Patent · US Expired

Confined water fixture for holding wafers undergoing chemical-mechanical polishing

US5267418A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
13References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 27, 1992
Grant dateDec 7, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 27, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB23Q3/082
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A wafer polishing fixture is disclosed containing a first liquid film confined by a non-porous but flexible enclosure for distributing evenly the applied polishing forces across the surface of a wafer supported by the confined liquid. The fixture comprises a flexible, non-porous template with a pocket for receiving a wafer to be polished. A washer is placed between a carrier and the template pocket. A film of water fills the bottom of the pocket and is confined with the aid of the washer and by an overlying porous pad extending across the pocket and having a non-porous sheath facing the liquid. A second liquid film saturates and covers the upper surface of the pad. The wafer to be polished floats upon the second liquid film within the pocket.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.