Patent ID: 6854473

Claim:
An apparatus for processing a microelectronic workpiece, the apparatus comprising: a workpiece support configured to hold the microelectronic workpiece; a processing container configured to receive the microelectronic workpiece held by the workpiece support; a drive mechanism connected to drive at least one of the processing container and the workpiece support holding the microelectronic workpiece relative to the other so that the microelectronic workpiece may be moved to a plurality of workpiece processing positions; a first chemical delivery system providing at least one processing fluid to the processing container for application to the microelectronic workpiece when the microelectronic workpiece is in a first one of the plurality of workpiece processing positions; a first chemical collector system configured to assist in at least partially removing spent processing fluid provided by the first chemical delivery system while the microelectronic workpiece is in the first one of the plurality of workpiece processing positions; a second chemical delivery system providing at least one processing fluid to the processing container for application to the microelectronic workpiece when the microelectronic workpiece is in a second one of the plurality of microelectronic workpiece processing positions, the second chemical delivery system directing a spray of processing fluid for initial contact with the microelectronic workpiece at an initial radial position; a second chemical collector system configured to assist in at least partially removing spent processing fluid provided by the second chemical delivery system from the processing container while the microelectronic workpiece is in the second one of the plurality of microelectronic workpiece processing positions; and a control system operatively coupled to the second chemical delivery system and the drive mechanism and being programmed with instructions that direct the drive mechanism to move the workpiece support during application of the spray from the second chemical delivery system so as to vary the radial position of the initial contact between the spray and the microelectronic workpiece.