Patent ID: 8141566

Claim:
A proximity head comprising: a head surface, the head surface including: a first zone including a first flat surface region and a plurality of first discrete holes, each one of the plurality of first discrete holes being connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of first conduits, the plurality of first discrete holes residing in the head surface and extending through the first flat surface region, at least a portion of the plurality of first discrete holes are arranged in a first row; a second zone including a second flat region and a plurality of second discrete holes, each one of the plurality of second discrete holes being connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of second conduits, the plurality of second discrete holes residing in the head surface and extending through the second flat surface region; and an inner return zone including a plurality of inner return discrete holes, the inner return zone being disposed between and adjacent to the first zone and the second zone, each one of the plurality of the inner return discrete holes being connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of inner return conduits, the plurality of inner return discrete holes residing in the head surface and extending through the head surface, at least a portion of the plurality of inner return discrete holes are arranged in an inner return row, the first row and the inner return row being substantially parallel, 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 is defined from the recessed first portion of an edge of each one of the plurality of inner return discrete holes to a surface of the inner return zone; wherein the plurality of first conduits are coupled to a first liquid source, wherein the plurality of first conduits are capable of delivering a controlled quantity of a first liquid to a liquid meniscus formed in a volume between the head surface and a surface being processed, the surface being processed being substantially parallel to the head surface, the plurality of inner return conduits are coupled to a vacuum source and configured to remove at least a portion of the first liquid from the head surface, the plurality of second conduits are coupled to a surface tension control fluid source, the liquid meniscus having a first edge defined by the recessed first portion of an edge of each one of the plurality of inner return discrete holes.