Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding a substrate to be polished and pressing the substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a top ring body for holding a substrate, an elastic pad for being brought into contact with the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for being brought into contact with the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a substrate polishing machine which comprises a polishing surface and a substrate carrier for holding a substrate and bringing it into contact with the polishing surface. The substrate carrier comprises a carrier body, a substrate holding member for holding a substrate with a surface of the substrate to be polished being directed towards the polishing surface. The substrate holding member is mounted on the carrier body in such a manner that the substrate holding member is movable both towards and away from the polishing surface. The substrate polishing machine further comprises a substrate holding member positioning device provided on a side of the substrate holding member opposite to that used for holding the substrate. The substrate holding member positioning device has a flexible member which defines a chamber, and which, upon introduction of a non-compressible fluid, is expanded in a direction towards the polishing surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding a substrate to be polished and pressing the substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a top ring body for holding a substrate, an elastic pad brought into contact with the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane brought into contact with the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into or creating a vacuum in the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: A substrate holding apparatus comprises a substrate holder body having a substrate holding side facing a polishing surface and holding a substrate on the substrate holding side and a retainer ring fixedly secured to the substrate holder body. The retainer ring is arranged to surround an outer periphery of the substrate held by the substrate holder body so that the retainer ring engages with the polishing surface radially outside the substrate as the polishing of the substrate is effected. The substrate holder body is provided with a membrane having inside and outside surfaces. The inside surface cooperates with a surface of the substrate holder body to define a fluid pressure chamber to which a fluid pressure is applied. The outer surface engages with the substrate held by the substrate holder body.

Abstract: A predetermined amount of liquid such as water is supplied to a backside surface of a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer. Such liquid is a workpiece retaining liquid and is attached to a concave workpiece holding surface of a top ring. The workpiece is positioned between a turntable and the top ring and is polished by an abrasive cloth on the turntable while the workpiece is being pressed against the turntable by the top ring. While polishing, the workpiece is deformed toward the concave workpiece holding surface of the top ring, and a curvature of the deformed workpiece is controlled by the amount of liquid between the workpiece holding surface and the backside surface of the workpiece.