Abstract: The invention suppresses generation of noises attributable to rotation of a rotary joint. A rotary joint 160 includes a rotating body 1600 that rotates on a rotating axis A, a housing 1620 disposed so as to surround the rotating body 1600, and at least one bearing 1630 disposed between the rotating body 1600 and the housing 1620 and adapted to support rotation of the rotating body 1600. The rotary joint 160 supplies fluids through fluid connection ports formed in the housing 1620 and fluid passages formed inside the rotating body 1600 to a polishing table having attached thereto a polishing pad for polishing a substrate or a holding portion that is adapted to hold the substrate while pressing the substrate against the polishing pad. At least one elastic member 1640 is interposed at least either between the rotating body 1600 and the at least one bearing 1630 or between the housing 1620 and the at least one bearing 1630.

Abstract: To provide a substrate polishing apparatus capable of effectively trapping a harmful substance suspended in a polishing chamber. The substrate polishing apparatus includes a polishing portion (303) that polishes a substrate in a polishing chamber (300), a gas supply port (301) that supplies gas into the polishing chamber (300), a gas discharge port (304) that discharges the gas from inside the polishing chamber (300), and a spray nozzle (302) that is provided on an inner wall surface of the polishing chamber (300) and sprays a cleaning liquid in a mist into the polishing chamber (300). The gas supply port (301) is arranged to generate a swirl flow.

Abstract: There is provided a polishing apparatus capable of detecting uneven wear occurring on a polishing pad and detecting an appropriate replacement timing of the polishing pad. The polishing apparatus detects, every predetermined time, a value of rotation speed or a value of rotation torque of a table drive shaft for rotationally driving a polishing table or a dresser drive shaft for driving a dresser, or a value of swing torque of a dresser swing shaft for driving the dresser; calculates a change quantity thereof based on the value of the detected rotation speed, the value of the detected rotation torque, or the value of the detected swing torque; determines whether or not the change quantity exceeds a predetermined value; and notifies a user of a warning when a determination is made that the change quantity exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus for polishing an object to be polished (substrate) such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table configured to support a polishing pad, a polishing head having a top ring configured to press an object to be polished against the polishing pad while the object to be polished is rotated, and a dresser head having a dresser configured to dress the polishing pad. The polishing apparatus has a head cover having a purge gas introducing unit configured to introduce a purge gas into the head cover and an exhausting unit configured to exhaust the interior of the head cover. The pressure in the head cover is set to a pressure level slightly higher than the pressure outside the head cover, and main components of the polishing head are housed in the head cover.

Abstract: The work of replacing a polishing pad is easily performed, and thermal damage is prevented from occurring in a polishing table. A polishing apparatus 100 includes a polishing table 110 having an attachment surface 110a to which a polishing pad 108 used to polish a substrate 102 is attached. The polishing apparatus 100 also includes a silicone layer 111 provided on the attachment surface 110a of the polishing table 110 and interposed between the polishing table 110 and the polishing pad 108. By interposing the silicone layer 111, it is possible to easily detach and attach the polishing pad 108. In addition, since a heat treatment for coating the silicone layer 111 on the polishing table 110 is performed at a relatively low temperature, it is possible to prevent thermal damage from occurring in the polishing table 110 due to the heat treatment.

Abstract: [Problem] An object of the present invention is to facilitate height level adjustment of a substrate processing apparatus regardless of size thereof. [Means for Solving] A lifting device 630b includes: a lifting mechanism 640 that is provided between at least one of a plurality of units of a substrate processing apparatus and an installation surface of the unit, and that adjusts height of the at least one unit with respect to the installation surface; and an adjustment member 660 that is provided with an extended section 664 extended from the lifting mechanism 640, and that is capable of operating the lifting mechanism 640 through the extended section 664.

Abstract: An apparatus for polishing a substrate includes a rotatable polishing table supporting a polishing pad, a substrate holder configured to hold the substrate and press the substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad on the rotating polishing table so as to polish the substrate, and a pad-temperature detector configured to measure a temperature of the polishing surface of the polishing pad. The apparatus also includes a pad-temperature regulator configured to contact the polishing surface to regulate the temperature of the polishing surface, and a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of the polishing surface by controlling the pad-temperature regulator based on information on the temperature of the polishing surface detected by the pad-temperature detector.

Abstract: There is provided a polishing apparatus capable of detecting uneven wear occurring on a polishing pad and detecting an appropriate replacement timing of the polishing pad. The polishing apparatus detects, every predetermined time, a value of rotation speed or a value of rotation torque of a table drive shaft for rotationally driving a polishing table or a dresser drive shaft for driving a dresser, or a value of swing torque of a dresser swing shaft for driving the dresser; calculates a change quantity thereof based on the value of the detected rotation speed, the value of the detected rotation torque, or the value of the detected swing torque; determines whether or not the change quantity exceeds a predetermined value; and notifies a user of a warning when a determination is made that the change quantity exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus for polishing a substrate includes a rotatable polishing table supporting a polishing pad, a substrate holder configured to hold the substrate and press the substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad on the rotating polishing table so as to polish the substrate, and a pad-temperature detector configured to measure a temperature of the polishing surface of the polishing pad. The apparatus also includes a pad-temperature regulator configured to contact the polishing surface to regulate the temperature of the polishing surface, and a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of the polishing surface by controlling the pad-temperature regulator based on information on the temperature of the polishing surface detected by the pad-temperature detector.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table configured to hold a polishing tool having a polishing surface, a polishing head having a top ring configured to press a substrate against the polishing surface, and a polishing head cover configured to cover the polishing head. The polishing apparatus further includes a first cleaning liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a cleaning liquid to an outer surface of the polishing head cover, and a second cleaning liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a cleaning liquid to an inner surface of the polishing head cover.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes: a rotatable polishing table for supporting a polishing pad having a polishing surface; a top ring head having a top ring; a top ring head cover surrounding the top ring head; a dresser head having a dresser configured to dress the polishing surface; a dresser head cover surrounding the dresser head; a spray nozzle configured to spray a cleaning liquid onto an upper surface of the top ring and an outer surface of the top ring head cover when the top ring is in the substrate transfer position; and a spray nozzle configured to spray a cleaning liquid onto an outer surface of the dresser head cover when the dresser is in the retreated position.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing and planarizing a surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table having a polishing surface, and a top ring configured to hold a substrate and press the substrate against the polishing surface. The top ring has an extendable and contractable connection sheet configured to cover a gap between a retainer ring guide fixed to a top ring body and a retainer ring guided by the retainer ring guide to move vertically. The polishing apparatus has a nozzle configured to eject a cleaning liquid in a horizontal direction toward the connection sheet and apply a flow of the cleaning liquid directly onto the connection sheet for cleaning the connection sheet.

Abstract: A workpiece transport device for transporting a workpiece having a substrate layer and a layer to be processed on a portion of the substrate layer is provided. This workpiece transport device has a workpiece holding mechanism arranged to operate so as to hold and release the workpiece. The workpiece holding mechanism has at least one tapered workpiece holding surface on which the substrate layer of the workpiece is held in a state where the layer to be processed is positioned below the substrate layer. The tapered workpiece holding surface is formed so that a clearance equal to or larger than a predetermined distance R exists between the workpiece holding surface and the layer to be processed of the workpiece when the workpiece is held by the workpiece holding mechanism.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator separates gas-liquid two-phase flow into a gas and a liquid. The gas-liquid separator includes: a container having a bottom and a side portion, the bottom having a liquid discharge outlet and the side portion having a gas discharge outlet; a gas-liquid introduction pipe for introducing a gas-liquid two-phase flow into the container, the gas-liquid introduction pipe extending downward from above the container and having a lower end located in an interior of the container, the gas discharge outlet of the container being located above the lower end of the gas-liquid introduction pipe; and a guide device disposed in the gas-liquid introduction pipe and configured so as to impart a swirling motion to the gas-liquid two-phase flow in the gas-liquid introduction pipe.

Abstract: A substrate polishing apparatus includes: a polishing table supporting a polishing pad; a top ring configured to press the substrate against the polishing pad; and a pad temperature regulator configured to regulate a surface temperature of the polishing pad. The pad temperature regulator includes a pad contact element and a liquid supply system configured to supply a temperature-controlled liquid to the pad contact element. The pad contact element has a space therein and a partition that divide the space into a first liquid passage and a second liquid passage that are connected in series. At least one baffle substantially perpendicular to a radial direction of the polishing table is provided in each of the first liquid passage and the second liquid passage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus which can improve a tact time of substrate processing. A polishing apparatus as the substrate processing apparatus includes plural polishing sections each for polishing a semiconductor wafer (W), and a swing transporter for transferring the wafer (W). The swing transporter includes a wafer clamp mechanism adapted to clamp the wafer (W), a vertically moving mechanism for vertically moving the wafer clamp mechanism along a frame of a casing of the polishing section, and a swing mechanism for swinging the wafer clamp mechanism about a shaft adjacent to the frame.

Abstract: A wafer transferring apparatus includes a top ring for holding a wafer on a lower end surface thereof and a pusher mechanism for transferring the wafer to and from the top ring. The pusher mechanism has a wafer rest for placing the wafer thereon and is arranged to allow the wafer released from the lower end surface of the top ring to be seated on the wafer rest. The pusher mechanism also has a sensor mechanism for detecting when the wafer is properly seated on the wafer rest. The sensor mechanism is adapted to block sensor light emitted from a light-emitting device by the wafer seated on the wafer rest.

Abstract: An apparatus for polishing a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes: a rotatable polishing table supporting a polishing pad; a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate and press the substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad on the rotating polishing table so as to polish the substrate; a pad-temperature detector configured to measure a temperature of the polishing surface of the polishing pad; a pad-temperature regulator configured to contact the polishing surface to regulate the temperature of the polishing surface; and a temperature controller configured to control the temperature of the polishing surface by controlling the pad-temperature regulator based on information on the temperature of the polishing surface detected by the pad-temperature detector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polishing platen which does not require a large force for removing a polishing pad from an upper surface of the polishing platen and can thus make it relatively easy to remove the polishing pad therefrom. The present invention also provides a polishing apparatus having such polishing platen. The polishing platen (12) according to the present invention includes a surface to which a polishing pad is attached. The surface of the polishing platen (12) includes a combination of a first surface (20) and a second surface (21) having a surface roughness which is different from that of the first surface (20).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus which can improve a tact time of substrate processing. A polishing apparatus as the substrate processing apparatus includes plural polishing sections (3a, 3b) each for polishing a semiconductor wafer (W), and a swing transporter (7) for transferring the wafer (W). The swing transporter (7) includes a wafer clamp mechanism (112) adapted to clamp the wafer (W), a vertically moving mechanism (104, 106) for vertically moving the wafer clamp mechanism (112) along a frame (102) of a casing of the polishing section (3a), and a swing mechanism (108, 110) for swinging the wafer clamp mechanism (112) about a shaft adjacent to the frame (102).