System for real-time control of semiconductor wafer polishing
First Claim
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1. A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer, the system comprising:
- a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen subassembly defining a polishing area, a polishing head shaft, and a polishing head supported by the polishing head shaft for rotation relative to the polishing head shaft, the polishing head being configured to support a semiconductor wafer, and to hold a face of the semiconductor wafer in contact with the platen subassembly, the wafer polishing assembly further including a polishing head displacement mechanism supporting the polishing head shaft relative to the platen subassembly and configured to translate the polishing head shaft relative to the platen subassembly along a polishing path which is variable between a linear polishing path and a non-linear polishing path, to cause the polishing head to polish the wafer face; and
a controller configured to adjust the polishing path during polishing of the wafer.
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Abstract
A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer, the system comprising a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen subassembly defining a polishing area, and a polishing head selectively supporting a semiconductor wafer and holding a face of the semiconductor wafer in contact with the platen subassembly to polish the wafer face; and a controller selectively adjusting one of a plurality of adjustable polishing parameters during polishing of the wafer.
254 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer, the system comprising:
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a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen subassembly defining a polishing area, a polishing head shaft, and a polishing head supported by the polishing head shaft for rotation relative to the polishing head shaft, the polishing head being configured to support a semiconductor wafer, and to hold a face of the semiconductor wafer in contact with the platen subassembly, the wafer polishing assembly further including a polishing head displacement mechanism supporting the polishing head shaft relative to the platen subassembly and configured to translate the polishing head shaft relative to the platen subassembly along a polishing path which is variable between a linear polishing path and a non-linear polishing path, to cause the polishing head to polish the wafer face; and a controller configured to adjust the polishing path during polishing of the wafer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen rotatable about a first axis, a polishing head configured to support the semiconductor wafer for rotation about a second axis, and a polishing head displacement mechanism configured to move the polishing head and wafer across the platen, the wafer polishing assembly having a plurality of controllable operational parameters that affect the polishing rate and polishing uniformity; a motor drivingly connected to the platen and operative to cause rotation of the platen about the first axis; a controller operably coupled to the wafer polishing assembly for monitoring and managing in situ at least one of the operational parameters of the wafer polishing assembly; a processor operably coupled to the controller for determining a set of desired operational parameters based on the monitored operational parameters and outputting control information indicative of the desired operational parameters to the controller, the controller adjusting in situ at least one of the operational parameters of the wafer polishing assembly in response to the control information from the processor to effectuate a new polishing rate and a new polishing uniformity as the wafer polishing assembly continues to polish the face of the semiconductor wafer; a plurality of pressure applicators supported by the polishing head and configured to act on the wafer, the pressure applicators being individually controllable to move between retracted positions and extended positions to alter the contour of the wafer; and a detector coupled to the processor and configured to determine whether polishing of the wafer is complete, the detector including a current meter electrically connected to the motor and in communication with the processor, the current meter indicating to the processor a change in friction between the wafer and the polishing head by detecting a change in amperage through the motor.
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15. A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer, the system comprising:
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a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen subassembly defining a polishing area, and a polishing head configured to support a semiconductor wafer relative to the platen subassembly under an adjustable polishing force to polish the wafer face; a motor drivingly connected to the platen subassembly and operative to cause rotation of the platen subassembly about an axis; a controller configured to adjust the polishing force during polishing of the wafer; and a plurality of pressure applicators supported by the polishing head and disposed to alter the contour of the wafer, the pressure applicators being individually controllable to move between retracted positions and extended positions to alter the contour of the wafer; and a current meter electrically connected to the motor, the current meter indicating a change in friction between the wafer and the polishing head by detecting a change in amperage through the motor.
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16. A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen rotatable about a first axis, a polishing head configured to support the semiconductor wafer for rotation about a second axis, and a polishing head displacement mechanism configured to move the polishing head and wafer across the platen, the wafer polishing assembly having a plurality of controllable operational parameters that affect the polishing rate and polishing uniformity; a controller operably coupled to the wafer polishing assembly for monitoring and managing in situ at least one of the operational parameters of the wafer polishing assembly; a processor operably coupled to the controller for determining a set of desired operational parameters based on the monitored operational parameters and outputting control information indicative of the desired operational parameters to the controller, the controller adjusting in situ at least one of the operational parameters of the wafer polishing assembly in response to the control information from the processor to effectuate a new polishing rate and a new polishing uniformity as the wafer polishing assembly continues to polish the face of the semiconductor wafer; a plurality of pressure applicators supported by the polishing head and configured to act on the wafer, the pressure applicators being individually controllable to move between retracted positions and extended positions to alter the contour of the wafer; and an acoustic wave transducer configured to direct acoustic waves at the wafer, and an acoustic wave receiver mounted to receive acoustic waves reflected from the wafer.
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17. A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer, the system comprising:
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a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen subassembly defining a polishing area, and a polishing head configured to support a semiconductor wafer relative to the platen subassembly under an adjustable polishing force to polish the wafer face; a controller configured to adjust the polishing force during polishing of the wafer; a plurality of pressure applicators supported by the polishing head and disposed to alter the contour of the wafer, the pressure applicators being individually controllable to move between retracted positions and extended positions to alter the contour of the wafer; and an acoustic wave transducer configured to direct acoustic waves at the wafer, and an acoustic wave receiver mounted to receive acoustic waves reflected from the wafer.
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18. A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen rotatable about a first axis, a polishing head configured to support the semiconductor wafer for rotation about a second axis, and a polishing head displacement mechanism configured to move the polishing head and wafer across the platen, the wafer polishing assembly having a plurality of controllable operational parameters that affect the polishing rate and polishing uniformity; a controller operably coupled to the wafer polishing assembly for monitoring and managing in situ at least one of the operational parameters of the wafer polishing assembly; a processor operably coupled to the controller for determining a set of desired operational parameters based on the monitored operational parameters and outputting control information indicative of the desired operational parameters to the controller, the controller adjusting in situ at least one of the operational parameters of the wafer polishing assembly in response to the control information from the processor to effectuate a new polishing rate and a new polishing uniformity as the wafer polishing assembly continues to polish the face of the semiconductor wafer; a plurality of pressure applicators supported by the polishing head and configured to act on the wafer, the pressure applicators being individually controllable to move between retracted positions and extended positions to alter the contour of the wafer; and a detector coupled to the processor and configured to determine whether polishing of the wafer is complete, the detector including an infrared camera directed at the wafer.
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19. A system for polishing a semiconductor wafer, the system comprising:
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a wafer polishing assembly for polishing a face of a semiconductor wafer at a polishing rate and a polishing uniformity, the wafer polishing assembly including a platen subassembly defining a polishing area, and a polishing head configured to support a semiconductor wafer relative to the platen subassembly under an adjustable polishing force to polish the wafer face; a controller configured to adjust the polishing force during polishing of the wafer; a plurality of pressure applicators supported by the polishing head and disposed to alter the contour of the wafer, the pressure applicators being individually controllable to move between retracted positions and extended positions to alter the contour of the wafer; and an infrared camera configured to be directed at the wafer.
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Specification