Patent · US Expired

CMP in-situ conditioning with pad and retaining ring clean

US6806193B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
9References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 15, 2003
Grant dateOct 19, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 15, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC11D2111/22
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for preconditioning a CMP polishing pad and retaining ring prior to semiconductor wafer polishing. In the method of the present invention, the retaining ring is lowered to contact the rotating polishing pad, and a cleaning chemistry of ammonium citrate is applied to the pad. In an alternative embodiment, the cleaning chemistry comprises an aqueous solution of ammonium citrate, and a surfactant and/or copper inhibitor. After a sustained preconditioning period in which the retaining ring and polishing pad are polished, the pad is rinsed, lowering particulate buildup on the pad between wafer polishing steps, and bringing defect levels into an equilibrium state prior to each wafer polishing step.

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