Abstract: An improved semiconductor wafer processing apparatus 10 includes a series of processing stations combined in one form, coupled together by computer-controlled cluster tooling. Wafers are supplied in a pod to an input station 28 which initiates a data record for recording processing results at each station. A sacrificial film 140 is applied to the surface 135 of each wafer. Individual wafers are transferred to a computer-controlled defect-mapping station 14 where particulate defects 130 are identified and their position coordinates recorded. Defect-mapped wafers are transferred to a computer-controlled laser area cleaning station 11 which lifts the defects and sweeps the wafer surface clean, except for stubborn defects. Clean wafers are transferred to a final mapping station 20 or 22, followed by transfer of the wafers to an output station 30.

Abstract: An improved method for removing contaminant particles from a surface of a semiconductor wafer includes forming a sacrificial film on the surface of the wafer and then removing the sacrificial film by supercritical fluid cleaning. The removal of the sacrificial film via the supercritical fluid cleaning process facilitates removing the contaminant particles. The method further includes identifying and characterizing the contaminant particles and creating a record of the contaminant particle data. The composition of the sacrificial film is selected based on the contaminant particles data and the supercritical cleaning recipe is selected based on the composition of the sacrificial film and the contaminant particles data.

Abstract: An improved method for removing contaminant particles from a surface of a semiconductor wafer includes forming a sacrificial film on the surface of the wafer and then removing the sacrificial film by supercritical fluid cleaning. The removal of the sacrificial film via the supercritical fluid cleaning process facilitates removing the contaminant particles. The method further includes identifying and characterizing the contaminant particles and creating a record of the contaminant particle data. The composition of the sacrificial film is selected based on the contaminant particles data and the supercritical cleaning recipe is selected based on the composition of the sacrificial film and the contaminant particles data.

Abstract: a method for semiconductor device manufacture comprising the steps of, (a) repetitively aligning photomasks over a surface of a semiconductor substrate, said substrate having a layer of opaque material on said surface, said opaque material being adapted to receive and retain a photographic pattern; and (b) at least one of said steps employing a photomask of a particular construction, said particularly constructed photomask being placed in physical contact with said opaque material, said particularly constructed photomask essentially consisting of a planar glass substrate having a thickness of approximately 0.25 inches, one surface of said glass substrate having a thin film of chrome thereon, said thin film of chrome having a thickness of approximately 0.1 microns, said thin film of chrome having a photographic pattern formed therein, a layer of SiO.sub.2 fully covering said thin film of chrome and said surface of said glass substrate, said SiO.sub.