A drying device is configured with a sensor corresponding to an air knife-nozzle, and a control switch which suspends an operation of the device when the air knife-nozzle is detected as working abnormally, thereby preventing abnormal products from being produced due to the failure of finding an abnormal condition of the air knife-nozzle in time, ensuring the normal process of the product, and avoiding the nonessential economic loss.

Techniques herein pertain to apparatus embodiments and methods for treating the surface of a microelectronic substrate, and in particular for removing objects from the microelectronic substrate using fluid treatment sprays such as cryogenic fluid sprays. The apparatus embodiments and methods described herein further include techniques for monitoring and/or controlling treatment processes for removing particles from surfaces of a microelectronic substrate. The techniques allow using image analysis techniques to monitor characteristics of spray nozzle(s) (e.g., frost formation on the nozzle surface) and using the resultant image information of the nozzle to take corrective action if frost or another nozzle condition is detected.

A poling apparatus for poling a polymer thin film formed on a workpiece carried by a workpiece carrier. The workpiece has grounding electrodes and grounding pads located at edges, and a thin film covering the grounding electrodes but exposing the grounding pads. The workpiece carrier has carrier electrodes located around the workpiece and inside grounding ports at the bottom. The poling apparatus includes, in a poling chamber, a poling source generating a plasma, a Z-elevator to raise the workpiece carrier toward the poling source using the grounding ports, and grounding mechanisms including downwardly biased electrical contacts which, when the workpiece carrier is raised by the Z-elevator, connect the grounding pads of the workpiece with the carrier electrodes, to ground the workpiece. The poling apparatus additionally includes preparation platform and transfer platform with conveyer systems with rollers and Z-elevators to move the workpiece carrier in and out of the poling chamber.

A device for sealing a vacuum chamber is described, the vacuum chamber providing a first volume. The device includes an intermediate volume providing a fluid communication between the first volume and a second volume, a first seal for sealing a first conduit associated with the first volume and sealing the first volume from the intermediate volume, a second seal for sealing a second conduit associated with the second volume and sealing the second volume from the intermediate volume, and a third conduit providing a first fluid path to the intermediate volume.

semiconductor processing chambers include a gasbox. The chambers may include a substrate support. The chambers may include a blocker plate positioned between the gasbox and the substrate support. The blocker plate may define a plurality of apertures. The chambers may include a faceplate positioned between the blocker plate and the substrate support. The faceplate may be characterized by a first surface facing the blocker plate and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface and the substrate support may at least partially define a processing region within the chamber. The faceplate may define an inner plurality of apertures. Each of the inner apertures may include a generally cylindrical aperture profile. The faceplate may define an outer plurality of apertures that are positioned radially outward from the inner apertures. Each of the outer apertures may include a conical aperture profile that extends through the second surface.

A method and system for polishing a plurality of workpieces is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing a polishing tool with multiple polishing heads; and providing a substrate tray that can hold the plurality of work pieces in a fixed position on a tray underneath the polishing heads. The system and method includes moving the tray within the polisher. Finally, the method and system includes configuring the multiple polishing heads with the appropriate pad/slurry combinations to polish the workpieces and to create a finished polished surface on the plurality of work pieces.

The present disclosure relates to a field of dry etching technology. The present disclosure provides an ultra-large area scanning reactive ion etching machine and an etching method thereof. The ultra-large area scanning reactive ion etching machine includes: an injection chamber (101), an etching reaction chamber (102), a transition chamber (103), and an etching ion generation chamber (104). By moving a sample holder (111) among the injection chamber (100), the etching reaction chamber (102) and the transition chamber (103) in a scanning direction, a scanning etching is performed on a sample (100) placed on the sample holder (111), which may realize a large-area, uniform and efficient etching.

An automatic cleaning unit for AMHS includes a plurality of sensors disposed on OHT rails. The sensors are configured to define a cleaning zone and to detect a location of an OHT vehicle. The automatic cleaning unit further includes a vacuum generator and a top cleaning part installed over the OHT rails in the cleaning zone. The top cleaning part is coupled to the vacuum generator. The vacuum generator is turned on to perform a vacuum cleaning operation when the sensors detect the OHT vehicle entering the cleaning zone.

In an embodiment is provided a method of forming a blind via in a substrate comprising a mask layer, a conductive layer, and a dielectric layer that includes conveying the substrate to a scanning chamber; determining one or more properties of the blind via, the one or more properties comprising a top diameter, a bottom diameter, a volume, or a taper angle of about 80° or more; focusing a laser beam at the substrate to remove at least a portion of the mask layer; adjusting the laser process parameters based on the one or more properties; and focusing the laser beam, under the adjusted laser process parameters, to remove at least a portion of the dielectric layer within the volume to form the blind via. In some embodiments, the mask layer can be pre-etched. In another embodiment is provided an apparatus for forming a blind via in a substrate.

In an embodiment, a method of forming a blind via in a substrate comprising a mask layer, a conductive layer, and a dielectric layer is provided. The method includes detecting the mask layer by a sensor, the mask layer providing a substrate surface; determining a property of the blind via, the property comprising one or more of a top diameter, a bottom diameter, a volume, or a taper angle; focusing a Gaussian laser beam, under laser process parameters, at the substrate surface to remove at least a portion of the mask layer; adjusting the laser process parameters based on the property; and focusing the laser beam, under the adjusted laser process parameters, to remove at least a portion of the dielectric layer within the volume to form the blind via. The mask layer can be pre-etched. Apparatus for forming a blind via in a substrate are also provided.