Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a cleaning unit, and in particular to a cleaning unit for a fluid supply unit of a semiconductor apparatus.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]      FIG. 1   a  shows a conventional semiconductor apparatus  1 , which comprises a spin chuck  13 , a pipe  17  and a nozzle  216 . The nozzle  16  is connected to the pipe  17 . A wafer W is placed on the spin chuck  13 , and the nozzle  16  and the pipe  17  apply a chemical liquid thereto. With reference to  FIG. 1   b,  when the chemical liquid  18  is applied to the wafer W, the spin chuck  13  rotates the wafer W, and the chemical liquid  18  on the wafer  18  sputters by centrifugal force. The sputtered chemical liquid  18  adheres to a surface of the pipe  17 . With reference to  FIG. 1   c,  as chemical liquid  18  accumulates on the surface of the pipe  17 , the chemical liquid (pollutant)  18  drops to the wafer W. The wafer W is polluted, because the chemical liquid  18  is aged or contains particles.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A semiconductor apparatus for processing a wafer comprises a stage, a fluid supply unit, and a cleaning unit. The stage supports the wafer. The fluid supply unit provides a first fluid, wherein the fluid supply unit is moveable between a first position and a second position. The cleaning unit provides a second fluid, wherein when the fluid supply unit is in the first position, the fluid supply unit provides the first fluid toward the wafer, and when the fluid supply unit is in the second position, the cleaning unit blows the second fluid toward a surface of the fluid supply unit to cleaning the surface thereof.  
         [0006]     The invention removes pollutant from the surface of the fluid supply unit. The wafer is, thus prevented from polluted, and reliability of the final product is improved. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1   a  shows a conventional semiconductor apparatus;  
         [0009]      FIG. 1   b  shows pollutant on a surface of the conventional semiconductor apparatus;  
         [0010]      FIG. 1   c  shows pollutant polluting a wafer in the conventional semiconductor apparatus;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2   a  shows a first embodiment of the invention, wherein pipes thereof are in a first position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2   b  shows pipes of the first embodiment in a second position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2   c  shows a cleaning unit cleaning the pipes;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a fourth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6   a  shows a fifth embodiment of the invention, wherein a pipe thereof is in a first position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6   b  shows the pipe of the fifth embodiment in a second position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2   a  shows a semiconductor apparatus  100  of a first embodiment of the invention, which comprises a stage  102 , a fluid supply unit  110  and a cleaning unit  120 . A wafer  101  is supported and rotated by the stage  102 . The fluid supply unit  110  comprises a first pipe  111 , a second pipe  112 , a third pipe  113  and a pivot element  114 . The first pipe  111 , the second pipe  112  and the third pipe  113  are connected to the pivot element  114 . The cleaning unit  120  comprises a chamber  121 , an outlet  122 , a first exhaust opening  123  and a second exhaust opening  125 . The first exhaust opening  123  is connected to a negative pressure pipe  124 , and the second exhaust opening  125  is connected to an exhaust pipe  126 . The chamber  121  comprises an entrance  127 .  
         [0021]     When the first pipe  111 , the second pipe  112  and the third pipe  113  are in a first position Al, the first pipe  111  provides dry nitrogen  1111  toward the wafer  101 , the second pipe  112  provides DI water  1121  toward the wafer  101 , and the third pipe  113  provides etcher  1131  toward the wafer  101  to process the wafer  101 .  
         [0022]     In the first embodiment of the invention, the semiconductor apparatus  100  wet etches the wafer to remove polymer therefrom after a dry etching process.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 2   b,  after the wafer is processed, the first pipe  111 , the second pipe  112  and the third pipe  113  are moved (or rotated) to a second position A 2  in the chamber  121  through the entrance  127 , with pollutant  103  on the surfaces of the first pipe  111 , the second pipe  112  and the third pipe  113 .  
         [0024]     With reference to  FIG. 2   c,  the outlet  125  blows dry air toward the first pipe  111 , the second pipe  112  and the third pipe  113  to remove pollutant  103  therefrom. The air in the chamber  121  is then expelled through the first exhaust opening  123  and the negative pressure pipe  124 . The pollutant  103  is moved to the bottom of the chamber  121 , and expelled out of the chamber through the second exhaust opening  125 .  
         [0025]     The cleaning unit  120  is of anti-static electricity material.  
         [0026]     The invention removes pollutant from the surface of the fluid supply unit. The wafer is thus kept clean, and reliability of the final product is improved.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a semiconductor apparatus  100 ′ of a second embodiment of the invention, which comprises a stage  102 , a fluid supply unit  110  and a cleaning unit  120 . A wafer  101  is supported and rotated by the stage  102 . The fluid supply unit  110  comprises a first pipe  111 , a second pipe  112 , a third pipe  113  and a pivot element  114 . The first pipe  111 , the second pipe  112  and the third pipe  113  are connected to the pivot element  114 . The cleaning unit  120  comprises a chamber  121 , a plurality of outlets  122 ′, a first exhaust opening  123  and a second exhaust opening  125 . The first exhaust opening  123  is connected to a negative pressure pipe  124 , and the second exhaust opening  125  is connected to an exhaust pipe  126 . The chamber  121  comprises an entrance  127 .  
         [0028]     In the second embodiment of the invention, the outlets  122 ′ are arranged in a matrix on the bottom of the chamber  121  to provide a uniform flow field.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows a semiconductor apparatus  100 ″ of a third embodiment of the invention, which comprises a stage  102 , a fluid supply unit  110  and a cleaning unit  120 . A wafer  101  is supported and rotated by the stage  102 . The fluid supply unit  110  comprises a first pipe  111 , a second pipe  112 , a third pipe  113  and a pivot element  114 . The first pipe  111 , the second pipe  112  and the third pipe  113  are connected to the pivot element  114 . The cleaning unit  120  comprises a chamber  121 , a plurality of outlets  122 ′, a first exhaust opening  123  and a second exhaust opening  125 ′. The first exhaust opening  123  is connected to a negative pressure pipe  124 , and the second exhaust opening  125 ′ is connected to an exhaust pipe  126 . The chamber  121  comprises an entrance  127 . In the third embodiment of the invention, the second exhaust opening  125 ′ is longitudinal to exhaust the pollutant.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  shows a semiconductor apparatus  100 ′″ of a fourth embodiment of the invention, which comprises a stage  102 , a fluid supply unit  110  and a cleaning unit  120 . A wafer  101  is supported and rotated by the stage  102 . The fluid supply unit  110  comprises a first pipe  111 , a second pipe  112 , a third pipe  113  and a pivot element  114 . The first pipe  111 , the second pipe  112  and the third pipe  113  are connected to the pivot element  114 . The cleaning unit  120  comprises a chamber  121 , a plurality of outlets  122 ′, a first exhaust opening  123 ′ and a second exhaust opening  125 ′. The first exhaust opening  123 ′ is connected to a negative pressure pipe  124 , and the second exhaust opening  125 ′ is connected to an exhaust pipe  126 . The chamber  121  comprises an entrance  127 .  
         [0031]     In the fourth embodiment of the invention, the first exhaust opening  123 ′ is located on the top of the chamber  121  to provide a uniform flow field.  
         [0032]      FIG. 6   a  shows a semiconductor apparatus  200  of a fifth embodiment of the invention, which comprises a stage  102 , a fluid supply unit  210  and a cleaning unit  120 . A wafer  101  is supported and rotated by the stage  102 . The fluid supply unit  210  comprises a fourth pipe  211  and a pivot element  214 . The fourth pipe  211  is connected to the pivot element  214 . The cleaning unit  120  comprises a chamber  121 , a outlet  122 , a first exhaust opening  123  and a second exhaust opening  125 . The first exhaust opening  123  is connected to a negative pressure pipe  124 , and the second exhaust opening  125  is connected to an exhaust pipe  126 . The chamber  121  comprises an entrance  127 .  
         [0033]     When the fourth pipe  211  is in a first position A 1 , the fourth pipe  211  provides photoresist toward the wafer  101  to coat a photoresist layer on the wafer  101 .  
         [0034]     In the fifth embodiment of the invention, the semiconductor apparatus  200  coats a photoresist layer on the wafer.  
         [0035]     With reference to  FIG. 6   b,  when the fourth pipe  211  is in a second position A 2  in the chamber  121 , the outlet  125  blows dry air toward the fourth pipe  211  to remove pollutant  103  therefrom. The air in the chamber  121  is then expelled through the first exhaust opening  123  and the negative pressure pipe  124 . The pollutant is moved to the bottom of the chamber  121 , and expelled out of the chamber through the second exhaust opening  125 .  
         [0036]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Technology Category: h