Patent · US Expired

Conditioner assembly for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus

US6042457A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
5References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 10, 1998
Grant dateMar 28, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24B53/017
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A conditioner assembly and a conditioner back support for conditioning a polishing pad of a chemical mechanical polishing device. The conditioner assembly comprises a conditioning head having a gimbal assembly, a shaft engaged to the conditioning head, and a linear torque bearing assembly slidably receiving the shaft. The linear torque bearing assembly is configured to operatively rotate the shaft assembly contemporaneously with allowing the shaft to extend and retract from a first open end of the linear torque bearing assembly. The conditioner assembly additionally comprises a bellows secured over the first open end and engaged to the conditioning head and a bearing housing disposed over a second open end of the linear torque bearing assembly. The bearing housing rotatably supports the linear torque bearing assembly such that a motor assembly can operatively drive the linear torque bearing assembly, the shaft, and the conditioning head. The conditioner back support respectively opposes the conditioner assembly such that the polishing belt supporting the polishing pad is disposed intermediate to the conditioner back support and the conditioner assembly. The conditioner back support…

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