The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 16, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 06, 2006
Shogo Mizota, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Minami Teruomi, Kurume, JP;
Kenji Yokomizo, Austin, TX (US);
Taira Masaki, Kurume, JP;
Shogo Mizota, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Minami Teruomi, Kurume, JP;
Kenji Yokomizo, Austin, TX (US);
Taira Masaki, Kurume, JP;
Tokyo Electron Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method is provided for reducing the amount of film fragments discharged into a processing liquid circulation system during removal of films from wafers, thereby reducing the frequency of filter cleaning or filter replacement. The method includes exposing a wafer containing a film formed thereon in a process chamber of a substrate processing system to a processing liquid, where the wafer is not rotated or is rotated at a first speed and the processing liquid is discharged from the process chamber to a processing liquid circulation system. Subsequently, exposure of the wafer to the processing liquid is discontinued and the wafer is rotated at a second speed greater than the first speed to centrifugally remove fragments of the film from the wafer. Next, the wafer is exposed to the same or a different processing liquid and the processing liquid is discharged from the process chamber to a processing liquid drain.