Patent ID: 8684015

Claim:
A system for processing a microelectronic workpiece, comprising: a process chamber housing the workpiece, said process chamber comprising a boundary that isolates the workpiece from ambient air, wherein a portion of the boundary comprises a curtain of a flowing gas; a moveable cover overlying the workpiece and defining at least a portion of a boundary of the processing chamber, said cover comprising a first state in which the cover is in a first position during a treatment of the workpiece housed in the process chamber and a second state in which the cover is in a second position that permits egress to the chamber and said cover optionally comprising at least one inlet through which at least one treatment fluid is introduced into the process chamber; at least one boundary member having an edge proximal to but spaced apart from the cover when the cover is in the first state such that a gap exists between the cover and the at least one boundary member during a workpiece treatment; a curtain of a flowing gas forming a boundary for the gap to help isolate the process chamber from ambient air during at least a portion of a treatment while the cover is in the first state, wherein the curtain of flowing gas flows across and through the gap.