Patent · US Expired

In situ friction detector method and apparatus

US6739947B1 · kind B1 · utility

23Cited by
99References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 2001
Grant dateMay 25, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 22, 2022

Classification

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

Abstract

An apparatus and method of using a friction detectors for finishing semiconductor wafers is described. The method uses friction sensors for detecting and improving control during finishing. The method can aid control of finishing while using lubricating films, preferably lubricating boundary layers, in the operative finishing interface. The method can generally aid control of differential lubricating films such as lubricating boundary layers and improve differential finishing of semiconductor wafers. Planarization and localized finishing can be improved using differential lubricating boundary layer methods of finishing. Defects can be reduced using the in situ friction detector method. Real time improvements to cost of manufacture semiconductor wafer manufacture can be made by tracking and using current in process cost of manufacture parameters. The semiconductor wafers can be tracked individually or by process group such as a process batch. Abrasive finishing surfaces can be used.

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