Fluid Spraying Means Patents (Class 134/95.3)
  • Patent number: 7494549
    Abstract: A substrate treatment apparatus for removing an unnecessary substance from a surface of a substrate. The apparatus is provided with: an oxidation liquid supply mechanism for supplying an oxidation liquid having an oxidative effect to the substrate surface; a physical cleaning mechanism for physically cleaning the substrate surface; and an etching liquid supply mechanism for supplying an etching liquid having an etching effect to the substrate surface. It is preferred to physically clean the substrate surface while supplying the oxidation liquid to the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsuro Eitoku
  • Publication number: 20090038651
    Abstract: A no contact carwash system has a plurality of holding tanks which are connected to a dosing pump, one to each product to be mixed. The dosing pumps measuring quantities for each product. Water from a water line along with the products are then sent to a centrifuge pump for admixing into an admixture. Pressurised air is introduced to an air line and air from the air line and the admixture are blended into a lather generator and then fed to a spray line exiting through a spraying gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Daniel Labrie
  • Publication number: 20090014028
    Abstract: There is provided a method of efficiently cleaning substrates without damaging a fine pattern formed thereon. It is a method of cleaning one or more substrates in a system processing one or more substrates as one batch by dipping one or more substrates as one batch, including the steps of: immersing one or more substrates as one batch in a wet etching solution; ultrasonically cleaning one or more substrates as one batch; and drying one or more substrates as one batch. The step of ultrasonically cleaning employs a cleaning solution having a gas dissolved therein to have a degree of saturation of 60% to 100% at an atmospheric pressure, and an ultrasonic wave having a frequency of at least 500 kHz and an energy of 0.02 W/cm2 to 0.5 W/cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Yusaku Hirota, Itaru Kanno, Hiroshi Morita, Junichi Ida
  • Patent number: 7475696
    Abstract: A dishwasher has multiple wash zones which are each supplied by a wash liquid supply. An interior tub configured to provide an interior wash chamber for washing dishes is divisible into three wash zones supplied by first, second, and third wash liquid supplies. The third wash zone is supplied by a wash liquid supply that is controllable independently of the other two wash liquid supplies. The third wash liquid supply can be controlled to supply wash liquid to a detergent dispenser or a wall-mounted spray manifold, or shut off separately from the first and second wash liquid supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Chad T. Vanderroest, Jay Landsiedel
  • Patent number: 7467634
    Abstract: The invention is an automatic no contact machine for cleaning and drying tips, air caps, retainers and cups on spray apparatus when changing liquid or when the apparatus will be idle, or to remove build up of paint on applicators that cause spits and drips on surfaces and electrostatic arcing to spray apparatus while containing and recovering cleaning effluents to an environmental standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Inventors: Philip Jessup, James Doyle
  • Publication number: 20080236627
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a web-like object to be cleaned, comprising the steps of: a cleaning solution spraying step for spraying a cleaning solution to a surface of a fed web-like object to be cleaned; and a cleaning solution removing step for removing the liquid film left on the surface of the object to be cleaned by ejecting a gas so that at least an ejected gas flow is formed in a direction opposite to the feeding direction of the object to be cleaned, wherein among the air induced by the gas ejection, the air induced from the side of the cleaning solution spraying position to the side of the gas ejection position is shielded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation, FUJIFILM Opto Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Kominami, Kazuhiro Muramasu, Manabu Oohira, Norikazu Oota
  • Publication number: 20080236634
    Abstract: A substrate processing system that enables foreign matter adhered to a rear surface or a periphery of a substrate to be completely removed. A substrate processing apparatus performs predetermined processing on the substrate. A substrate cleaning apparatus cleans the substrate at least one of before and after the predetermined processing. A jetting apparatus jets a cleaning substance in two phases of a gas phase and a liquid phase and a high-temperature gas towards the rear surface or the periphery of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MORIYA, Tadashi ONISHI, Ryo NONAKA, Eiichi NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 7426932
    Abstract: A spray fill device for delivering water to a washing machine is provided. The spray fill device includes a body defining an inlet, an outlet port, a mounting port, and a plurality of outlet apertures in flow communication with the inlet. The spray fill device also includes a first valve coupled to the inlet, the valve configured to control a flow rate of water into the inlet. The spray fill device also includes a pressure relief mechanism coupled to the mounting port, the pressure relief mechanism inhibiting flow through the outlet port when a pressure within the body is less than a predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Zaccone
  • Patent number: 7427335
    Abstract: Described is a cleaning device for a band-like apparatus. It comprises a hollow rotatable roll supported to turn in the traveling direction of the band-like apparatus. The roll has a plurality of apertures formed in it, and cleaning fluid jet nozzles arranged at the inner side of the plurality of apertures. The cleaning device cleans the band-like apparatus by spraying a cleaning fluid re-at the band-like apparatus from the cleaning fluid jet nozzles. The cleaning device also comprises a plurality of blade plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Aoki Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Aoki
  • Patent number: 7426931
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a washer tub for accommodating therein items to be cleaned, and a mist generating unit for generating a mist of wash water in the washer tub, the mist generating unit including a mist generating vibrator and a vibration transmitting medium. The vibration transmitting medium is provided on the mist generating vibrator so that the mist generating vibrator is isolated from wash water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Miyauchi, Hiroaki Inui, Fumihiko Sasahara, Takayuki Inoue, Makoto Oyama
  • Patent number: 7422641
    Abstract: A soft spray nozzle discharging a cleaning mist is vertically directed and fixed to an arm. A rinse nozzle discharging rinsing deionized water for suppressing obstruction is vertically fixed to the arm at a prescribed distance from the soft spray nozzle. During cleaning, it follows that both nozzles discharge detergents while keeping relative layout relation. Therefore, the discharged cleaning mist and rinsing deionized water do not interfere with each other before reaching the substrate but the used detergents are entirely horizontally splashed and recovered in a cup. Thus, the cleaning mist is prevented from scattering and adhering to the periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakajima, Masanobu Sato, Hiroaki Sugimoto, Akio Hashizume, Hiroki Tsujikawa
  • Publication number: 20080202565
    Abstract: To provide a dishwasher for which the washing water distribution pipe provided with the washing nozzles and the rinsing water distribution pipe provided with the rinsing nozzles can be easily installed and removed from the washing chamber. In the dishwasher 1, a washing water distribution pipe 21 on which washing nozzles 12, 14 are installed is arranged within a washing chamber 3, and is connected removably to a first connecting pipe 31 that communicates with the outlet side of a washing pump 19. In the same way, a rinsing water distribution pipe 27 on which rinsing nozzles 13, 15 are installed is arranged within the washing chamber 3, and is connected removably to a second connecting pipe 33 that communicates with the outlet side of a rinsing pump 24. These connections are made within a washing water tank 17 in the bottom of the washing chamber 3, therefore the washing water distribution pipe 21 and the rinsing water distribution pipe 27 can be easily installed and removed from the washing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Tameishi, Tomio Suyama, Kouji Suyama, Masumi Notsu, Keiichi Toga, Tadaharu Hosogi
  • Publication number: 20080163897
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing residue on a wafer is described. A first solution is applied to remove a first type of residue from a metal mask on the wafer. A second solution is applied to remove a second type of residue from the metal mask on the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: JIANSHE TANG, Willey Weng, Wei Lu, Han-Wen Chen, Tseng-Chung Lee, Ching Hwa Weng
  • Patent number: 7377053
    Abstract: A device for drying substrate comprising a processing vessel housing a specified number of substrates such as semiconductor wafers installed erectedly in parallel to one another, a first substrate supporting member supporting substrates within the processing vessel, the processing fluid supplying section supplying to the processing vessel, the processing fluid for performing processing such as cleaning processing on the substrates, a processing fluid exhausting section exhausting processing fluid from the processing vessel, and a drying fluid supplying section supplying, to the processing vessel, the liquid drops of drying fluid for performing drying processing on the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Maeda, Koji Sumi, Hiroshi Aihara, Masao Oono, Takao Matsumoto, Naoaki Izutani
  • Patent number: 7371289
    Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning and doping a pin 2 of a tubular 3 during the making or breaking of a string on a well platform. The apparatus comprises a housing 4 having first and second conosed ends 6,7 and arranged in used to be secured at its first end 7 to the well platform or to a movable arm. The second end 6 has an opening therein for receiving the pin 2 to be cleaned and doped. A nozzle array 16 is mounted within the housing 4 for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the housing 4 and is coupled to a source of lubricant. A washing and drying unit 10 is also mounted within the housing 4, axially displaced from said nozzle array 16 and coupled to a source of cleaning liquid and a source of drying gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd Reinholdt, Matthias Luecke
  • Publication number: 20080099058
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an instantaneous mixing device for injection/extraction cleaning machines and in particular to an instantaneous mixing device with a pre-spray functionality of the type equipped with at least one washing accessory (13) and/or at least one pre-washing accessory (30) connected at the outlet to a hydraulic circuit (20), the device (10) comprising: at least one spray pump (12) connected to the hydraulic circuit (20); at least one tank for water (15) and at least one tank for a chemical product (16), connected to the hydraulic circuit (20); at least one mixing element (14) with a Venturi effect connected downstream of the at least one water tank (15) and at least one tank for a chemical product (16). The at least one pre-washing element (30) preferably comprises a spray hole having greater dimensions with respect to the hole of the spray nozzle of the at least one washing accessory (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: SANTOEMMA S.R.L
    Inventors: Nicola Santoemma, Massimiliano Santoemma
  • Patent number: 7364626
    Abstract: Substrate cleaning apparatus and method capable of preventing adhesion of particles to a substrate irrespective of being hydrophilic or hydrophobic are provided. Although a cleaning liquid ejected from a two-fluid nozzle 36 rebounds from a cup CP and scatters in the form of mist toward the center side of a wafer W, a rinsing liquid is supplied from a rinse nozzle 35 to form a water film 51 on the wafer W. Owing to the presence of the water film 51, the surface of the wafer W is protected from adhesion of particles contained in the mist. It is possible to prevent the particles in the mist from adhering to the wafer W and also possible to prevent a bad influence on the wafer W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Keizo Hirose, Kenji Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 7337790
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dishwasher, in which upper and lower pipes are opened/closed using a water pressure to simplify a configuration of the dishwasher and to reduce product costs. The present invention includes a washing chamber, top and bottom nozzles injecting water in the washing chamber, a sump provided under the washing chamber to store the water, a pump pumping the water stored in the sump, a supply pipe adjacent to one side of the pump wherein the water pumped by the pump flows in the supply pipe, upper and lower pipes leading the water to the top and bottom nozzles, respectively, and a valve assembly connecting the supply pipe to the upper and lower pipes to selectively open/close the upper or lower pipe using a pressure of the pumped water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Hoon Ha
  • Patent number: 7314529
    Abstract: A soft spray nozzle discharging a cleaning mist is vertically directed and fixed to an arm. A rinse nozzle discharging rinsing deionized water for suppressing obstruction is vertically fixed to the arm at a prescribed distance from the soft spray nozzle. During cleaning, it follows that both nozzles discharge detergents while keeping relative layout relation. Therefore, the discharged cleaning mist and rinsing deionized water do not interfere with each other before reaching the substrate but the used detergents are entirely horizontally splashed and recovered in a cup. Thus, the cleaning mist is prevented from scattering and adhering to the periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakajima, Masanobu Sato, Hiroaki Sugimoto, Akio Hashizume, Hiroki Tsujikawa
  • Patent number: 7287535
    Abstract: A work washing apparatus including a transfer unit for controlling forward and rearward movements of a work, a table moved by the transfer unit, carrying out the washing of the work from upper and lower surfaces thereof and provided with water/air pipes, an upper surface washing unit provided on an upper surface of the transfer unit and having upper surface washing nozzles which make planetary movements by utilizing rational movements of the nozzles on their own axes and an orbital movement of the washing unit, side surface washing units provided on both side surfaces of the transfer unit and having side surface nozzles which make planetary movements by utilizing rotational movements of the nozzles on their own axes and an orbital movement of the upper surface washing unit, a lower washing unit provided on a lower surface of the transfer unit and having lower surface washing nozzles which make planetary movements by utilizing rotational movements of the nozzles on their own axes and an orbital movement of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Fine Machine Kataoka Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7275553
    Abstract: A cleaning processing apparatus comprises a spin chuck for holding a wafer W, an under plate being positioned to face the back surface of the wafer W with a prescribed gap provided therebetween, a support member for supporting the under plate, and a nozzle hole formed to extended through the plate member and the support member. A chemical liquid, a pure water and a gas can be supplied into a nozzle hole through opening-closing valves, and the chemical liquid and the pure water remaining inside the nozzle hole can be sucked by a sucking device. A pure water remaining inside the nozzle hole is sucked and removed by using the sucking device after the processing of the wafer W with a pure water and, then, a gas is spurted onto the back surface of the wafer W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takehiko Orii, Masahiro Mukoyama, Hiromitsu Nanba
  • Patent number: 7270132
    Abstract: A washer includes a plurality of washing devices for spraying washing water to an object to be washed from various directions of a washing tub, and a washing water feeding device for feeding the washing water. The washing water is sequentially sprayed from respective washing devices. Thus, the washing water can be sprayed to eating utensils from the various directions without increasing fed water, and a washing effect is improved. Speedy washing, energy saving, and water saving can be also achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inui, Makoto Oyama, Masaki Yura
  • Patent number: 7267728
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for cleaning and/or treating a surface, preferably surfaces such as ceramic, steel, plastic, glass and/or painted surfaces such as the exterior surface of a vehicle. The system and method utilize a cleaning composition that contains at least one water-soluble or water dispersible copolymer. The method may also include a step of applying to the surface a treating composition which contains non-photoactive nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bruce Barger, Thomas Geroge Crowe, Robert Henry Rohrbaugh, Alan Scott Goldstein, Michael Ray McDonald, Helen Frances O'Connor, Morgan Thomas Leahy
  • Patent number: 7258124
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating surfaces of semiconductor wafers with a reactive gas, such as ozone, utilizes streams of gaseous material ejected from a gas nozzle structure to create depressions on or holes through a boundary layer of processing fluid formed on a semiconductor wafer surface to increase the amount of reactive gas that reaches the wafer surface through the boundary layer. The apparatus and method may be used to clean a semiconductor wafer surface and/or grow an oxide layer on the wafer surface by oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventors: In Kwon Jeong, Yong Bae Kim, Jungyup Kim
  • Patent number: 7255115
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafers includes a chamber, a bubbler having a vapor generating part for generating alcohol vapor and a spray pipe for spraying the alcohol vapor into the chamber, a gas supply nozzle for spraying gas into the chamber to dry the wafers, a liquid supply nozzle for supplying cleaning liquid into the chamber and a discharge system. The spray pipe of the bubbler has a liquid retention portion that keeps condensate of the alcohol vapor from issuing into the chamber. The gas supply nozzle has a spray outlet configured to spray the same amount of the drying gas onto all of the wafers in the chamber. The liquid supply nozzle has liquid supply openings only in a side portion thereof so that liquid alcohol will not become trapped therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Min Kwon, Chang-Hyeon Nam, Sang-Oh Park, Young-Kwang Myoung, Duk-Min Ahn
  • Patent number: 7255114
    Abstract: An ion sampling method for wafer provides a wafer in a sampling chamber, wherein the wafer surface that is going to be sampled faces upward; spraying an extraction liquid continuously on the wafer surface to form a liquid film thereon; keeping the thickness of the film constant for dissolving the ion contaminants in the extraction liquid; and collecting the extract solution at the bottom of the sampling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Rui-Hui Wen
  • Patent number: 7232494
    Abstract: A method of washing dishes in a dishwasher that includes a Start Stop sequence in a wash segment of one or more of the dishwashing cycles. The Stop Start sequence includes the steps of pausing the operation of the wash pump, operating the wash pump to circulate wash water in the dishwasher for a short period of time, and repeating the steps of pausing and operating the wash pump for a short period of time a predetermined number of times. The Stop Start sequence is preceded by, and may be followed by, a period of continuous operation of the wash pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Antony Mark Rappette
  • Patent number: 7188632
    Abstract: A high pressure water stream (14) is discharged onto a surface to be cleaned. An ozone/water stream (16) is discharged on the same surface for sanitizing the surface. The high pressure water and ozone/water streams (14, 16) are discharged simultaneously along closely adjacent paths that are either parallel (FIG. 3) or concentric (FIG. 2). The water pressure is at least about 100 p.s.i. and is preferably between 100 p.s.i. and 1000 p.s.i. The nozzles that discharge the streams (14, 16) may be movable relative to the object(s) that receives the high pressure water and ozone/water (FIG. 1) Or, they may be fixed and the object may be movable relative to them (FIG. 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Ozone International LLC
    Inventor: Daniel W. Lynn
  • Patent number: 7185664
    Abstract: A dish-cleaning appliance comprising a sink having a bowl defining a wash chamber with an open top for providing access to the wash chamber. A liquid recirculation system is provided for spraying liquid throughout the wash chamber. A drain conduit can be provided, alone or in combination with the recirculation system, for draining liquid from the wash chamber when the drain is closed. A fill control system is provided to ensure that the dishwashing cycle is not started with liquid in the wash chamber and that the sink drain is properly closed. One or more sensors can be provided for enabling the fill control system. The sensors can be located within the drain above the location where the drain is plugged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph E. Christman, Ryan K. Roth
  • Patent number: 7172979
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus has a substrate holder for detachably holding a substrate so that a surface, to be processed, of the substrate faces downward, and a sealing ring for sealing a peripheral portion of the surface, to be processed, of the substrate held by the substrate holder. The substrate processing apparatus also has a plurality of ejection nozzles disposed below the substrate holder for ejecting a treatment solution toward the surface, to be processed, of the substrate held by the substrate holder, and a mechanism for rotating and vertically moving the substrate holder and the ejection nozzles relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Hongo, Xinming Wang
  • Patent number: 7146993
    Abstract: A bracket is provided for mounting an object to a tub of a dishwasher. The bracket is mounted on the annulus edge of the pump opening in the bottom of the tub adjacent the pump seal ring. No other fasteners are used to secure the bracket to the tub. The bracket is mounted on the tub before the pump is installed. In one embodiment a thermostat is pivotally mounted on the bracket so as to maintain substantially flush engagement with the tub. In a second embodiment, a wire harness extends through a loop of the bracket for support adjacent the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Williams, J. Don Milam, Dwight M. Turner, Daniel Hruby
  • Patent number: 7117959
    Abstract: A decoking system that not only enables an operator to remotely switch the coke-cutting process from boring to cutting mode without removing the drill stem from the coke drum, but also to remotely determine the drill stem's mode so that efficiency, safety and convenience are not compromised, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation
    Inventor: Ruben F. Lah
  • Patent number: 7097717
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for collecting particulate contaminants removed using a CO2 decontamination medium from an early step of a decontamination process. The device removes particulate contaminants from a contaminated subject by a decontamination stream, and simultaneously forms another stream for collecting such contaminants into a collecting filter, thus preventing such contaminants from diffusing into the atmosphere. The device forms streams between the nozzles and the surface of the contaminated subject to readily move the nozzles along the surface of the subject without frictional resistance, to reduce the sense of fatigue of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignees: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong-Hun Jung, Jei-Kwon Moon, Hui Jun Won, Won-Zin Oh, Jae-Hyung Yoo
  • Patent number: 7094355
    Abstract: This invention provides a local dry etching method comprising the step of removing an oxide film formed on the surface of a semiconductor water before unevenness on the semiconductor wafer is removed by scanning the surface of the semiconductor wafer at a controlled relative speed with a nozzle for applying a flow of activated species gas to the surface of the semiconductor wafer. The removal of this oxide film is carried out by widening an etching profile and a scan pitch and making the nozzle speed constant, and then flattening is carried out in the same local dry etching apparatus. For flattening, the nozzle speed is changed for each area according to initial unevenness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Speedfam Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiko Yanagisawa, Tadayoshi Okuya
  • Patent number: 7086407
    Abstract: A high pressure water stream(14) is discharged onto a surface to be cleaned. An ozone/water stream(16) is discharged on the same surface for sanitizing the surface. The high pressure water and ozone/water streams(14,16) are discharged simultaneously along closely adjacent paths that are either parallel (FIG. 3) or concentric (FIG. 2). The water pressure is at least about 100 p.s.i. and is preferably between 100 p.s.i. and 2000 p.s.i. The nozzles that discharge the streams (14,16) maybe movable relative to the object(s) that receives the high pressure water and ozone/water (FIG. 1). Or, they may be fixed and the object may be movable relative to them (FIG. 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Ozone International LLC
    Inventor: Daniel W. Lynn
  • Patent number: 7051743
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning surfaces of semiconductor wafers utilizes streams of gaseous material ejected from a gas nozzle structure to create depressions on or holes through a boundary layer of cleaning fluid formed on a semiconductor wafer surface to increase the amount of gaseous material that reaches the wafer surface through the boundary layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventors: Yong Bae Kim, In Kwon Jeong, Jungyup Kim
  • Patent number: 7028697
    Abstract: A dish-cleaning appliance comprising a sink having a bowl defining a wash chamber with an open top for providing access to the wash chamber. A liquid recirculation system is provided for spraying liquid throughout the wash chamber. A drain conduit can be provided, alone or in combination with the recirculation system, for draining liquid from the wash chamber when the drain is closed. A fill control system is provided to ensure that the dishwashing cycle is not started with liquid in the wash chamber and that the sink drain is properly closed. One or more sensors can be provided for enabling the fill control system. The sensors can be located within the drain above the location where the drain is plugged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph E. Christman, Ryan K. Roth
  • Patent number: 7004181
    Abstract: The invention provides a water supplying apparatus and method thereof which has a high capacity of peeling and removing a disused material such as a resist film and the like, and can efficiently use water vapor. A water supplying apparatus for executing a washing process, a cleaning process and a working process of a subject, is provided with a water vapor body supplying means for supplying a water vapor body, and a water mist body supplying means for supplying a water mist body containing liquid water fine particles, and the structure is made such that said water vapor body and said water mist body are supplied to the subject by independently controlling said two means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Isago, Kazuo Nojiri, Naoaki Kobayashi, Teruo Saito, Shu Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6983755
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes upper and lower nozzle assemblies supplying a cleaning liquid to edge and bottom sections of a semiconductor substrate. The upper nozzle assembly has a first nozzle supplying the cleaning liquid onto the edge section, and second and third nozzles supplying a nitrogen gas for preventing the cleaning liquid from moving into a center portion of the semiconductor substrate. The cleaning liquid supplied to the edge section flows from the edge section towards a side section of the semiconductor substrate due to the rotation of the semiconductor substrate. An ultrasonic wave generator is provided above the edge section for generating ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves are applied to the cleaning liquid supplied onto the edge and bottom sections, thereby improving the cleaning efficiency. The cleaning apparatus has a guide to guide the cleaning liquid supplied to the edge section toward the side section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hyeon Nam, Hong-Seong Son, Kyung-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 6951221
    Abstract: The substrate processing apparatus is provided with a gas-liquid mixing nozzle for generating a process liquid mist by mixing a liquid and a pressurized gas, to discharge the process liquid mist to a substrate at high speeds. The liquid may be remover liquid, intermediate rinse liquid or deionized water. The reaction products which having been generated on the substrate in etching process is removed at high speeds with the flow of the mist, whereby the quality of the process is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Okuda, Hiroaki Sugimoto, Takuya Kuroda, Masanobu Sato, Sadao Hirae, Shuichi Yasuda, Kenya Morinishi, Masayoshi Imai
  • Patent number: 6949146
    Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasonic cleaning module and a method for cleaning singulated electronic packages. The module comprises a cutting chuck having a surface with a plurality of cutting recesses defined in it for enabling a cutting device to separate individual electronic packages from a substrate having a plurality of electronic packages on the surface of the chuck. A pulsator nozzle is supported above the chuck and the separated electronic packages on the chuck such that the pulsator nozzle may emit fluid toward the packages. An ultrasonic generator is associated with the nozzle that is adapted to ultrasonically energize fluid that passes through the nozzle to enhance cleaning of the packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: ASM Assembly Automation LTD
    Inventors: Yiu Ming Cheung, Chak Tong Albert Sze
  • Patent number: 6945261
    Abstract: Described and claimed are apparatuses and systems for surface cleaning comprising a pump and an applicator connected to the pump through which one or more cleaning agents can be applied to the surface at an operating pressure that is about 600 PSI or less and an operating flow rate that is about 1 gal/min or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: John Wadsworth, Stefan Münch
  • Patent number: 6928751
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotatable chuck for supporting a substrate and a splash guard. The splash guard surrounds the chuck and surrounds a substrate mounted on the chuck. The splash guard has a portion that deflects fluid being flung off the substrate by centrifugal action in a manner so as to not splash back onto the substrate. The splash guard is moveable between a process position in which the upper annular edge of the splash guard extends above the chuck and a substrate on the chuck, and a load/unload position in which the splash guard is tilted so that one side of the upper annular edge is below an upper edge of the chuck. The movement of the splash guard facilitates loading and unloading of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignees: Goldfinger Technologies, LLC, Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC)
    Inventors: Chad M. Hosack, Jeffrey M. Lauerhaas, Mario E. Bran, Raoul Standt, Paul Patel, Yi Wu, Geert Doumen, Paul Mertens
  • Patent number: 6915809
    Abstract: A single wafer type wet-cleaning apparatus for effectively preventing chemical fluids from flowing to the back face of a wafer when the back face thereof is wet-cleaned by chemical fluids, wherein purified water is injected and supplied to the back face of the wafer while a plurality of chemical fluids is sequentially supplied vertically from above to the wafer, which is rotatably supported, so that the purified water cleans the back face of the wafer and effectively prevents the chemical fluids from flowing to the back face of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: S.E.S. Company Limited
    Inventor: Kizoh Shibagaki
  • Patent number: 6913028
    Abstract: A flexible container for liquid transport made of a flexible material includes a top face portion, a bottom face portion, and a peripheral face portion connecting the top face portion and the bottom face portion. An air tight, water resistant slide fastener is openably/closably mounted to the peripheral face portion of the container. A liquid stirring port is provided at the top face portion, and a liquid injecting and ejecting port are provided at a lower end of a rear face portion of the peripheral face portion. Container suspending pieces and bottom face portion fixing pieces are mounted at the top face portion of the container and at four corners of the bottom face portion. During washing, the container can be washed reliably and efficiently while the inside of the spread out container can be visually checked by efficiently utilizing the air tight, water resistant slide fastener, liquid stirring port, liquid injecting and ejecting port, and container suspending pieces, and bottom face port fixing pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignees: YKK Corporation, Asano Transportation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koitsu Morioka, Yoshimitsu Asano, Hiromasa Asano, Tokuo Oozeki, Nobuhiro Ichikawa, Jyunichiro Kudo
  • Patent number: 6904920
    Abstract: A machine for cleaning containers such as flat media carriers has inside and outside arrays of nozzles arranged to spray a cleaning solution onto containers supported on a spinning rotor in a chamber. The cleaning solution, a mixture of water and a detergent or surfactant, is prepared by drawing out surfactant directly from a surfactant bulk storage vessel by means of a metering pump. The flow rate of the water is measured by a flow meter and in combination with the metering pump, a proper amount of surfactant is injected into the water line to produce a mixture with a desired surfactant concentration for removing contaminants. The mixture is injected into the water line at a mixing control valve to ensure that the water and surfactant are thoroughly mixed before being injected into the media carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Bexten, Jerry Norby
  • Patent number: 6880191
    Abstract: A spray caddy (10) for storing and transporting chemicals and cleaning accessories and method of dispensing diluted liquid chemicals with improved efficiency. The spray caddy (10) comprises a container (11) and an elongate rigid tubular handle assembly (12) that extends through a first hole (32) and a second hole (34) in container (11). Hot (>180. degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Joe G. Bristor
  • Patent number: 6874513
    Abstract: A high-pressure processing apparatus for removing unnecessary matters on objects to be processed by bringing a high-pressure fluid and a chemical liquid other than the high-pressure fluid into contact with the objects to be processed in a pressurized state is provided with a plurality of high-pressure processing chambers, a common high-pressure fluid supply unit for supplying the high-pressure fluid to each one of the high-pressure processing chambers, a common chemical liquid supply unit for supplying the chemical liquid to the each high-pressure processing chambers, and a separating unit for separating gaseous components from a mixture of the high-pressure fluid and the chemical liquid discharged from the high-pressure processing chambers after the objects are processed. Thus, a high-pressure processing apparatus which has such a compact construction as to be partly installable in a clean room and can stably perform a high-pressure processing can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamagata, Hisanori Oshiba, Yoshihiko Sakashita, Yoichi Inoue, Yusuke Muraoka, Kimitsugu Saito, Ikuo Mizobata, Ryuji Kitakado
  • Patent number: 6863741
    Abstract: Where a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer held in a process space in a process chamber consisting of an outside chamber and an inside chamber is subjected to a cleaning processing, a chemical agent such as IPA or a solvent having a surfactant added thereto is supplied in the form of a mist or a vapor toward the substrate under the sate that the substrate is stopped or rotated at a low speed after processing with a chemical agent and a subsequent rinsing processing with a pure water. After the supply of the chemical agent is stopped, the substrate is rotated at a rotating speed higher than said low speed so as to centrifugally remove the chemical agent attached to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takehiko Orii, Mitsunori Nakamori
  • Patent number: 6854473
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a microelectronic workpiece is set forth. The apparatus comprises a workpiece support adapted to hold the microelectronic workpiece and a processing container adapted to receive the microelectronic workpiece held by the workpiece support. A drive mechanism is connected to drive the processing container and the workpiece support relative to one another so that the microelectronic workpiece may be moved to a plurality of workpiece processing positions for processing using processing fluid that is provided by first and second chemical delivery systems. The apparatus also includes first and second chemical collector systems that are used to assist in at least partially removing spent processing fluid. In accordance with one embodiment, the apparatus is particularly adapted to execute an immersion process, such as electroplating, and a spraying process, such as an in-situ rinse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle M. Hanson, Reed A. Blackburn