Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for planarizing a wafer surface of a semiconductor wafer having an elevated portion extending therefrom

US6451699B1 · kind B1 · utility

3Cited by
29References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 30, 1999
Grant dateSep 17, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 30, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/31053
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of planarizing a wafer surface of a semiconductor wafer having an elevated portion extending therefrom is described. The method includes the step of positioning a fluid flow surface relative to the wafer surface so that (i) a space is defined between the wafer surface and the fluid flow surface, and (ii) the elevated portion of the semiconductor wafer is positioned in the space. The method also includes the step of advancing a fluid within the space so that the fluid contacts and erodes the elevated portion of the semiconductor wafer. An associated apparatus for planarizing a wafer surface of a semiconductor wafer having an elevated portion extending therefrom is also described.

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