Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for conditioning and monitoring media used for chemical-mechanical planarization

US6306008A · kind A · utility

99Cited by
11References
75Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 1999
Grant dateOct 23, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24B53/12
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conditioning and monitoring a planarizing medium used for planarizing a microelectronic substrate. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a conditioning body having a conditioning surface that engages a planarizing surface of the planarizing medium and is movable relative to the planarizing medium. A force sensor is coupled to the conditioning body to detect a frictional force imparted to the conditioning body by the planarizing medium when the conditioning body and the planarizing medium are moved relative to each other. The apparatus can further include a feedback device that controls the motion, position, or force between the conditioning body and the planarizing medium to control the conditioning of the planarizing medium.

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