Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for planarizing semiconductor wafers, and a polishing pad for a planarization apparatus

US5421769A · kind A · utility

172Cited by
15References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 8, 1993
Grant dateJun 6, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 8, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24D11/00
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for planarizing semiconductor wafers in its preferred form includes a rotatable platen for polishing a surface of the semiconductor wafer and a motor for rotating the platen. A non-circular pad is mounted atop the platen to engage and polish the surface of the semiconductor wafer. A polishing head holds the surface of the semiconductor wafer in juxtaposition relative to the non-circular pad. A polishing head displacement mechanism moves the polishing head and semiconductor wafer across and past a peripheral edge of the non-circular pad to effectuate a uniform polish of the semiconductor wafer surface. Also disclosed is a method for planarizing a semiconductor surface using a non-circular polishing pad.

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