Abstract: A system and method for evacuating potential wafer-corroding and contaminating residual process gases from the interior of a semiconductor wafer pod before, after or both before and after a process is performed on the wafers. The residual process gases are first evacuated from the wafer pod, which is next charged with a fresh supply of inert gas. The system is adapted to evacuate and charge the wafer pod as the wafer pod typically rests on a load port of a SMIF prior to transfer of the pod to another destination in the semiconductor fabrication facility, prior to internalization of the wafers into a processing tool, or both.

Abstract: A system and method for evacuating potential wafer-corroding and contaminating residual process gases from the interior of a semiconductor wafer pod before, after or both before and after a process is performed on the wafers. The residual process gases are first evacuated from the wafer pod, which is next charged with a fresh supply of inert gas. The system is adapted to evacuate and charge the wafer pod as the wafer pod typically rests on a load port of a SMIF prior to transfer of the pod to another destination in the semiconductor fabrication facility, prior to internalization of the wafers into a processing tool, or both.

Abstract: A method for determining end-point in a chamber cleaning process is disclosed which can be carried out by first providing a chamber that has a cavity for conducting a semiconductor fabrication process therein, then mounting a crystal sensor on a surface of the chamber cavity at a position that the sensor is exposed to gases or liquids or generated by the fabrication process; conducting a semiconductor fabrication process in the chamber; flowing a cleaning fluid into and in-situ cleaning the surface of the chamber cavity; inputting an oscillating frequency into the crystal sensor and monitoring an output frequency of oscillation from the sensor; and comparing the output frequency of oscillation to an output frequency from a crystal sensor that has a clean surface and determining when the surface of the chamber cavity is cleaned.

Abstract: A method for determining end-point in a chamber cleaning process is disclosed which can be carried out by first providing a chamber that has a cavity for conducting a semiconductor fabrication process therein, then mounting a crystal sensor on a surface of the chamber cavity at a position that the sensor is exposed to gases or liquids or generated by the fabrication process; conducting a semiconductor fabrication process in the chamber; flowing a cleaning fluid into and in-situ cleaning the surface of the chamber cavity; inputting an oscillating frequency into the crystal sensor and monitoring an output frequency of oscillation from the sensor; and comparing the output frequency of oscillation to an output frequency from a crystal sensor that has a clean surface and determining when the surface of the chamber cavity is cleaned.

Abstract: A chemical reactant bottle for containing a chemical reactant is adapted for heat transfer with an ambient fluid. The bottle has a body including a top and a bottom and sidewalls between the top and the bottom of the bottle. The top and the bottom and the sidewalls define a cavity within the bottle. There is an opening through the top into the cavity at one end of the bottle. The bottle includes a plurality of external slots extending through the body parallel with the longitudinal axis. The slots extend between the sidewalls of the bottle to create additional contact surface with the ambient fluid.