IP Library Granted Patent US 8,206,549
Granted Patent B2
US 8,206,549 · App. 12/153,609 · Granted Jun 26, 2012

Etching apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,206,549
App. No.
12/153,609
Granted
Jun 26, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An etching apparatus includes: an etching chamber; a piping unit disposed in an upper portion of the etching chamber and including a plurality of nozzles via which an etchant is sprayed; a substrate mask disposed below the piping unit; and a transfer unit disposed below the substrate mask and used to transfer a substrate. The substrate mask interposed between the piping unit including the nozzles and the substrate has a mesh structure or a plurality of holes or slits. Thus, the generation of microbubbles can be prevented during a wet etching process so that a thin layer formed on the substrate can be etched at a uniform etch rate. Also, a lift unit having a fixing unit may be disposed on a lateral surface of the substrate mask. The lift unit moves the substrate mask up and down so as to obtain a uniform etch rate.

Claims (17)

1. An etching apparatus comprising:

an etching chamber having upper and lower portions;

a piping unit arranged in the upper portion of the etching chamber and including a plurality of nozzles to spray an etchant;

a substrate mask arranged below the piping unit;

a lift unit arranged on a lateral surface of the substrate mask and supporting the substrate mask with a fixing unit; and

a transfer unit arranged below the substrate mask to transfer a substrate; wherein

the substrate mask comprises a plurality of either holes or slits and is formed of either polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

2. The etching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate mask comprises mesh structure.

3. The etching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate mask comprises a plurality of sub-substrate masks stacked apart from one another.

4. The etching apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lift unit moves the substrate mask up and down.

5. An etching apparatus comprising:

an etching chamber having upper and lower portions;

a piping unit arranged in the upper portion of the etching chamber and including a plurality of nozzles to spray an etchant;

a substrate mask arranged below the piping unit;

a lift unit arranged on a lateral surface of the substrate mask and disposed on inside of the etching chamber;

a fixing unit disposed between the lift unit and the lateral surface of the substrate mask supporting the substrate mask; and

a transfer unit arranged below the substrate mask to transfer a substrate.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Sep 21, 2012
From: SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 029087/0636 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2008
From: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
To: SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 022034/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2008
From: NAM, MYENG-WOO; KIM, CHANG-SOO; KWON, JUNG-HYUN
To: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD., A CORPORATION CHARTERED IN AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Reel/Frame 021184/0046 →