Patent · US Expired

Wafer polishing apparatus and method

US5377451A · kind A · utility

69Cited by
12References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 23, 1993
Grant dateJan 3, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 23, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24B37/102
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Wafer polishing apparatus includes a turntable having a polishing surface thereon, and a frame mounting the turntable for rotation relative to the frame about an axis. A pressure plate mounted by a spindle rotates about an axis spaced from the axis of rotation of the turntable, but is held from rotation about the axis of rotation of the turntable. The pressure plate is constructed for simultaneously holding multiple wafers with a polish face of the wafers facing the polishing surface of the turntable. The wafers are pressed against the polishing surface of the turntable by a cylinder which applies a force to the pressure plate. A floating head assembly operatively connecting the wafers to the pressure plate reorients the wafer relative to the pressure plate in response to pressure differentials over the polish face of the wafer engaging the polishing surface to substantially equalize the pressure distribution over the polish face of the wafer.

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