Method of transporting a semiconductor wafer in a wafer polishing system
First Claim
1. A method of transporting a semiconductor wafer between a wafer conveyor and each of a plurality of wafer processing stations in a wafer polishing system, the method comprising:
- moving a wafer holding head away from a first wafer processing station to a wafer head retainer on the wafer conveyor, the wafer holding head mounted to a first spindle and carrying the semiconductor wafer;
releasably locking the wafer holding head to the wafer conveyor and disengaging the wafer holding head from the first spindle; and
moving the wafer conveyor so that the wafer holding head moves to a position adjacent a second wafer processing station.
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Abstract
A system and method for planarizing a plurality of semiconductor wafers is provided. The method includes the steps of processing each wafer along the same process path using at least two polishing stations to each partially planarize the wafers. The system includes an improved process path exchanging a detachable wafer carrying head with spindles at each processing point and conveying the detached wafer carrying heads in a rotary index table between processing points. The system also provides for improved polishing accuracy using linear polishers having pneumatically adjustable belt tensioning and aligning capabilities.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of transporting a semiconductor wafer between a wafer conveyor and each of a plurality of wafer processing stations in a wafer polishing system, the method comprising:
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moving a wafer holding head away from a first wafer processing station to a wafer head retainer on the wafer conveyor, the wafer holding head mounted to a first spindle and carrying the semiconductor wafer;
releasably locking the wafer holding head to the wafer conveyor and disengaging the wafer holding head from the first spindle; and
moving the wafer conveyor so that the wafer holding head moves to a position adjacent a second wafer processing station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of transporting a semiconductor wafer to a wafer conveyor in a wafer polishing system, the method comprising:
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connecting a spindle to a wafer holding head mounted in a wafer head retainer on a wafer conveyor;
disengaging the wafer holding head from the wafer head retainer on the wafer conveyor;
moving the wafer holding head away from the wafer conveyor with the spindle toward a wafer loader;
mounting the semiconductor wafer on the wafer holding head;
moving the wafer holding head to the wafer head retainer on the wafer conveyor;
engaging the wafer holding head with the wafer head retainer on the wafer conveyor; and
disconnecting the spindle from the wafer holding head. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification