Fine force actuator assembly for chemical mechanical polishing apparatuses
First Claim
1. A polishing apparatus for polishing a device with a polishing pad, the polishing apparatus comprising:
- a pad holder that retains the polishing pad; and
an actuator assembly that includes a plurality of spaced apart actuators that are coupled to the pad holder, each of the actuators directing a force on the pad holder that alters the pressure of the polishing pad on the device, wherein at least one of the actuators is an attraction only actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A polishing apparatus (10) for polishing a device (12) with a polishing pad (48) includes a pad holder (50) and an actuator assembly (432). The pad holder (50) retains the polishing pad (48). The actuator assembly (432) includes a plurality of spaced apart actuators (438F) (438S) (438T) that are coupled to the pad holder (50). The actuators (438F) (438S) (438T) cooperate to direct forces on the pad holder (50) to alter the pressure of the polishing pad (48) on the device (12). At least one of the actuators (438F) (438S) (438T) includes a first actuator subassembly (440) and a second actuator subassembly (442) that interacts with the first actuator subassembly (440) to direct a force on the pad holder (50). The second actuator subassembly (442) is coupled to the pad holder (50) and the second actuator subassembly (442) rotates with the pad holder (50) relative to the first actuator subassembly (440).
25 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A polishing apparatus for polishing a device with a polishing pad, the polishing apparatus comprising:
- a pad holder that retains the polishing pad; and
an actuator assembly that includes a plurality of spaced apart actuators that are coupled to the pad holder, each of the actuators directing a force on the pad holder that alters the pressure of the polishing pad on the device, wherein at least one of the actuators is an attraction only actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a pad holder that retains the polishing pad; and
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11. A polishing apparatus for polishing a device with a polishing pad, the polishing apparatus comprising:
- a pad holder that retains the polishing pad; and
an actuator assembly that includes a plurality of spaced apart actuators that are coupled to the pad holder, each of the actuators directing a force on the pad holder that alters the pressure of the polishing pad on the device, wherein at least one of the actuators includes a first actuator subassembly and a second actuator subassembly that interacts with the first actuator subassembly to direct a force on the pad holder, the second actuator subassembly being coupled to the pad holder. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- a pad holder that retains the polishing pad; and
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14. A polishing apparatus for polishing a device with a polishing pad, the polishing apparatus comprising:
- a pad holder that retains the polishing pad; and
an actuator assembly that includes a plurality of spaced apart actuators that are coupled to the pad holder, each of the actuators directing a force on the pad holder that alters the pressure of the polishing pad on the device;
wherein the plurality of spaced apart actuators dynamically control the force applied at various positions of the pad holder to inhibit over-polishing at an edge of the device; and
wherein the plurality of spaced apart actuators dynamically control the force applied at various positions of the pad holder to inhibit tilting of the pad when only a portion of the pad is adjacent to the device.
- a pad holder that retains the polishing pad; and
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15. A polishing apparatus for polishing a device with a polishing pad, the polishing apparatus comprising:
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a pad holder that retains the polishing pad; and an actuator assembly that includes an attraction only actuator that is coupled to the pad holder, the attraction only actuator directing a force on the pad holder to alter the pressure of the polishing pad on the device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A polishing apparatus for polishing a device, the polishing apparatus comprising:
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a pad holder that retains a polishing pad; an actuator assembly that includes an attraction only actuator having a first actuator subassembly and a second actuator subassembly, the second actuator subassembly being coupled to the pad holder, the second actuator subassembly interacting with the first actuator subassembly to direct a force on the pad holder relative to the device to alter the pressure of the polishing pad on the device; and a pad rotator that rotates the pad and the second actuator subassembly relative to first actuator subassembly. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for polishing a device, the method comprising the steps of:
- retaining a polishing pad with a pad holder; and
directing a force on the pad holder to alter the pressure of the polishing pad on the device with an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly including a plurality of spaced apart actuators that are coupled to the pad holder, wherein at least one of the actuators is an attraction only actuator. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
- retaining a polishing pad with a pad holder; and
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37. A method for polishing a device, the method comprising the steps of:
- retaining a polishing pad with a pad holder; and
directing a force on the pad holder to alter the pressure of the polishing pad on the device with an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly including a plurality of spaced apart actuators that are coupled to the pad holder, wherein at least one of the actuators includes a first actuator subassembly and a second actuator subassembly that interacts with the first actuator subassembly to direct the force on the pad holder, the second actuator subassembly being coupled to the pad holder. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
- retaining a polishing pad with a pad holder; and
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40. A method for polishing a device, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a pad holder that retains a polishing pad; directing a force on the pad holder to alter the pressure of the polishing pad on the device with an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly including a plurality of spaced apart actuators each having a first actuator subassembly and a second actuator subassembly, the second actuator subassembly being coupled to the pad holder, the second actuator subassembly interacting with the first actuator subassembly to alter the pressure of the polishing pad on the device; and rotating the polishing pad and the second actuator subassembly relative to first actuator subassembly with a pad rotator. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A polishing apparatus for polishing a device, the polishing apparatus comprising:
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a pad holder that retains a polishing pad; an actuator assembly that includes an actuator having a first actuator subassembly and a second actuator subassembly, the second actuator subassembly being coupled to the pad holder, the second actuator subassembly interacting with the first actuator subassembly to direct a force on the pad holder relative to the device to alter the pressure of the polishing pad on the device, wherein the actuator assembly tilts the pad holder without substantially distorting the pad holder; and a pad rotator that rotates the pad and the second actuator subassembly relative to first actuator subassembly.
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46. A polishing apparatus for polishing a device, the polishing apparatus comprising:
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a pad holder that retains a polishing pad; an actuator assembly that includes a voice coil type actuator having a first actuator subassembly and a second actuator subassembly, the second actuator subassembly being coupled to the pad holder, the second actuator subassembly interacting with the first actuator subassembly to direct a force on the pad holder relative to the device to alter the pressure of the polishing pad on the device; and a pad rotator that rotates the pad and the second actuator subassembly relative to first actuator subassembly.
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Specification