Ultrasonic processing of chemical mechanical polishing slurries
US5895550A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S438/959
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The above objects and others are accomplished by a chemical mechanical polishing method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus includes a polishing pad having a polishing surface, and a wafer carrier for supporting a wafer disposed opposite to the polishing pad. The wafer carrier is positionable in a plane that is substantially parallel with the polishing surface, such that a surface of the wafer can be polished by contacting the polishing pad. The polishing surface and the wafer carrier are moved in parallel relative motion to mechanically abrade the wafer surface against the polishing surface in the presence of a polishing slurry. A slurry source containing the polishing slurry is connected to a slurry dispense line to dispense the slurry onto the polishing surface of the polishing pad. An acoustic energy source is positioned relative to transmit acoustic energy into the slurry to break up agglomerated particles in the slurry before the polishing slurry contacts the wafer surface. In a preferred embodiment, ultrasonic transducers are connected inline with the dispense line to provide the acoustic energy necessary to break apart the agglomerated part…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.