid delivery conduit comprises a conduit engager that is configured to automatically, removably and sealably engage with said nozzle conduit connector by moving said transferable stage into said operating position from said payload position.

In one embodiment, the outlet position directs the fluid to a contact location associated with the substrate.

In one embodiment, the contact location is substantially coincident with a point of impingement resulting from the ion beam gun.

In one embodiment, the transferable stage comprises a substrate holder that is configured to move the substrate relative to the transferable stage during operation of the ion beam system in at least one of a translational movement and a rotational movement around one or more axes.

In one embodiment, the fluid is one of: a gas, a liquid, and a mixture thereof.

In one embodiment, the fluid delivery conduit is deformably flexible.

In one embodiment, at least one of the fluid delivery conduit and the nozzle conduit connector comprise at least one rotational cuff, said rotational cuff configured to permit free rotation around at least one of the axes of rotation while maintaining fluid communication.

In one embodiment, the conduit engager and the nozzle conduit engager are rotatable relative to each other around a given axis of rotation while maintaining fluid communication.

In one embodiment, the fluid is distinct from a chamber gas in at least one of the following characteristics: composition, temperature, phase, pressure, and density.

In one embodiment, the fluid is controllably delivered by the fluid delivery nozzle by controlling one or more of the following: fluid flow rate, fluid composition, fluid temperature, and fluid pressure in the fluid delivery nozzle.

In one embodiment, the said fluid delivery conduit is moveable relative to the transferable stage.

In one embodiment, said fluid delivery nozzle has a shower-head configuration or a bell-shaped configuration.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a fluid delivery method for delivering a fluid onto a substrate in an ion beam system during operation thereof, said ion beam system comprising an ion beam gun for generating an ion beam in an ion beam chamber, the process comprising: configuring a fluid delivery nozzle above a transferable stage, said transferable stage for holding thereon a substrate to be impinged at an impingement location by ions resulting from the use of said ion beam, so that said fluid delivery nozzle is operable to deliver fluid onto said substrate during impingement, said fluid delivery nozzle being affixed to the transferable stage so as to stay in substantially the same position during impingement relative to the transferable stage, the fluid delivery nozzle being in fluid communication with a nozzle input engager that is configured to automatically, removably and sealably, engage with a corresponding fluid conduit engager of a fluid input conduit by moving the transferable stage at least in part through a sealable opening of said ion beam chamber from a payload position at least in part outside the chamber to an operating position inside the chamber; loading the substrate onto said transferable stage that is in said payload position; moving said transferable stage from said payload position to said operating position; operating the ion beam system; and applying the fluid to the substrate via the fluid input conduit during said operation.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises: adjusting the position of said substrate within said sealed ion beam chamber during operation of the ion beam system by adjusting a substrate holder that is configured to move the substrate relative to the transferable stage during operation of the ion beam system in at least one of a translational movement and a rotational movement around one or more axes.

In one embodiment, the fluid comprises a gas, a liquid, and a mixture thereof.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises: adding a process gas to at least one of an ion beam source or the ion beam chamber.

In one embodiment, the step of applying comprises adjusting one or more of the following: fluid composition, fluid temperature, fluid phase, fluid pressure at said fluid delivery nozzle, and fluid flow rate.

In one embodiment, the adjusting is based on a preconfigured automated application program for automatically carrying out said adjustments.

Other aspects, features and/or advantages will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Several embodiments of the present disclosure will be provided, by way of examples only, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:.

Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating understanding of the various presently disclosed embodiments. Also, common, but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Various implementations and aspects of the specification will be described with reference to details discussed below. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the specification and are not to be construed as limiting the specification. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various implementations of the present specification. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of implementations of the present specification.

Various apparatuses and processes will be described below to provide examples of implementations of the system disclosed herein. No implementation described below limits any claimed implementation and any claimed implementations may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed implementations are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses or processes described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not an implementation of any claimed subject matter.

Furthermore, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the implementations described herein. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the relevant arts that the implementations described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the implementations described herein.

In this specification, elements may be described as "configured to" perform one or more functions or "configured for" such functions. In general, an element that is configured to perform or configured for performing a function is enabled to perform the function, or is suitable for performing the function, or is adapted to perform the function, or is operable to perform the function, or is otherwise capable of performing the function.

It is understood that for the purpose of this specification, language of "at least one of X, Y, and Z" and "one or more of X, Y and Z" may be construed as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more items X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XY, YZ, ZZ, and the like). Similar logic may be applied for two or more items in any occurrence of "at least one. " and "one or more. " language.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The phrase "in one of the embodiments" or "in at least one of the various embodiments" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may. Furthermore, the phrase "in another embodiment" or "in some embodiments" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Thus, as described below, various embodiments may be readily combined, without departing from the scope of the innovations disclosed herein.

In addition, as used herein, the term "or" is an inclusive "or" operator, and is equivalent to the term "and/or," unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term "based on" is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" include plural references. The meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on.

As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The term "comprising" as used herein will be understood to mean that the list following is non-exhaustive and may or may not include any other additional suitable items, for example one or more further feature(s), component(s) and/or element(s) as appropriate.

Ion beam systems are well established in the semiconductor industry and come in a variety of configurations for a number of different uses. For example, in Focused Ion Beam (FIB) systems, a focused beam is generated and the beam is accelerated down a column. The beam is then manipulated by applying electromagnetic energy through a system of coils (and electrostatic lenses), and the resulting beam emerges in a vacuum pumped chamber and strikes a sample/target. For FIB, the beam consists of ions as ion beams have much more kinetic energy than electron beams. By striking a sample with high power, material can be milled away and removed. By adding background or chamber gas and striking the sample with lower energy, new material can be deposited.

By manipulating the beam and adding a gas close to the sample, one can deposit and remove material in a precise and controlled manner. Standard gases which may be used include xenon difluoride, tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS), platinum, tungsten, and other well-known gases. However, it may be difficult or challenging to deliver the standard fluids or gases mentioned above in an efficient manner. Indeed, not all gas and/or fluid molecules may be delivered near the substrate's surface. Furthermore, accurately delivering the gas or fluid is further complicated by the fact that the ion beam irradiation is done in a sealed chamber under vacuum and that the state rotates or may change orientation.

Thus, the systems and methods described herein provide, in accordance with different embodiments, different examples of an ion chamber fluid delivery apparatus and method for controllably delivering a fluid directly onto a substrate in an ion beam system during the operation thereof.

With reference to <FIG>, and in accordance with one embodiment, an exemplary ion beam milling system, generally referred to using the numeral <NUM>, will now be described. In this exemplary embodiment, the system <NUM> may be used in the context of a sample or substrate <NUM> being impinged by an ion beam <NUM> generated by an ion beam gun <NUM>. Ion beam gun <NUM> may be part of a broad ion beam (BIB) mill, a focused ion beam (FIB) mill, a plasma FIB mill, or other ion beam technologies, as may be readily appreciated by the skilled artisan. Such an ion beam gun is generally configured by adjusting one or more of its operating characteristics. The one or more ion beam mill operating characteristics may be associated with a predetermined rate at which a material may be removed. Delayering a sample may be achieved by configuring the ion mill to remove one or more materials from the sample at their respective predetermined rates. The association of rates of removal to sets of ion mill operating characteristics may be obtained experimentally through trial and error or via simulation methods. The rates of removal and their associated sets of ion mill operating characteristics may be logged or stored for future manipulation of the ion mill in any storage medium such as a database, memory device, computing storage device or any storage medium as would be known to a worker skilled in the art.

Another tool for influencing etch rates/selectivity is the use of additional or substitutional gasses either directly in the ion-source (i.e. source gases), or as a background or chamber gas fragmented by the ion-beam then able to selectively react on the surface.

In some embodiments, ion beam mill <NUM> may also consist of one or more ion beam sources (not shown). For example, ion mill <NUM> may comprise one or more large diameter gridded ion beam source, such as an argon source, but other ion sources, such as elemental gold, gallium, iridium, xenon, as well any other suitable ion sources, may also be used.

Vacuum gauges, a load-lock, vacuum pumps, one or more control panels, and one or more processors may also be associated with the ion mill. Furthermore, one or more ion beam sources may be associated with apertures and electrostatic lenses. It is to be understood that the operation of an ion mill and the various fundamental components of an ion mill would be readily known to a worker skilled in the art. The substrate <NUM> may be mounted on a, variable angle, cooled substrate stage <NUM> that can be tilted and rotated. As mentioned above, such a substrate stage <NUM> may be housed in a vacuum chamber <NUM> (also referred herein as an "ion beam chamber"). Vacuum chamber <NUM> is generally operable to be sealed so that a substantial vacuum may be produced within via one or more vacuum pumps. The skilled worker in the art will readily understand how a sample is affixed to such a rotating stage <NUM>, including the different methods of producing the required vacuum inside chamber <NUM>.

Regarding the conditions and settings for the focused ion beam, various parameters may be adjusted and/or set for optimum resulting image quality. These parameters include voltage, current, dwell time, as well as other parameters. Such parameters and their effects and settings are well known to those versed in the art of focused ion beam techniques. For the electron detector, parameters which may be adjusted to obtain a suitable image quality include, among others, brightness, contrast, and line averaging.

Traditionally, gas or fluid injection systems are also used to deliver different process gasses during milling. For example, in <FIG>, fluids contained for example in an external fluid source <NUM> located outside of chamber <NUM> may be introduced therein in a controlled fashion via a gas controller <NUM>. The fluids introduced therein may include liquids, gases (including but not limited to the gases mentioned above) or a combination or mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the fluid may be distinct from a chamber gas and/or process gas. For example, and without limitation, the fluid may be distinct the chamber gas in composition, temperature, phase, pressure, and/or density. The skilled technician will appreciate that different means of providing fluid at a pre-determined flow rate may be used, without limitation.

In some embodiments, a plasma bridge neutralizer (not shown) may also be used to neutralize the ion beam.

However, in some cases, there is a need to deliver fluid at a precise location near or on the surface of substrate <NUM>. In these cases, efficient delivery may require that the fluid be delivered in close proximity to the substrate surface. This may be difficult if the fluid delivery mechanism or system is completely independent from the stage itself, as illustrated in <FIG>. For example, tilting or rotating stage <NUM>, as mentioned above, may result in a reduced yield if the fluid delivery mechanism is not allowed to move in conjunction therewith. For example, once chamber <NUM> is sealed it may be determined that stage <NUM> must be further moved or rotated. However, if the fluid delivery output or nozzle is located inside chamber <NUM> but not able to move with stage <NUM>, it may be difficult or impossible to make the necessary adjustments so that fluid delivery is still efficient unless chamber <NUM> is pressurized and reopened.

With reference to <FIG>, and in accordance with one exemplary embodiment, an ion beam chamber fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid onto a substrate in an ion beam system during operation, generally referred to using the numeral <NUM>, will now be described. <FIG> show a top view of an ion beam chamber fluid delivery system <NUM> in two different configurations, a payload configuration (<FIG>), which allows fluid delivery (i.e. the "payload") to be properly configured over substrate <NUM> outside of vacuum chamber <NUM>, and a delivery configuration (<FIG>), wherein a transferable stage <NUM> is moved into ion beam chamber <NUM> with the fluid delivery system properly configured and attached thereto.

In both <FIG>, vacuum chamber <NUM> is shown comprising a sealable opening <NUM> for receiving, in part, transferable stage <NUM> and a fluid delivery conduit <NUM> for delivering a fluid from external fluid source <NUM>. As mentioned above, fluid source <NUM> may be configured to controllably release fluid into conduit <NUM> at a pre-determined flow rate via gas controller <NUM>. Other fluid parameters that may be controlled include, without limitation: fluid composition and fluid temperature.

As mentioned above, the fluid or fluids may include, at least in part, gases, including but not limited to: a tungsten precursor (e.g. tungsten hexacarbonyl W(CO)<NUM>), a platinum precursor (e.g. methyl cyclopentadienyl trimethyl platinum such as {(CH<NUM>)<NUM>Pt(CpCH<NUM>)}, C<NUM>H<NUM>Pt(CH<NUM>)<NUM>) or (CH<NUM>C<NUM>H<NUM>)(CH<NUM>)<NUM>Pt), Xenon Difluoride (XeF<NUM>), TMCTS or sulfur hexafluoride (SF<NUM>). The skilled technician will understand that different gases may be used in the context of ion milling, without limitation.

In some embodiments, the end of fluid delivery conduit <NUM> inside chamber <NUM> comprises an output conduit engager <NUM> operable to be removably engageable with a corresponding input conduit engager <NUM>, as will be further discussed below.

In this exemplary embodiment, stage <NUM> is shown having affixed thereto a fluid delivery nozzle <NUM> for delivering fluid above substrate <NUM>. This way, transferable stage <NUM> may be used to move in substrate <NUM> in and out of chamber <NUM> as required while keeping fluid delivery nozzle <NUM> in the same relative position thereto. Moreover, both transferable stage <NUM> and fluid delivery nozzle <NUM> may thus be both tilted, rotated or translated as one according to one or more directional axes. In addition, this exemplary embodiment, substrate <NUM> may be held on an additional or optional substrate holder <NUM>, which, in some embodiments, may be actuated or configured to rotate about its central axis or translated with respect to transferable stage <NUM> during milling. A side view of stage <NUM> (with all of the above-mentioned elements affixed thereto and in accordance with one embodiment) is shown in <FIG>.

Fluid delivery nozzle <NUM> may further be connected to one end of an intake conduit <NUM> while the opposite end of intake conduit <NUM> comprises the input conduit engager <NUM> mentioned above. Thus, the apparatus discussed above, in some embodiments, allows to configure how fluid is delivered to a predetermined location by allowing the position and/or orientation of the outlet of fluid delivery nozzle <NUM> with respect to the substrate <NUM> to be configured prior to substrate <NUM> being taken inside chamber <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in some embodiments, the outlet position of fluid delivery nozzle may be configured so as to direct fluid to a contact location on substrate <NUM>. This contact location may be substantially coincident with a point of impingement resulting from the ion beam gun. Configuring fluid delivery nozzle <NUM> may include, without limitation, changing: the distance d between the opening or outlet <NUM> and the location (e.g. x/y in cartesian coordinates) of the payload target <NUM>, the distance d of opening <NUM> from payload target <NUM>, the delivery angle θ, and the height h of opening <NUM> with respect to a location on transferable stage <NUM>. In some embodiments, this may also include changing nozzle <NUM> for a different unit having different mechanical or fluid delivery characteristics. These fluid delivery characteristics may include any physical features that may influence the rate of fluid delivery, for example fluid pressure. These may include, without limitation, the diameter D of the opening (see Figure 3B) and/or the overall shape or geometry of nozzle <NUM> (including its length and curvature thereof, tapered or not, etc.). In addition, in some embodiments, delivery nozzle <NUM> may take a shape or configuration similar to a shower head nozzle (not shown) thus comprising multiple openings or outlets so as to release fluid at different locations and/or at different flow rate and/or pressures simultaneously. In some embodiments, delivery nozzle <NUM> may take the shape or configuration of a bell-shaped nozzle. For example, this may include a bell-shaped configuration comprising an interior portion or volume and being configured to substantially enclose or cover the substrate when the nozzle is positioned over said substrate, so as to release the fluid within said interior portion via one or more inward-facing outlets thereby allowing for increased fluid pressures; and further comprising an aperture or hole on the surface thereof for letting the ion beam reach the substrate thereunder. The skilled technician will appreciate that any means of affixing nozzle <NUM> to intake conduit <NUM> known in the art may be used without limitation.

Going back to <FIG>, in some embodiments, a pole or extending portion <NUM> removably affixed to the end of stage <NUM> opposite to sealable opening <NUM> may be used to push or pull stage <NUM> in or out of chamber <NUM>. In some embodiments, transferable stage <NUM> may be operable to slide or move via one or more rails or similar (not shown). In some embodiments, stage <NUM> may be displaced directly or indirectly with the use of a motor or actuator (also not shown), including, but not limited to a screw motor. In some embodiments, the motor or actuator may be used to move extending portion <NUM>.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, in the payload configuration (<FIG>) stage <NUM> is placed outside of chamber <NUM> while in the delivery configuration (<FIG>), it is moved inside via opening <NUM>. Thus, input conduit engager <NUM> may be configured so that when stage <NUM> is moved into chamber <NUM> (e.g. from <FIG>), input conduit engager <NUM> automatically and sealably engages with output conduit engager <NUM> of fluid delivery conduit <NUM>. In some embodiments, engagers <NUM> and <NUM> may be configured so as to be, at least partially, self-aligning. Once engaged, in the operating position of <FIG>, engagers <NUM> and <NUM> provide a fluid connection to the fluid source <NUM> so that fluid may flow and be delivered via fluid delivery nozzle <NUM> to a predetermined location on transferable stage <NUM>. In some embodiments, engagers <NUM> and <NUM> are further configured to automatically disengage upon stage <NUM> being moved back outside chamber <NUM>, for example once the ion milling process is over.

In some embodiments, output conduit engager <NUM> and input conduit engager <NUM> may be configured so as to allow some degree of motion during engagement. The skilled technician will understand that different removably engageable mechanisms may be used, without limitation.

One example, illustrated in <FIG>, is having either output conduit engager <NUM> and input conduit engager <NUM> comprising a rotational cuff or the like. This rotational cuff may be configured to permit free rotation around at least one of the axes of rotation while maintaining fluid communication, as shown in <FIG>.

In some embodiments, output conduit engager <NUM> and input conduit engager <NUM> may be rotatable relative to each other around a given axis of rotation while maintaining fluid communication. This is illustrated in <FIG>.

In some embodiments, fluid intake conduit <NUM> (or at least a section or portion thereof) may be substantially deformably flexible so as to allow it to bend or deform to accommodate some translational/tilting/rotational motion of transferable stage <NUM> once input conduit engager <NUM> and output conduit engager <NUM> are engaged. This is illustrated in <FIG>.

With reference to <FIG>, and in accordance with one embodiment, a fluid delivery method for delivering fluid inside an ion beam chamber, generally referred to using the numeral <NUM>, will now be described.

At step <NUM>, stage <NUM> is located outside chamber <NUM> (in the payload configuration) so that nozzle <NUM> may be properly configured as required above substrate <NUM>. As mentioned above, configuring nozzle <NUM> may include changing the distance of its opening with respect to the position of substrate <NUM> and/or the expected delivery angle.

Once nozzle <NUM> is properly configured, at step <NUM>, stage <NUM> is moved into chamber <NUM> via sealable opening <NUM>. As mentioned above, output conduit engager <NUM> and input conduit engager <NUM> are operable to automatically engage with one another. Vacuum chamber <NUM> may be then be sealed and depressurized as required.

At step <NUM>, stage orientation may be changed as needed or required, system <NUM> insuring that a fluid connection is kept at all times, irrespective of the position or orientation of stage <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the ion mill may be activated and the ion milling process started in conjunction with activation of the fluid source, again as required. As discussed above, fluid source <NUM> may be operationally connected to gas controller <NUM> so as to release said fluid in a controlled manner. In some embodiments, the delivery of the fluid may be adjusted in real-time during the ion milling process. These adjustments may include adjusting, without limitation: fluid composition, fluid temperature, fluid phase, fluid pressure at said fluid delivery nozzle, and fluid flow rate. In some embodiments, these adjustments may be based on on a preconfigured automated application program for automatically carrying out said adjustments.

In addition, in some embodiments, one or more additional process gases may be added to the ion beam source or inside chamber <NUM> in a more conventional manner during milling.

In some embodiments, the position of substrate <NUM> may be adjusted remotely during milling, for example via substrate holder <NUM> (shown in <FIG>, <FIG>) and which may be configured to rotate or translate with respect to stage <NUM>.

Finally, at step <NUM>, once the ion milling process is finished, stage <NUM> may be moved back outside of chamber <NUM>. As discussed above, output conduit engager <NUM> and input conduit engager <NUM> are operable to automatically disengage or disconnect from each other, severing the fluid connection. Thereafter, once stage <NUM> is outside chamber <NUM>, substrate <NUM> may be removed from stage <NUM> and the process may be repeated with a new substrate.

While the present disclosure describes various embodiments for illustrative purposes, such description is not intended to be limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the applicant's teachings described and illustrated herein encompass various alternatives, modifications, without departing from the embodiments, the general scope of which is defined in the appended claims. Except to the extent necessary or inherent in the processes themselves, no particular order to steps or stages of methods or processes described in this disclosure is intended or implied. In many cases the order of process steps may be varied without changing the purpose, effect, or import of the methods described.

Claim 1:
An ion beam chamber fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid onto a substrate in an ion beam system during operation, said system comprising:
a chamber (<NUM>) comprising an ion beam gun (<NUM>) oriented so as to cause ions to impinge the substrate, said chamber further comprising a sealable opening (<NUM>) for receiving the substrate and said chamber having a fluid delivery conduit (<NUM>) therein for delivering the fluid into the chamber;
a transferable substrate stage (<NUM>) for holding the substrate, the transferable stage further configured to move at least in part through the sealable opening between an operating position inside the chamber and a payload position at least in part outside the chamber during non-operation, said payload position for receiving and removing said substrate; and
a fluid delivery nozzle (<NUM>) being affixed to the transferable stage, with an outlet position that is configured to deliver a fluid to a predetermined location on said transferable stage, the fluid delivery nozzle being in fluid communication with the fluid delivery conduit via a nozzle conduit connector (<NUM>) that permits the fluid delivery nozzle to remain substantially fixed relative to the transferable stage when the transferable stage is in the operating position;
wherein the fluid delivery conduit comprises a conduit engager (<NUM>) that is configured to automatically, removably and sealably, engage with said nozzle conduit connector by moving said transferable stage into said operating position from said payload position.