Abstract: A substrate edge bevel etch module for etching a material from a peripheral edge of a substrate with an etchant is described. The substrate edge bevel etch module includes a rotatable substrate holder having a support for a substrate, and a surface tension etch applicator comprising a wetted etching surface opposing a substrate surface proximate an edge of the substrate when the surface tension etch applicator is located proximate to the edge of the substrate. The surface tension etch applicator further includes an etchant dispensing portion, proximate the wetted etching surface, which dispenses an etchant in a region between the wetted etching surface and the substrate surface and wet at least a portion of the wetted etching surface and the substrate surface. A spacing between the wetted etching surface and the substrate surface is selected to retain the etchant using surface tension forces and form a meniscus there between.

Abstract: A substrate separation chuck adapted to separate a substrate from an adhering surface. The substrate separation chuck has a support adapted to support the adhering surface. An air bearing surface is adapted to support the substrate, the air bearing surface axially moveable relative to the support. The air bearing surface has a first position adjacent the substrate with the substrate coupled to the adhering surface. The air bearing surface is moveable from the first position to a second position separating the substrate from the adhering surface without contact between the substrate and the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A substrate loader adapted to load and unload a substrate to and from a moveable holder having a seal. The substrate loader has a base and a holder support frame coupled to the base, the holder support frame adapted to repeatably position the moveable holder relative to a predetermined datum. The substrate transport is coupled to the base and having a substrate chuck and adapted to move and transport the substrate relative to the holder. The substrate transport is deterministically positioned relative to the predetermined datum and is adapted to move the substrate from a first position, with the substrate captured by the moveable holder, to a second position with the substrate disengaged from the holder and the seal, the substrate transport movement of the substrate from the first to the second position effecting disengagement from the holder and the seal substantially without contacting the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate chuck comprising a frame forming a support adapted to support an adhering surface thereon and a Bernoulli chuck surface coupled to the frame and adapted to support the substrate, the Bernoulli chuck surface being axially moveable relative to the support. The Bernoulli chuck surface has a first position adjacent the substrate with the substrate coupled to the adhering surface and wherein the Bernoulli chuck surface is moveable from the first position to a second position separating the substrate from the adhering surface without contact between the substrate and the Bernoulli chuck surface.

Abstract: A rotary chuck adapted to hold a substrate. The rotary chuck has a rotatable chuck portion and an edge grip having a movable grip member movably mounted to the rotatable chuck portion, the moveable grip member being substantially free moving so that rotation of the rotating chuck portion causes the moveable grip member to move in a plane substantially aligned with a surface of the substrate to engage the substrate in a engaged position. A resilient element is coupled to the moveable grip member, the resilient member biasing the grip member to a disengaged position.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal feature on a workpiece with deposition is provided. The method includes providing an under bump metal layer for solder of an electronic device on the workpiece, depositing a substantially pure tin layer directly to the under bump metal layer, and depositing a tin silver alloy layer onto the substantially pure tin layer.

Abstract: A substrate holder adapted to hold and retain a substrate during vertical fluid processing of a surface of the substrate. The wafer holder has a frame. A first leg is coupled to the frame by a first compliant flexure, the first leg having a first contact member configured to engage a first edge of the substrate. A second leg is coupled to the frame by a second compliant flexure, the second leg having a second contact member configured to engage a second edge of the substrate. Upon deflection of the first and second compliant flexures, the first and second legs are moveable in substantially opposite directions disengaging the first and second contact fingers from the first and second edges of the substrate respectively.

Abstract: A system for fluid processing substrate surfaces arrayed in a fluid having a process section with a frame having a plurality of process elements to process the substrate surfaces without contacting the substrate surfaces; and a substrate holder assembly having a number of substrate holders and configured for transporting substrates as a unit. The substrate holder assembly and each of the substrate holders are configured for removable coupling to the process section frame, each substrate holder configured to hold at least one of the substrates. The process section frame has alignment features disposed so that, on coupling of the substrate holder assembly with the process section frame, the alignment features interface with each substrate holder of the substrate holder assembly and locate each substrate holder in repeatable alignment, at corresponding coupling of each substrate holder and the process section frame, with respect to a predetermined feature of the process section.

Abstract: A system for fluid processing one or more substrate surfaces arrayed in a fluid. The system has a process module with a frame and a plurality of fluid jet elements to inject a fluid at the substrate surfaces without contacting the substrate surfaces. A substrate holder assembly has a holder frame and a number of substrate holders, each of which is coupled to the holder frame and configured to hold a substrate so that a different substrate is held by each substrate holder of the substrate holder assembly for transport therewith as a unit to and from the process module. The substrate holder assembly and each substrate holder of the substrate holder assembly are removably coupled to the process module frame and, when coupled to the process module frame, each substrate holder is independently moveable and positionable relative to the other substrate holders of the substrate holder assembly.

Abstract: A system for fluid processing one or more substrate surfaces arrayed in a fluid. The system has a process module with a frame and a plurality of agitation members to fluid process the substrate surfaces without contacting the substrate surfaces. A substrate holder assembly has a holder frame and a number of substrate holders, each of which is coupled to the holder frame and configured to hold a substrate so that a different substrate is held by each substrate holder of the substrate holder assembly for transport therewith as a unit to and from the process module. The substrate holder assembly and each substrate holder of the substrate holder assembly are removably coupled to the process module frame and, when coupled to the process module frame, each substrate holder is independently moveable and positionable relative to the other substrate holders of the substrate holder assembly.

Abstract: A substrate unload and load apparatus adapted to unload and load a plurality of processed substrates from a plurality of arrayed substrate holders, the apparatus having a frame and a plurality of processed substrate supports coupled to the frame configured to support the processed substrates. A plurality of unprocessed substrate supports is coupled to the frame configured to support the unprocessed substrates, each of the unprocessed substrate supports alternating and interleaved with each of the processed substrate supports. A holder release is coupled to the frame and configured to engage the arrayed substrate holders having a first state where the arrayed substrate holders releases the processed substrates from the arrayed substrate holders, the holder release having a second state where the arrayed substrate holders captures the unprocessed substrates with arrayed substrate holders.

Abstract: A system for processing surfaces of substrates having a process module having a process module frame and a plurality of process elements to process the substrate surfaces without contacting the substrate surfaces. A plurality of substrate holder assemblies, each having a number of substrate holders, each of which is removably coupled to the process module frame, each substrate holder configured to hold a substrate. The process module frame has alignment features aligning the substrate holders in the substrate holder assembly in repeatable alignment with respect to each of the process elements with each of the process elements located between the substrates. A loader module is configured to unload processed substrates from each of the substrate holder assemblies and load unprocessed substrates to each of the substrate holder assemblies. A transporter is configured to transport the substrate holder assemblies to and from the process module and the loader module.

Abstract: An apparatus for fluid processing at least one workpiece is provided. The apparatus includes a housing configured to hold a fluid, a workpiece holder disposed within the housing and configured to retain the at least one workpiece and an electric field shield plate disposed within the housing adjacent each of the at least one workpiece, the electric field shield plate having at least one contoured area configured to vary a distance between the electric field shield plate and a surface of the workpiece in a space between the at least one contoured area and a corresponding portion of the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A system for fluid processing substrate surfaces arrayed in a fluid having a process section with a frame having a plurality of process elements to process the substrate surfaces without contacting the substrate surfaces. A substrate holder assembly having a holder frame and a number of substrate holders, each of which is coupled to the holder frame and is configured for holding a substrate so that each substrate holder holds a different substrate for transport as a unit with the substrate holder assembly to and from the process section. The substrate holder assembly and each substrate holder are removably coupled to the process section frame, and the substrate holders of the substrate holder assembly are movable relative to the holder frame and positionable in repeatable alignment with respect to a predetermined feature of the process section and independent of positioning of the holder frame with respect to the process section.

Abstract: A substrate drying apparatus for drying a width of a surface of a substrate in a liquid. The substrate drying apparatus has a liquid tank containing the liquid. An injection nozzle is coupled to the liquid tank, the injection nozzle having a continuous knife edge injection surface across the width of the surface of the substrate. A drain is coupled to the injection nozzle, the drain having a continuous drain surface substantially parallel to the continuous knife edge injection surface and across the width of the surface of the substrate. The liquid forms a meniscus between the continuous drain surface and the width of the surface of the substrate. The injection nozzle directs a vapor at the meniscus.

Abstract: A process electrolyte replenishment module adapted to replenish ions in a process electrolyte in a substrate electrochemical deposition apparatus having a first anode and a first cathode, the replenishment module having a second anode. A process electrolyte recirculation compartment is disposed in the frame configured so that the process electrolyte is recirculating between the replenishment module and the deposition apparatus. An anode compartment is coupled to the process electrolyte recirculation compartment having the second anode, that is a soluble anode, for immersion in a secondary anolyte, and having a first ion exchange membrane being a cationic member separating the secondary anolyte from the process electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrochemical deposition apparatus adapted to deposit metal onto a surface of a substrate, the apparatus has a frame configured for holding a process electrolyte. A substrate holder is removably coupled to the frame, the substrate holder supporting the substrate in the process electrolyte. An anode fluid compartment is removably coupled to the frame and containing an anolyte and having an anode facing the surface of the substrate, the anode fluid compartment further having a ion exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the surface of the substrate, the anode fluid compartment removable from the frame as a unit with the ion exchange membrane and the anode. The holder, the anode and the membrane are arranged in the frame so that ions from the anode pass through the ion exchange membrane into and primarily replenish ions in the process electrolyte depleted by ion deposition onto the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A workpiece holder for fluid processing a workpiece including a transportable frame, a flexible member connected to the frame and defining at least one retaining feature, and a ring comprising at least one engagement feature engageable with the at least one retaining feature of the flexible member, wherein the flexible member is flexed to provide a force to the at least one engagement feature to cause the ring to form a barrier to fluid entry with the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal feature on a workpiece with deposition is provided. The method includes providing an under bump metal layer for solder of an electronic device on the workpiece, depositing a substantially pure tin layer directly to the under bump metal layer, and depositing a tin silver alloy layer onto the substantially pure tin layer.

Abstract: A workpiece holder for fluid processing a workpiece including a transportable frame, a flexible member connected to the frame and defining at least one retaining feature, and a ring comprising at least one engagement feature engageable with the at least one retaining feature of the flexible member, wherein the flexible member is flexed to provide a force to the at least one engagement feature to cause the ring to form a barrier to fluid entry with the workpiece.