Flexible tilted wafer carrier
First Claim
1. A polishing apparatus for polishing a surface of a workpiece comprising:
- a carrier assembly which is pivotally mounted to a rotation shaft; and
tilting means for setting a polishing angle on the carrier assembly by applying pressure to a predetermined point on said carrier assembly, said tilting means being rotationally positionable 360 degrees around said rotation shaft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an improved apparatus and method for polishing a semiconductor wafer, which involves mounting the wafer to a carrier assembly. The wafer carrier assembly has been split into two plates which are joined by springs around the peripheries. The wafer carrier assembly is universally mounted on a rotation shaft which rotates the wafer carrier assembly during cleaning. An adjustment screw tilts the upper plate relative to the lower plate. The adjustment screw can be located at any predetermined point on a circle around the rotation shaft. Since the bottom plate is forced relatively flat by contact with a polishing pad, the net effect of the wafer carrier assembly is to apply increased pressure to the wafer edge under the screw. This provides for an even polishing action to compensate for otherwise non-uniform radial polishing action on the wafer surface.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A polishing apparatus for polishing a surface of a workpiece comprising:
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a carrier assembly which is pivotally mounted to a rotation shaft; and tilting means for setting a polishing angle on the carrier assembly by applying pressure to a predetermined point on said carrier assembly, said tilting means being rotationally positionable 360 degrees around said rotation shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A polishing apparatus for polishing a surface of a workpiece comprising:
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a carrier assembly including a first plate, said first plate having a lower surface wherein said workpiece may be held, and a second plate positioned above said first plate; a rotatable shaft wherein said second plate is pivotally mounted thereto; a vibration dampening system interconnecting an upper surface of said first plate to a lower surface of said second plate; and means for tilting said second plate relative to the first plate, wherein said titling means is rotationally mounted to said rotatable shaft. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of polishing a surface of a workpiece with a polishing apparatus having a carrier assembly, a device for tilting said carrier assembly, and a rotation shaft, wherein said carrier assembly is pivotally mounted to said rotation shaft, and said tilting device is rotationally positionable around said rotation shaft, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) mounting said workpiece on a lower surface of said carrier assembly; b) positioning said tilting device at a predetermined position on a top surface of the carrier assembly; c) adjusting said tilting device to create a predetermined angle of attack of the carrier assembly; and d) rotatably contacting the workpiece with a rotating polishing pad to effect a polishing action across the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification