Ultrasonic cleaning method and apparatus

1. A device for treating a surface of an article with a fluid, comprising:

a holder configured to position an article in a predetermined orientation;

a source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy positioned so as to vibrate a fluid medium adjacent the article; and

a generator of treatment fluid configured to discharge adjacent said source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy a treatment fluid after decreasing a pressure of said treatment fluid, such that gas previously dissolved in said liquid comes out of solution in the form of bubbles;

wherein said source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy is configured to generate an interference pattern in said treatment fluid comprising regions of pressure amplitude minima and maxima at an interface of said treatment fluid and said article; and

wherein said generator of treatment fluid is further configured to inject said treatment fluid parallel to the regions of pressure amplitude minima and maxima or at an angle thereto of up to 60 degrees.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the generator of treatment fluid comprises:

a main body housing provided with an inlet opening;

a plurality of injection orifices or an injection slit provided in the main body; and

an external liquid medium supply unit connected to the inlet opening.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy comprises a resonator positioned adjacent to the space to be occupied by the article so that a gap is formed with a width w of about 0.1 mm to about 10 mm.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy comprises a resonator having a series of triangular grooves that direct the ultrasonic or megasonic energy to create said interference pattern.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy comprises a resonator having plural piezoelectric elements mounted on a monolithic body and facing at oblique angles to an article positioned on the holder.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy comprises a resonator having at least one internal volume containing a liquid whose impedance differs from that of said treatment fluid.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device is a single wafer wet processing station for treating semiconductor wafers.

8. A device for treating a surface of an article with a fluid, comprising:

a holder configured to position an article in a predetermined orientation;

a source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy positioned so as to vibrate a fluid medium adjacent the article; and

a generator of treatment fluid configured to discharge adjacent said source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy a treatment fluid comprising a dispersion of gas bubbles in a treatment liquid, said bubbles being generated at an acoustic pressure less than one bar;

wherein said source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy is configured to generate an interference pattern in said treatment fluid comprising regions of pressure amplitude minima and maxima at an interface of said treatment fluid and said article; and

wherein said generator of treatment fluid is further configured to inject said treatment fluid parallel to the regions of pressure amplitude minima and maxima or at an angle thereto of up to 60 degrees.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy comprises a resonator having a series of triangular grooves that direct the ultrasonic or megasonic energy to create said interference pattern.

10. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the source of ultrasonic or megasonic energy comprises a resonator having plural piezoelectric elements mounted on a monolithic body and facing at oblique angles to an article positioned on the holder.

11. The device according to claim 8 , wherein said device is a single wafer wet processing station for treating semiconductor wafers.