Patent · US Expired

Linear polisher and method for semiconductor wafer planarization

US6231427A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
37References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 1997
Grant dateMay 15, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24B41/06
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A wafer polisher and method for the chemical mechanical planarization of semiconductor wafers. The polisher includes a wafer holder for supporting the semiconductor wafer and a linear polishing assembly having a polishing member positioned to engage the surface of the wafer. The polishing member is movable in a linear direction relative to the wafer surface to uniformly polish the surface of the wafer. A pivotal alignment device may be used to pivotally support one of the wafer holder and the polishing member relative to the other of the wafer holder and the polishing member with the surface of the wafer and the polishing member retained in parallel alignment during operation of the polisher. The polisher optionally includes a conditioning station for conditioning the polishing member.

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