Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for improved conditioning of polishing pads

US6123607A · kind A · utility

35Cited by
5References
25Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 17, 1999
Grant dateSep 26, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2019

Classification

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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conditioning the surface of a polishing pad used to polish a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer. A conditioning apparatus uses two or more end effectors to abrade and/or remove the polishing byproducts from the surface of the pad. Different types of conditioning performance can be achieved when the end effectors are employed individually, sequentially, or simultaneously during a polishing process.

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