IP Library Granted Patent US 11,135,626
Granted Patent B2
US 11,135,626 · App. 15/453,283 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Contamination removal apparatus and method

Inventors: Gordon Scott Swanson (Livermore, CA); Ivin Varghese (Livermore, CA); Mehdi Balooch (Berkeley, CA)
Assignee: Bruker Nano, Inc.
B08B7/04B08B7/0021B08B7/0035B08B7/0092H01J37/3244H01J37/32082H01J37/32091H01J37/32449H01L21/02057H01L21/67028H01J2237/006H01J2237/334H01J2237/335
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,135,626
App. No.
15/453,283
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A substrate dry cleaning apparatus, a substrate dry cleaning system, and a method of cleaning a substrate are disclosed. The substrate dry cleaning system includes a substrate support and a reactive species generator. The reactive species generator includes a first conduit defining a first flow channel that extends to an outlet of the first conduit, the outlet of the first conduit facing the substrate support, a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, the first flow channel disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first inert wall disposed between the first electrode and the first flow channel, and a second inert wall disposed between the second electrode and the first flow channel.

Claims (16)

1. A substrate dry cleaning system, comprising:

a substrate support; and

a reactive species generator including

a first conduit defining a first flow channel that extends to an outlet of the first conduit, the outlet of the first conduit facing the substrate support,

a first electrode,

a second electrode facing the first electrode, the first flow channel disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode,

a first inert wall disposed between the first electrode and the first flow channel, wherein the first inert wall is a cylindrical wall and the first electrode is disposed within the first inert wall with a lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) metal having 44.5 weight percent lead and 55.5 weight percent bismuth, wherein the LBE has a melting point of 397° K disposed between the first inert wall and the first electrode, and

a second inert wall disposed between the second electrode and the first flow channel.

2. The substrate dry cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a carbon dioxide snow generator including a second conduit defining a second flow channel that extends to an outlet of the second conduit, the outlet of the second conduit facing the substrate support, an inner surface of second conduit defining a constriction from a first flow area to a second flow area along a direction of flow toward the outlet of the second conduit, the first flow area being greater than the second flow area.

3. The substrate dry cleaning system of claim 2 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the carbon dioxide snow generator is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the substrate support.

4. The substrate dry cleaning system of claim 2 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the reactive species generator is inclined at a first angle relative to a plane normal to a surface of the substrate support, and

wherein a longitudinal axis of the carbon dioxide snow generator is inclined at a second angle relative to the plane normal to the surface of the substrate support, the first angle being opposite the second angle with respect to the plane normal to the surface of the substrate support.

5. The substrate dry cleaning system of claim 2 , wherein the first flow channel has an annular cross section and the second flow channel is disposed coaxially within the first flow channel.

6. The substrate dry cleaning system of claim 2 , further comprising a controller configured to

selectively admit carbon dioxide from a pressurized carbon dioxide source into the second flow channel, and

selectively admit a gas from a pressurized gas source into the first flow channel.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2021
From: SWANSON, GORDON SCOTT; VARGHESE, IVIN; BALOOCH, MEDHI
To: RAVE N.P., INC.
Reel/Frame 056486/0152 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2019
From: RAVE LLC; RAVE N.P., INC.; RAVE DIAMOND TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: BRUKER NANO, INC.
Reel/Frame 050997/0604 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2019
From: AVIDBANK SPECIALTY FINANCE, A DIVISION OF AVIDBANK
To: RAVE N.P., INC.
Reel/Frame 048886/0669 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 045655 FRAME: 0432. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded May 14, 2018
From: RAVE N.P., INC.
To: AVIDBANK SPECIALTY FINANCE (FORMERLY KNOWN AS AVIDBANK CORPORATE FINANCE), A DIVISION OF AVIDBANK
Reel/Frame 046153/0188 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2018
From: RAVE N.P., INC.
To: AVIDBANK SPECIALTY FINANCE (FORMERLY KNOWN AS AVIDBANK CORPORATE FINANCE), A DIVISION OF AVIDBANK
Reel/Frame 045655/0432 →
Continuity (3)
Division 13897552 · May 20, 2013
Provisional Application 61649012 · May 18, 2012
Related Publication 20170232483A1 · Aug 17, 2017