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US4510176A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Removal of coating from periphery of a semiconductor wafer

Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
•
Filing: 1983-09-26
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Granted: 1985-04-09
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Expires: 2003-09-26
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Abstract

Abstract The specification describes techniques for removing the edge bead region from a coated semiconductor wafer by directing a jet of solvent at the wafer periphery while the wafer is spinning. The flow patterns of debris resulting from this removal are controlled to prevent contamination of the chip sites on the wafer.

Inventors

  • 👤 John D. Cuthbert
  • 👤 Nicholas A. Soos

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 18:52
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05D; B05D1/00; B05D1/40; B05D1/42; B05C; B05C11/00; B05C11/02; B05C11/06; G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/16; G03F7/162

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 135 words
Method for the manufacture of semiconductor wafers comprising the steps of: spinning the semiconductor wafer, applying a coating material to the spinning wafer, directing a fluid onto the periphery of the spinning wafer to remove the coating material at the periphery of the wafer, and creating a controlled positive flow of gas onto the surface of the wafer while the wafer is spinning, thus causing a centrifugal flow of gas over the surface of the wafer and across the periphery of the wafer and thereby carrying debris of the aforementioned fluid and/or loose material generated at the periphery away from the center of the spinning wafer, and establishing a physical barrier separating the positive flow of gas onto the surface of the wafer from the flow of gas that crosses the periphery of the wafer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 135 words
Method for the manufacture of semiconductor wafers comprising the steps of: spinning the semiconductor wafer, applying a coating material to the spinning wafer, directing a fluid onto the periphery of the spinning wafer to remove the coating material at the periphery of the wafer, and creating a controlled positive flow of gas onto the surface of the wafer while the wafer is spinning, thus causing a centrifugal flow of gas over the surface of the wafer and across the periphery of the wafer and thereby carrying debris of the aforementioned fluid and/or loose material generated at the periphery away from the center of the spinning wafer, and establishing a physical barrier separating the positive flow of gas onto the surface of the wafer from the flow of gas that crosses the periphery of the wafer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 87 words
Apparatus for applying coating material on a wafer comprising: support means for supporting the wafer within an enclosure, means for spinning the wafer, first nozzle means for applying fluid coating material onto the surface of the wafer, second nozzle means for directing a flow of fluid selectively onto the peripheral region of the wafer, inlet and exhaust means for causing the flow of gas onto the surface of the wafer, and an approximately cylindrical baffle arranged concentrically with and above the support means in close proximity thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 87 words
Apparatus for applying coating material on a wafer comprising: support means for supporting the wafer within an enclosure, means for spinning the wafer, first nozzle means for applying fluid coating material onto the surface of the wafer, second nozzle means for directing a flow of fluid selectively onto the peripheral region of the wafer, inlet and exhaust means for causing the flow of gas onto the surface of the wafer, and an approximately cylindrical baffle arranged concentrically with and above the support means in close proximity thereto.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS5217813A Cited
US4113492A Cited
US4393807A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-04-08 1988-10-08 1989-04-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-04-08 1992-10-08 1993-04-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-04-08 1996-10-08 1997-04-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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