Patent · US Active

Polish pad conditioning in mechanical polishing systems

US8172647B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 19, 2008
Grant dateMay 8, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 14, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24B57/02
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A mechanical polishing apparatus includes a polishing pad, at least one carrier head positioned over and off center relative to the polishing pad and configured for holding at least one substrate against the polishing pad within a first annular region of the polishing pad when the polishing pad is rotating. At least one conditioning head is positionable over and off center relative the polishing pad at a plurality of first positions and configured for applying a contacting surface of at least one conditioning pad against the polishing pad when the polishing pad is rotating, where the conditioning pad is applied to a second annular region of the polishing pad and moves between the plurality of first positions. In the apparatus, the diameter of the conditioning pad≦a difference between a radius of the polishing pad and a width of the first annular region.

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