Patent · US Expired

Polishing endpoint detection method

US5639388A · kind A · utility

82Cited by
5References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 18, 1996
Grant dateJun 17, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 18, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24B49/16
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An endpoint detection in a polishing process of a polishing object which has a first layer and a second layer, formed under the first layer, is performed by holding the polishing object on a top ring and pressing a surface of the first layer of the polishing object onto a polishing cloth mounted on a rotating turntable so as to remove the first layer, oscillating the top ring in contact with the turntable, periodically measuring a torque on the rotating turntable when the top ring is positioned at a specific radial location defined by a radius from a rotational center of the turntable, and determining the endpoint based on a change in the torque generated when the first layer is removed and the second layer comes into contact with the polishing cloth.

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