Patent ID: 6872254

Claim:
An apparatus for disposing a fluid onto a first surface of a microelectronic substrate, the microelectronic substrate having a second surface opposite the first surface, the apparatus comprising: a support having an engaging portion for engaging the microelectronic substrate, the support being rotatable about a rotation axis, the engaging portion being configured to engage less than the entire second surface of the microelectronic substrate; a conduit having an opening positioned proximate to the support for disposing the fluid on the first surface of the microelectronic substrate; a fixed retaining vessel positioned proximate to the support to collect fluid from the microelectronic substrate, the engaging portion of the support being rotatable relative to the fixed vessel; a plurality of nozzles configured to direct a cleaning fluid toward the second surface of the microelectronic substrate; a barrier coupled to the support and rotatable with the engaging portion relative to the vessel, the barrier being spaced apart from and proximate to the microelectronic substrate to separate a first portion of gas adjacent the microelectronic substrate and rotating with the microelectronic substrate from a second portion of gas spaced apart from the microelectronic substrate and generally stationary relative to the microelectronic substrate; and the support includes a flange extending radially outwardly from the rotation axis, the barrier being spaced apart from the flange to define a gap between the flange and the barrier facing toward the second surface of the microelectronic substrate, and wherein the plurality of nozzles extend through the gap to direct the cleaning fluid toward the second surface of the microelectronic substrate.