Patent ID: 8313582

Claim:
A method of forming a meniscus comprising: moving a proximity head surface in close proximity to a surface to be processed, forming a dual liquid meniscus between the proximity head surface and the surface to be processed including: forming a first meniscus in a first zone by supplying a first liquid, the first zone including a plurality of first discrete holes, at least a portion of the plurality of first discrete holes are arranged in a first row; and forming a second meniscus in a second zone by supplying a second liquid, the second zone being separated from the first zone by an inner return zone in the proximity head surface; and removing a portion of the first liquid and the second liquid through the inner return zone, the inner return zone including a plurality of inner return discrete holes wherein, a first portion of an edge of each one of the plurality of inner return discrete holes is recessed into the head surface, wherein the recessed first portion of an edge of each one of the plurality of inner return discrete holes is recessed into the head surface at a first angle, the first angle forms a chamfer extending from the recessed first portion of an edge of each one of the plurality of inner return discrete holes toward the first row for a first distance, wherein the chamfer being defined from the recessed first portion of the edge of each one of the plurality of inner return discrete holes to a surface of the inner return zone.