Abstract: An apparatus is used for removing contaminants from a surface and includes a chamber filled with a clean process gas, a surface positioning device, a carbon dioxide snow spray nozzle, a laser beam generator and focusing device and a process gas nozzle. The nozzles and a focal point of the laser beam are linearly aligned. The surface is held at a desired position and bombarded with carbon dioxide snow and with a high pressure wave to release the contaminants from the surface whereupon the released materials are swept to one side of the surface by a jet of the process gas. The process may proceed with point to point contamination removal based on prior surface examination and discovery of contamination sites, or may be scanned with essentially continuous contamination removal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning the surface of a substrate using laser-induced plasma shockwaves and ultraviolet radiation is described. After defects such as organic, inorganic and metallic particles are detected during an inspection step, the substrate is mounted on a motorized stage inside a cleaning chamber. A laser beam is focused into a laser-cleaning nozzle within the chamber. The laser energy generates a laser-induced plasma shockwave inside the nozzle. The shockwave is amplified and exits the nozzle generating the necessary force to overcome the adhesion bond of the defects with the substrate. Coordinating defect locations from the preliminary inspection step the substrate is actively positioned only where defects are present for selective removal.

Abstract: A storage/buffering system for the stocking and/or buffering of substrate and/or substrate carriers in a process environment includes a 6-axis robot. An end-effector is connected with the robot providing an additional one degree of freedom and a mechanism for grabbing and moving of substrate and/or substrate carriers. The robot is mounted in an inverted orientation to a removable service cart for easy removal of the robot to a service area in the event of breakdown. The robot receives commands from a programmable controller connected to control the robot and configured to direct the arm of the robot through a set of movements. Product is loaded in and out of the system through I/O load ports. Product is stored inside the storage/buffering system on a plurality of storage locations, each with product presence/absence detect sensor. The robot can alternatively be mounted directly to the storage system enclosure structure.