This application claims the priority and benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0191086, filed on Dec. 29, 2021, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present inventive concept relates to a substrate cleaning device and a substrate cleaning method.
In order to form microstructures (e.g., a metal film, a barrier film, an insulating film, or the like) on a substrate (e.g., a semiconductor wafer), a planarization process of polishing and cleaning a surface of the substrate using a substrate processing device is accompanied. Abrasive residues (e.g., slurry residues, abrasive debris, or the like) are present in a roll member for scrub cleaning a surface of the polished substrate, which may cause deterioration of a cleaning effect.
An aspect of the present inventive concept is to provide a substrate cleaning device having improved cleaning ability and a substrate cleaning method.
According to an aspect of the present inventive concept, a substrate cleaning device, includes: a substrate cleaning module including a first roll member disposed adjacent to a lower surface of a substrate, a first driving unit configured to move the first roll member in vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the lower surface of the substrate, a second roll member disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the substrate, and a second driving unit configured to move the second roll member in vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the upper surface of the substrate; a first roll cleaning module including a processing tank including a roll receiving region having the first roll member accommodated therein, a first cleaning solution supply unit configured to supply a first cleaning solution to the roll receiving region, and an ultrasonic generating unit configured to apply ultrasonic vibrations to the first cleaning solution supplied to the roll receiving region; a second roll cleaning module including a housing having the second roll member accommodated therein, a brush pad disposed in the housing and on which the second roll member is seated, and a second cleaning solution supply unit configured to supply a second cleaning solution to the brush pad on which the second roll member is seated; and a control unit configured to control the first driving unit so that the first roll member is in contact with the lower surface of the substrate or is accommodated in the roll receiving region of the processing tank, and to control the second driving unit so that the second roll member is in contact with the upper surface of the substrate or is seated on the brush pad in the housing.
According to an aspect of the present inventive concept, a substrate cleaning device, includes: a substrate cleaning module including a first roll member disposed adjacent to a lower surface of a substrate, a first driving unit configured to move the first roll member in vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the lower surface of the substrate, a second roll member disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the substrate, and a second driving unit configured to move the second roll member in vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the upper surface of the substrate; a roll cleaning module including a processing tank including a roll receiving region having the first roll member or the second roll member accommodated therein, a cleaning solution supply unit configured to supply a cleaning solution to the roll receiving region, and an ultrasonic generating unit configured to apply ultrasonic vibrations to the cleaning solution supplied to the roll receiving region; and a control unit configured to control the first and second driving units so that the first roll member and the second roll member are in contact with the lower surface and the upper surface of the substrate, respectively, or are accommodated in the roll receiving region of the processing tank.
According to an aspect of the present inventive concept, a substrate cleaning device includes: a substrate cleaning module including a first roll member having first protrusions, and disposed adjacent to a lower surface of a substrate, a first driving unit configured to move the first roll member in vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the lower surface of the substrate, and a second roll member having second protrusions and disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the substrate, and a second driving unit configured to move the second roll member in vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the upper surface of the substrate; a first roll cleaning module including a processing tank including a roll receiving region having the first roll member accommodated therein, a first cleaning solution supply unit configured to supply a first cleaning solution to the roll receiving region, and an ultrasonic generating unit configured to apply ultrasonic vibrations to the first cleaning solution supplied to the roll receiving region; a control unit configured to control the first driving unit so that the first roll member is in contact with the lower surface of the substrate or is accommodated in the roll receiving region of the processing tank, wherein, when each of the first roll member and the second roll member is in contact with the lower surface and the upper surface of the substrate, at least a portion of the first protrusions and at least a portion of the second protrusions are in contact with each other.
According to an aspect of the present inventive concept, a substrate cleaning method includes operations of: preparing a substrate having an upper surface to which a polishing process is applied and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface; fixing the substrate above a spindle and rotating the same horizontally; contacting a first roll member and a second roll member to the lower surface and the upper surface of the substrate, respectively; scrub cleaning the lower surface and the upper surface of the substrate by rotating the first roll member and the second roll member; immersing the first roll member in a cleaning solution in a processing tank, and applying ultrasonic vibrations to the cleaning solution; and seating the second roll member on a brush pad of a housing, and rotating the second roll member.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present inventive concept will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, preferred example embodiments of the present inventive concept will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Referring to
In the present inventive concept, by introducing a roll cleaning module 300 for removing particles (e.g., slurry residues, abrasive debris, or the like) attached to the first roll member 201 and/or the second roll member 202 of the substrate cleaning module 200, reverse contamination between the first roll member 201 and the second roll member 202 may be prevented, and cleaning efficiency of the substrate cleaning module 200 may be improved. For example, in the substrate cleaning device 100A of the present example embodiment, the first roll member 201 and the second roll member 202 may be in contact with lower and upper surfaces of a substrate S, respectively, to scrub the substrate S, and the substrate cleaning device 100A may include a control unit 102 for moving the first roll member 201 and the second roll member 202 into a processing tank 310 of the roll cleaning module 300.
The substrate cleaning module 200 may include a first roll member 201, a first driving unit 210, a second roll member 202, and a second driving unit 220.
The first roll member 201 may be disposed adjacent to a lower surface S1 of the substrate S, and the second roll member 202 may be disposed adjacent to an upper surface S2 of the substrate S. The first and second roll members 201 and 202 may extend parallel to the lower surface S1 and the upper surface S2 of the substrate S, respectively, and may have a length greater than a diameter of the substrate S. Each of the first and second roll members 201 and 202 may have a cylindrical shape having first and second protrusions P1 and P2 on their outer peripheral surfaces, respectively. The first and second roll members 201 and 202 may be formed of, for example, a polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
The first and second roll members 201 and 202 may be rotatably installed in close contact with the lower surface S1 and the upper surface S2 of the substrate S, respectively. For example, the substrate cleaning module 200 may further include a first roll holder 203 configured to rotate the first roll member 201 and a second roll holder 204 configured to rotate the second roll member 202. In this case, a first rotation shaft O1 of the first roll member 201 may be parallel to the lower surface S1 of the substrate S, and a second rotation shaft 02 of the second roll member 202 may be parallel to an upper surface S2 of the substrate S. As the first and second roll members 201 and 202 rotate, first and second protrusions P1 and P2 may be in contact with the lower surface S1 and the upper surface S2 of the substrate S, and the substrate S may be scrub cleaned. Meanwhile, the substrate S may be rotated horizontally by one or more spindles (see, e.g., spindles 1021 in
The first and second driving units 210 and 220 may be configured to move the first and second roll members 201 and 202 in a vertical direction (e.g., a direction perpendicular to the lower and upper surfaces S1 and S2 of the substrate S) and a horizontal direction (e.g., a direction parallel to the lower and upper surfaces S1 and S2 of the substrate S) on the lower surface S1 and the upper surface S2 of the substrate S, respectively. For example, each of the first and second driving units 210 and 220 may include at least one of robot arms 213 and 223 and at least one of driving members 215 and 225 transmitting driving force to the at least one of robot arms 213 and 223. For example, the first driving member 215 may apply driving force to the first robot arm 213 so that the first roll member 201 is raised below the substrate S to bring the first roll member 201 closer to the substate S. The second driving member 225 may apply driving force to the second robot arm 223 so that the second roll member 202 is lowered from above the substrate S to bring the second roll member 202 closer to the substate S. Each of the first and second driving members 215 and 225 may include a hydraulic actuator, a magnetic actuator, a mechanical actuator, or the like.
The roll cleaning module 300 may include a processing tank 310, a cleaning solution supply unit 320, a rinsing solution supply unit 330, a discharge unit 340, a circulation unit 350, and an ultrasonic generating unit 360.
The processing tank 310 may include a roll receiving region 311 in which the first roll member 201 or the second roll member 202 is accommodated. The processing tank 310 may have a bottom wall and side wall providing a space in which the first roll member 201 or the second roll member 202 is accommodated. An inlet or outlet to which a cleaning solution supply line 322, a rinsing solution supply line 332, a discharge line 341, and a circulation line 351 to be described later are connected may be formed on the bottom wall and the side wall of the processing tank 310. The processing tank 310 may be made of a material having acid resistance and corrosion resistance. For example, the processing tank 310 may include an overflow region 312, adjacent to the roll receiving region 311. The overflow region 312 may be separated from the roll receiving region 311 by a partition wall. The overflow region 312 may temporarily store a cleaning solution or a rinsing solution overflowing from the roll receiving region 311.
The cleaning solution supply unit 320 may supply a cleaning solution into the roll receiving region 311. The cleaning solution supply unit 320 may have a cleaning solution supply line 322 having one end connected to a cleaning solution inlet of the processing tank 310. The other end of the cleaning solution supply line 322 may be connected to the cleaning solution supply source 321, and a valve V1 for opening and closing a flow of the cleaning solution may be installed on the cleaning solution supply line 322. The valve V1 may be installed in a position, adjacent to the cleaning solution supply source 321 on the cleaning solution supply line 322.
The rinsing solution supply unit 330 may supply a rinsing solution into the roll receiving region 311. The rinsing solution supply unit 330 may have a rinsing solution supply line 332 having one end connected to a rinsing solution inlet of the processing tank 310. The other end of the rinsing solution supply line 332 may be connected to a rinsing solution supply source 331, and a valve V2 for opening and closing a flow of the rinsing solution may be installed on the rinsing solution supply line 332.
The discharge unit 340 may discharge a cleaning solution or a rinsing solution in the roll receiving region 311 externally of the processing tank 310. The discharge unit 340 may have a discharge line 341 whose one end is connected to an outlet of the processing tank 310. The other end of the discharge line 341 is connected to a drain member 342 such as a pump, and a valve V3 for opening and closing a flow of the discharged cleaning solution or rinsing solution may be installed on the discharge line 341.
The circulation unit 350 may circulate a cleaning solution or the rinsing solution discharged from the processing tank 310 and re-supply the same to the processing tank 310. For example, the circulation unit 350 may supply a cleaning solution or a rinsing solution flowing into the overflow region 312 to the roll receiving region 311. The circulation unit 350 may have a circulation line 351 having one end connected to one side of the processing tank 310, for example, an outlet of the overflow region 312. The other end of the circulation line 351 may be connected to the other side of the processing tank 310, for example, an inlet of the roll receiving region 311. A valve V4 and a pump 353 for opening/closing a flow of the circulating cleaning solution or rinsing solution may be installed on the circulation line 351. The valve V4 and pump 353 may be provided in a larger number than shown in the drawings.
The ultrasonic generating unit 360 may apply ultrasonic vibrations to a cleaning solution or a rinsing solution supplied to the roll receiving region 311. The ultrasonic generating unit 360 may be installed on a bottom wall or a side wall of the processing tank 310. Depending on an example embodiment, the ultrasonic generating unit 360 may be provided in a larger or smaller number than that shown in the drawings. The ultrasonic generating unit 360 may transmit strong vibration due to sound waves to the cleaning solution or the rinsing solution when the first roll member 201 or the second roll member 202 is cleaned, using a piezoelectric body converting electrical energy into physical vibration energy. Accordingly, cavitation bubbles may be ruptured between protrusions P1 and P2 of first and second roll members 201 and 202, and contaminants may be separated from the first and second roll members 201 and 202. The ultrasonic generating unit 360 may generate ultrasonic waves having various frequencies in response to a size of the contaminants. The ultrasonic generating unit 360 may generate ultrasonic waves having a frequency in a range of about 20 kHz to about 1.5 MHz. According to an example embodiment, the ultrasonic generating unit 360 may generate ultrasonic waves having a megasonic frequency in a range of about 700 kHz to about 1.5 MHz. As described above, in the present inventive concept, by introducing the roll cleaning module 300 including the ultrasonic generating unit 360, inverse contamination between the first roll member 201 and the second roll member 202 may be prevented, and cleaning efficiency of the substrate cleaning module 200 may be improved.
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In addition, the valve V4 on the circulation line 351 may be opened. Accordingly, a portion of rinsing solution RS′ flowing into the overflow region 312 from the roll receiving region 311 may be re-supplied to the roll receiving region 311 through the circulation line 351. This circulation process may be maintained during the rinsing process of the first roll member 201 or the second roll member 202.
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The first roll cleaning module 300 may include a processing tank 310, a first cleaning solution supply unit 320, a rinsing solution supply unit 330, a discharge unit 340, a circulation unit 350, and an ultrasonic generating unit 360. Since components of the first roll cleaning module 300 have substantially the same characteristics as those described with reference to
The second roll cleaning module 400 may include a housing 410, a brush pad 420, and a second cleaning solution supply unit 430. The housing 410 may provide a space in which the second roll member 202 is accommodated.
The brush pad 420 may be disposed in the housing 410. Since the second roll member 202 is seated on the brush pad 420 for cleaning the second roll member 202, the brush pad 420 may be made of a material that does not damage the second roll member 202. For example, the brush pad 420 may include a pad portion including a material with strong durability against pure water (DI water) and a brush portion including a nylon-based or polymer-based material.
The second cleaning solution supply unit 430 may supply a second cleaning solution to the brush pad 420 on which the second roll member 202 is seated. The second cleaning solution may include at least one of pure water (DI water), ultrapure water, or hydrofluoric acid (HF), sulfuric acid (H3SO4), nitric acid (HNO3), phosphoric acid (H3PO4), standard clean-1 (SC-1) solution, EKC solution, LAL solution, and diluted sulfate peroxide (DSP) solution.
In the present example embodiment, the control unit 102 may be configured to control the first driving unit 210 such that the first roll member 201 is in contact with the lower surface S1 of the substrate S or is accommodated in a roll receiving region 311 of the processing tank 310, and control the second driving unit 220 such that the second roll member 202 is in contact with the upper surface S2 of the substrate S or is seated on the brush pad 420 in the housing 410. The control unit 102 may be a computer (or several interconnected computers) and can include, for example, one or more processors configured by software, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphic processing unit (GPU), etc. In the present example embodiment, the first roll cleaning member 300 and the second roll cleaning member 400 are configured to clean the first and second roll members 201 and 202 in different manners, but the present inventive concept is not limited thereto. According to an example embodiment, the second roll cleaning module 400 may be replaced with an ultrasonic cleaning module such as the first roll cleaning module 300.
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A plurality of polishing devices 1010 (four in this example), at least one substrate cleaning device 1020 (two in this example) for cleaning the substrate after polishing, and a substrate drying device 1030 for drying the substrate after cleaning are accommodated inside a housing 1001. The polishing device 1010 is arranged along a longitudinal direction of the substrate processing device 1000, and the substrate cleaning device 1020 and the substrate drying device 1030 are also arranged along the longitudinal direction of the substrate processing device 1000. The substrate cleaning devices 100A and 100B of
A substrate transfer robot 1050 may be disposed inside the housing 1001 adjacent to the load port 1002. A substrate return robot 1052 may be disposed parallel to an arrangement direction of the polishing device 1010. The substrate transfer robot 1050 may receive a substrate before polishing from the load port 1002 and deliver the same to the substrate return robot 1052, and receive a substrate after drying from the substrate drying device 1030 and return the same to the load port 1002. The substrate return robot 1052 transfers the substrate received from the substrate transfer robot 1050, and transfers the substrate between the polishing devices 1010.
In addition, the at least one substrate cleaning device 1020 may be disposed as a first substrate cleaning device 1020 (left side) and a second substrate cleaning device 1020 (right side) arranged in parallel. For example, a second substrate transfer robot 1052 for transferring the cleaned substrate may be disposed between the first substrate cleaning device 1020 (left side) and the second substrate cleaning device 1020 (right side) and between the second substrate cleaning device 1020 (right side) and the substrate drying device 1030.
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The upper roll member 202 may rotate in a first direction F1 by a rotation driving means, and the lower roll member 201 may rotate in a second direction F2 by a rotation driving means. The rotation driving means may be a rotation driving motor that causes the upper and lower roll member 202 and 201 to rotate. An upper cleaning solution supply nozzle 1032 for supplying a cleaning solution to an upper surface of the substrate S may be disposed above the substrate S. The substrate S may be supported and rotated by spindles 1021. For example, the spindles 1021 may cause the substrate S to rotate about a central rotation shaft (i.e., rotational center) OS of the substrate S. A lower cleaning solution supply nozzle 1031 for supplying a cleaning solution to a lower surface of the substrate S may be disposed below the substrate S. The lower cleaning solution supply nozzle 1031 and the upper cleaning solution supply nozzle 1032 may supply a cleaning solution or a rinsing solution to the lower surface and the upper surface of the substrate S, respectively.
The substrate cleaning device 1020 is a rotation mechanism of the substrate S, and may further include a plurality of spindles 1021 disposed adjacent to an edge of the substrate S to support a peripheral portion of the substrate S and horizontally rotate the substrate S. The plurality of spindles 1021 (four in
The substrate cleaning device 1020 may dispose the peripheral portion of the substrate S in a fitting groove formed on an outer peripheral side surface of a coma 1021a installed above the spindle 1021, press the same thereinside, and rotates the coma 1021a, to horizontally rotate the substrate S. For example, two coma 1021a among the four coma 1021a may apply rotational force to the substrate S, and the other two coma 1021a may act as a bearing that receives rotation of the substrate S. According to an example embodiment, all of the coma 1021a may be connected to the driving mechanism to apply rotational force to the substrate S.
In a state in which the substrate S is horizontally rotated, a cleaning solution and a rinsing solution may be supplied from the lower cleaning solution supply nozzle 1031 and the upper cleaning solution supply nozzle 1032. In addition, by rotating and lowering the upper roll member 202 to contact an upper surface of the rotating substrate S, and rotating and lowering the lower roll member 201 to contact a lower surface of the rotating substrate S, the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate S may be scrub-cleaned.
Both lengths of the upper roll member 202 and the lower roll member 201 are both set longer than a diameter of the substrate S. A rotation shaft of each of the lower roll member 201 and the upper roll member 202, for example, a first rotation shaft O1 and a second rotation shaft O2, respectively, may extend to cover an entire diameter of the substrate S, while being substantially orthogonal to, a central rotation shaft (i.e., rotational center) OS of the substrate S. Accordingly, an entire area of the lower surface and the upper surface of the substrate S may be simultaneously cleaned by the lower roll member 201 and the upper roll member 202, respectively.
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As set forth above, according to example embodiments of the present inventive concept, by introducing a roll cleaning module for removing particles attached to a substrate cleaning roll member, a substrate cleaning device having improved cleaning ability and a substrate cleaning method using the same may be provided.
While example embodiments have been shown and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations could be made without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept as defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, various types of substitution, modification and change will be possible by those skilled in the art within the scope not departing from the technical spirit of the present inventive concept described in the claims, and this also falls within the scope of the present inventive concept.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2021-0191086 | Dec 2021 | KR | national |