Patent · US Expired

Process for reconditioning polishing pads

US6120350A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
13References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 1999
Grant dateSep 19, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24D7/06
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A pad shaping tool for shaping a polishing pad. The tool includes a disk having a first side and a second side and at least two discontinuous pad shaping surfaces located in spaced apart positions relative to each other on the first side of the disk. The pad shaping surfaces are simultaneously engageable with a polishing surface of the polishing pad for shaping the polishing surface as the pad rotates relative to the tool to change a cross sectional profile of the polishing surface from a curved shape to a flatter shape. A process for reconditioning the polishing pad on a rotatable platform of a wafer polishing machine includes the steps of engaging the pad shaping tool with the polishing surface of the pad such that at least two discontinuous pad shaping surfaces of the tool simultaneously engage the polishing surface, and rotating the polishing pad while preventing translational movement of the tool relative to the pad so that the tool shapes the polishing surface of the pad to be more nearly flat.

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