Abradant Supplying Patents (Class 451/446)
  • Publication number: 20120220206
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for injecting slurry onto the polishing pad surface of a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) tool. The disclosed apparatus includes a rectilinear shaped injector bottom, where multiple slots are created in the top surface of the injector bottom, allowing the injector bottom to flex and to conform to the polishing pad profile. CMP slurry or components thereof are introduced through one or more top surface openings, travel through the injector body, and exit through a slit or bottom surface opening. The slurry is spread into a thin film by the injector, and is introduced at the gap between the surface of the polishing pad and the wafer, along the leading edge of the wafer, in quantities small enough that all or most of the slurry is introduced between the wafer and the polishing pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: ARACA, INC.
    Inventors: Leonard John Borucki, Yasa Adi Sampurno, Ara Philipossian
  • Patent number: 8246423
    Abstract: An elongated liquid polish dispenser which can be longitudinally attached to a hand-held rotary buffer such that a thumb switch to operate the dispenser is placed opposite a trigger on the buffer's handle is described. The dispenser can be firmly attached by a built-in strap to several popular models of professional heavy duty polishers without obscuring vent holes of those models. The thumb switch activates an electric pump which pumps liquid polish through a nozzle and onto a work surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Steven Greer
  • Publication number: 20120202408
    Abstract: A pressure control system remotely controls pressure within one or more remote zones, each respectively connected to an enclosure through a conduit, by controlling flow of a fluid into and out of each enclosure. The pressure of the fluid is measured within each enclosure. An estimated pressure within each zone is computed, as a function of the measured pressure in the enclosure and known characteristics of the conduit and the zone. For each zone, an inlet proportional valve and an outlet proportional valve of each enclosure is operated so as to control the input flow rate of the fluid into the respective enclosure and the output flow rate of the fluid out of the enclosure as a function of a pressure set point and the estimated pressure, thereby regulating pressure within the zone in accordance with the pressure set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Shajii, Siddharth P. Nagarkatti, Gordon Hill
  • Publication number: 20120171939
    Abstract: A polishing element used in chemical mechanical polishing device includes a polishing plate for holding a wafer that is provided; a polishing pad arm, one end of the polishing pad arm being fixed, another end of the polishing pad arm holding a polishing pad, and the polishing pad arm driving the polishing pad for moving relatively to the wafer; the polishing pad moving relatively to the wafer with drive from the polishing pad arm, and the polishing pad arm ensuring the polishing pad contacting the wafer during movement; and a slurry supply route for supplying polishing slurry between the polishing pad and the wafer during polishing. The present invention also provides a chemical mechanical polishing device. It makes for realizing miniaturization of a chemical mechanical polishing device, saving polishing slurry and improving utilization rate of the polishing pad in the chemical mechanical polishing device to apply the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Li Jiang, Mingqi Li
  • Publication number: 20120164916
    Abstract: A system for sensing and controlling concentration of magnetic particles in magnetorheological fluid comprising a wire coil and an AC voltage generator that, when energized, creates a magnetic flux field including a fringing field. When the fringing field extends through the magnetorheological fluid, the impedance in the circuit is proportional to the concentration of magnetic particles. A reference wire coil identical to the sensing wire coil is connected therewith. A demodulator is connected to each of the coils sends an impedance difference signal to a feedback controller connected to controllable dispensing apparatus for adding a calculated amount of replenishing fluid to the magnetorheological fluid. The system may be incorporated into an integrated fluid management module having apparatus for receiving and replenishing spent magnetorheological fluid and a sensor system in accordance with the present invention for use in a magnetorheological finishing system having a carrier wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: QED Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: William Kordonski, Keith Beadle, Sergei Gorodkin, Arpad Sekeres
  • Publication number: 20120164925
    Abstract: A system for magnetorheological finishing of a substrate. An integrated fluid management module (IFMM) provides dynamic control of the rheological fluid properties of the MR fluid on a conventional MR finishing apparatus, and dispensing of the fluid to the wheel. A magnetically shielded chamber charged with MR fluid is in contact with the carrier wheel. A transverse line removes the spent MR fluid from the wheel as the ribbon leaves the work zone. Replenishment fluid is added to the chamber via a dripper, and preferably an electric mixer agitates MR fluid in the chamber. A grooved magnetically-shielded insert at the exit of the chamber forms a polishing ribbon on the carrier wheel as the wheel is turned. A sensor sensitive to concentration of magnetic particles provides a signal for control of MR fluid properties, particularly, water content in the MR fluid. Means is provided for cooling fluid within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: QED Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: William Kordonski, Sergei Gorodkin, Arpad Sekeres
  • Patent number: 8197306
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus for injecting slurry between the wafer and the pad in chemical mechanical polishing of semiconductor wafers comprising a solid crescent shaped injector the concave trailing edge of which is fitted to the size and shape of the leading edge of the polishing head with a gap of up to 1 inch, the bottom surface of which faces the pad and rests on it with a light load, and through which CMP slurry or components thereof are introduced through one or more openings in the top of the injector and travel through a channel or reservoir the length of the device to the bottom where it or they exit multiple openings in the bottom of the injector, are spread into a thin film, and are introduced between the surface of the polishing pad and the wafer along the leading edge of the wafer in quantities such that all or most of the slurry is introduced between the wafer and the polishing pad and a method of use therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Araca, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Borucki, Ara Philipossian, Yasa Sampurno, Sian Theng
  • Patent number: 8187055
    Abstract: A polishing apparatus polishes a periphery of a substrate. This polishing apparatus includes a rotary holding mechanism configured to hold the substrate horizontally and rotate the substrate, plural polishing head assemblies provided around the substrate, plural tape supplying and recovering mechanisms configured to supply polishing tapes to the plural polishing head assemblies and recover the polishing tapes from the plural polishing head assemblies, and plural moving mechanisms configured to move the plural polishing head assemblies in radial directions of the substrate held by the rotary holding mechanism. The tape supplying and recovering mechanisms are located outwardly of the plural polishing head assemblies in the radial directions of the substrate, and the tape supplying and recovering mechanisms are fixed in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Tamami Takahashi, Masaya Seki, Hiroaki Kusa, Kenji Yamaguchi, Masayuki Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8162724
    Abstract: A surface treating apparatus treats a substrate surface by rotating a cylindrical polishing member in a state where the polishing member makes contact with the substrate surface. A polishing liquid is supplied to a polishing liquid passage that is provided in a central portion of the polishing member, and the polishing liquid is supplied to the substrate surface by rotating the polishing member while filtering the polishing liquid by a foam member provided on an outer periphery of the polishing liquid passage. Aperture diameters of the foam member are larger on the side of the polishing liquid passage than on the outside of the polishing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yamauchi, Hiroshi Akiba, Takuya Sugiyama, Nobuhiro Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120083189
    Abstract: A pad conditioning disk, a pre-conditioning unit, and a CMP apparatus having the same are provided. The pad conditioning disk includes a base in which mountain-type tips and valley-type grooves are repeatedly connected to each other, and a cutting layer formed on the base layer. The cutting layer including conditioning particles deposited on surfaces of the tips and grooves. A surfaces roughness of conditioning particles deposited on the surfaces of the tips is less than a surface roughness of conditioning particles deposited on the surfaces of the grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Jae-Kwang Choi, Hong-Jin Kim, Keon-Sik Seo, Sol Han, Kun-Tack Lee, Byoung-Ho Kwon
  • Publication number: 20120071069
    Abstract: A surface treatment device includes an enclosure which has an opening through which the leading edge of an aerofoil passes. A sealing element is provided on the enclosure to seal the device to the surfaces of the aerofoil. An abrasive is located within the enclosure and two fluid openings are also provided through which a chemical accelerant can be pumped. In operation the enclosure is oscillated relative to the component so that material is abraded. Whilst the enclosure is oscillated a chemical accelerant is simultaneously pumped through it. The device allows for the local application of a surface treatment on a component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Daniel Clark, Stephen John Tuppen
  • Patent number: 8133097
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) device for processing a wafer is provided which includes a plate for supporting the wafer to be processed in a face-up orientation, a polishing head opposing the plate, wherein the polishing head includes a rotatable polishing pad operable to contact the wafer while the polishing pad is rotating, and a slurry coating system providing a slurry to the polishing pad for polishing the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Liang Lin, Chien Ling Hwang, Jean Wang, Chen-Hua Yu
  • Patent number: 8128461
    Abstract: Chemical-mechanical polishing or planarization (CMP) is enhanced with multi-zone slurry delivery. A polishing pad is provided that contacts with the work piece, and a multi-zone platen is displaced proximate to the polishing pad to facilitate slurry delivery. The platen includes multiple fluid distribution layers that each include a fluid-distributing channel extending from a fluid source to a distribution point on layer. The distribution points on each of the fluid distribution layers correspond to different locations on the polishing surface to thereby create multiple fluid-delivery zones on the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Fergal O'Moore, Steve Schultz
  • Publication number: 20120040595
    Abstract: A template for polishing Silicon Carbide, Sapphire, Germanium, Silicon and pattern wafers having a slurry inlet, channels, outlets and pockets for holding said wafers terminating in peripheral vacuum ports in order to facilitate an efficient flow of slurry over the semiconductor wafers during a polishing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Phuong Van Nguyen, Thang Van Tran
  • Publication number: 20120015593
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a constant amount of abrasive which can supply even dry ice particles, ice particles, or the like as abrasive in a constant amount is provided. In order to take out abrasive contained in measuring holes 21 of a rotating disc 20, an abrasive mixing section 40 for blowing a compressed gas into each of the measuring holes 21 has a cylinder 41? which opens toward one surface of the rotating disc at the position where the measuring holes are formed. A piston 43? is inserted into the cylinder. A fluid channel 45 opens toward the cylinder 41? through the intermediary of the rotating disc 20 and whose opening rim 45a is in sliding contact with another surface of the rotating disc 20. One of the cylinder 41? and the fluid channel 45 communicates with a compressed-gas supply source through the intermediary of a compressed-gas introduction path 52. The other one of the cylinder 41? and the fluid channel 45 communicates with the abrasive transport path 51.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji MASE, Katsuhiro SHIKANO
  • Patent number: 8056551
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for manufacturing wafer-like slices from a body of a substrate material, especially for use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. The method comprises providing a slicing device with a cutting wire equipped on its surface with abrasive particles; providing an aqueous cooling and lubricating fluid, said fluid having an ionic strength corresponding to an electrical conductivity of about 30 IJS/cm or less; cutting said body with said cutting wire into slices while dispensing said cooling and lubricating fluid into a kerf area where said cutting wire contacts and cuts said body, said cooling and lubricating fluid promoting removal of powdered substrate material from said kerf area resulting in spent fluid; and removing said spent fluid from said cutting device and recovering said powdered substrate material from said spent fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Lothar Dalitz, Rolf Berndt
  • Publication number: 20110275282
    Abstract: A manual method and apparatus for removing scratches from automotive paint finishes by using a diamond abrasive compound applied to a handheld polishing disk/pad which effectively “scrubs” away the scratches. First, a first soft polishing pad is attached to a handgrip; second, an amount of a first diamond abrasive polishing paste is applied to the first soft polishing pad; next one manually polishes the metal trim or paint finish in situ without removing the metal trim from the vehicle by rubbing the metal trim or paint finish with the first soft polishing pad bearing the first diamond abrasive polishing paste. Thereafter, one removes the first soft pad from the hand grip and replaces it with a second soft polishing pad and applies an amount of a second diamond abrasive paste to the second soft polishing pad, the second diamond abrasive paste having a finer grit than the first diamond abrasive paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Georgi M. POPOV, Miroslav POPOV
  • Publication number: 20110263183
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polishing solution distribution apparatus capable of reducing distribution deviation of polishing solution even when leveling for installation is insufficient or inclination of an installation location varies and a polishing apparatus having the same. The polishing solution distribution apparatus includes a cone-shaped branch body in which a solution pan to store supplied polishing solution is formed and in which plural flow passages radially connected to a side face of the solution pan respectively and having a delivery port to supply polishing solution to a position lower than the connected position are formed, a support portion to support the branch body, and a universal joint mechanism to support the branch body via the support portion at a position being higher than the gravity center of the branch body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KUROSAWA, Tomohiro HASHII, Yuichi KAKIZONO
  • Publication number: 20110247554
    Abstract: Prepping a surface entails entraining a coating particle into a fluid stream, directing the fluid stream containing the coating particle at the surface to be prepped to thereby prep the surface using the coating particle. The prepped surface can then be coated using the same or substantially similar coating particle. This technique can be used with a continuous airjet, a forced pulsed airjet, a continuous waterjet or a forced pulsed waterjet as the carrier stream. This invention solves the problem of foreign blasting particles becoming embedded in the atomic matrix of the surface to be prepped, which can result in unpredictable behaviour of the surface properties and even catastrophic failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Mohan M. Vijay
  • Publication number: 20110237163
    Abstract: A substrate polishing apparatus includes a substrate holding mechanism having a head for holding a substrate to be polished, and a polishing mechanism including a polishing table with a polishing pad mounted thereon. The substrate held by the head is pressed against the polishing pad on the polishing table to polish the substrate by relative movement of the substrate and the polishing pad. The substrate polishing apparatus also includes a substrate transfer mechanism for delivering the substrate to be polished to the head and receiving the polished substrate. The substrate transfer mechanism includes a substrate to-be-polished receiver for receiving the substrate to be polished, and a polished substrate receiver for receiving the substrate which has been polished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuoka, Masahiko Sekimoto, Junji Kunisawa, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Teruyuki Watanabe, Kenichi Kobayashi, Masayuki Kumekawa, Toshio Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7980922
    Abstract: A system and a method of operating a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system comprises a slurry delivering unit configured for locally varying the supply of slurry while polishing the substrate. To this end, the slurry delivering unit may comprise at least one slurry outlet over a polishing pad of the CMP system, wherein the at least one slurry outlet is controllably movable to distribute slurry over the polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Axel Kiesel, Uwe Stoeckgen, John Lampett, Heiko Wundram
  • Publication number: 20110143636
    Abstract: An optical disk restoration apparatus and optical disk restoration method are provided, which are capable of achieving a high level of capability of restoring a scratched optical disk, without consuming the time and labor of an operator, while reducing the production cost of the apparatus. During a polishing process, an appropriate amount of a polishing agent is dropped onto the readout surface of the optical disk by a polishing agent supply pump to continuously supply the polishing agent to the interface between the optical disk and polishing pads, while a polishing water supply pump is operated to replenish the polishing agent with moisture evaporated by the polishing heat. By this mechanism, the amount and physical properties of the polishing agent at the interface between the optical disk and the polishing pads are appropriately maintained for a long period of time, so that the restoration capability is maintained at high levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: ELM INC.
    Inventors: Takakazu Miyahara, Terumasa Miyahara, Kazutoshi Chijiiwa
  • Publication number: 20110045749
    Abstract: A multi-layer surface treating pad is disclosed. It has an upper layer suitable to serve as one part of a hook/loop type fastener system, a bottom layer which comprises an abrasive or polishing material, and a cleaning or other surface treating formulation positioned between the upper and bottom layer in the form of a bump which is positioned mostly in a central region of the pad. The bump of the formulation causes the upper layer to bulge upwardly so as to provide a visual indication as to where one optimally should attach a motorized device thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Jennifer R. Harris, Ann Marie Przepasniak, Jeremy F. Knopow
  • Publication number: 20110045743
    Abstract: A scratch removal tool that includes a motor, a housing, a rotatable shaft operably coupled to the motor and movable in an axial direction along a length of the shaft, and a head assembly. The head assembly includes a shroud member having an open end, a pad member, a slurry input, a slurry output, and a seal member. The pad member is positioned within the shroud and mounted to the shaft. Rotation of the shaft rotates the pad member. Axial movement of the shaft moves the pad member relative to the open end of the shroud. The slurry input and slurry are in fluid communication with the pad member. The seal member is positioned at the open end of the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: TCG INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Thomas, Keith A. Beveridge, Chad J. Olson
  • Patent number: 7820051
    Abstract: A method, process and system for the recycling of electrochemical-mechanical planarization slurries/electrolytes as they are used in the back end of line of the semiconductor wafer manufacturing process is disclosed. The method, process and system includes with the removal of metal ions from slurries using ion exchange media and/or electrochemical deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rui Fang, Deepak Kulkarni, David K. Watts
  • Publication number: 20100227536
    Abstract: A glass polishing system includes a lower unit capable of rotating a glass placed at a fixed position, an upper unit contacting with the glass and capable of being passively rotated due to the rotation of the glass, a moving unit for moving the upper unit in a horizontal or vertical direction, and a polishing slurry supply unit for supplying a polishing slurry to the glass through the upper unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Won-Jae Moon, Sang-Oeb Na, Hyung-Young Oh, Yang-Han Kim, Young-Sik Kim, Kil-Ho Kim, Heui-Joon Park, Chang-Hee Lee
  • Publication number: 20100227537
    Abstract: A glass polishing system includes a lower unit capable of rotating a glass placed at a fixed position, an upper unit capable of contacting with the glass and being passively rotated due to the rotation of the glass, and a moving unit for moving the upper unit in a horizontal and/or vertical direction. The upper unit includes a platter installed to a spindle of the moving unit, a separative platter separatably installed to the platter and having a polishing pad contacting with the glass, and a vacuum chuck for fixing the separative platter with respect to the platter by means of vacuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Won-Jae Moon, Sang-Oeb Na, Hyung-Young Oh, Yang-Han Kim, Young-Sik Kim, Kil-Ho Kim, Heui-Joon Park, Chang-Hee Lee
  • Publication number: 20100227535
    Abstract: A system for polishing a glass includes a lower unit capable of rotating a glass placed at a fixed position, an upper unit capable of contacting with the glass and being passively rotated due to the rotation of the glass, and a moving unit for moving the upper unit in a horizontal and/or vertical direction. The upper unit includes a fixed platter fixed to a spindle of the upper unit, a polishing platter installed movably with respect to the fixed platter, and a pressing member interposed between the fixed platter and the polishing platter so as to keep the uniformity of pressure applied from the polishing platter to the glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Won-Jae MOON, Sang-Oeb Na, Hyung-Young Oh, Yang-Han Kim, Young-Sik Kim, Kil-Ho Kim, Heui-Joon Park, Chang-Hee Lee
  • Publication number: 20100221989
    Abstract: A fan nozzle for cleaning a surface with an abrasive blast media is constructed of a longitudinal body having an axial pathway through which the media is passed under pressure for release from a substantially rectangular cross-sectional outlet to release the media in a substantially flat, wide path. A first transition zone provides a conversion in the axial pathway from the inlet cross-section to the substantially rectangular cross-section of the outlet opening. A second transition or convergence zone first reduces and then expands the cross-section of the axial pathway for providing a Venturii acceleration of the media as it passes through the nozzle. The transition zone and the convergence zone may be coexistent along a portion of the axial pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Phuong Taylor Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20100206285
    Abstract: A wire saw apparatus having: a wire wound around grooved rollers and axially travels in a reciprocating direction; a nozzle for supplying a slurry; and a work-feeding mechanism feeding a work toward the wire, and slicing into wafers by pressing and feeding the work against the wire traveling in a reciprocating direction while a slurry is supplied to the wire through the nozzle. A work-holding portion holds the work through a pad plate adhered to the work and a work plate, plate-shaped or block-shaped slurry-splash-blocking members are arranged in the direction of a right angle to a row of the wire wound around the grooved rollers below the work-holding portion and on both the wire cut-in side and a wire cut-out side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Koji Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20100210189
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing method and apparatus provides a deformable, telescoping slurry dispenser arm coupled to a dispenser head that may be arcuate in shape and may also be a bendable telescoping member that can be adjusted to vary the number of slurry dispenser ports and the degree of curvature of the dispenser head. The dispenser arm may additionally include slurry dispenser ports therein. The dispenser arm may advantageously be formed of a plurality of nested tubes that are slidable with respect to one another. The adjustable dispenser arm may pivot about a pivot point and can be variously positioned to accommodate different sized polishing pads used to polish substrates of different dimensions and the bendable, telescoping slurry dispenser arm and dispenser head provide uniform slurry distribution to any of various wafer polishing locations, effective slurry usage and uniform polishing profiles in each case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Ku Hung, Zin-Chang Wei, Huang Soon Kang, Chyi-Shyuan Chern
  • Publication number: 20100203815
    Abstract: A polishing pad includes polishing elements interdigitated with one another over a surface of the polishing pad. Each of the polishing elements is secured so as to restrict lateral movement thereof with respect to others of the polishing elements, but remains moveable in an axis normal to a polishing surface of the polishing elements. Different densities of the polishing elements may be positioned within different areas of the surface of the polishing pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Rajeev Bajaj
  • Patent number: 7766727
    Abstract: A tribological system including: a tribological workpiece having a working surface adapted for moving relative to a counter-surface in a presence of a lubricant, in a load-bearing environment, the working surface for disposing generally opposite the counter-surface, the working surface having: (i) a metal surface layer; (ii) a plurality of organic particles incorporated in the metal surface layer, and (iii) a plurality of inorganic particles incorporated in the working surface, the inorganic particles having a Mohs hardness of at least 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Fricso Ltd
    Inventors: Kostia Mandel, Boris Shamshidov, Bela Shteinvas, Semyon Melamed, Sergei Stefanidin
  • Patent number: 7758404
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for cleaning a substrate edge include a composite applicator that cleans bevel polymers deposited on wafer edges using frictional contact in the presence of fluids. The composite applicator includes a support material and a plurality of abrasive particles distributed within and throughout the support material. The composite applicator cleans the edge of the wafer by allowing frictional contact of the plurality of abrasive particles with the edge of the wafer in the presence of fluids, such as liquid chemicals, to cut, rip and tear the bevel polymer from the edge of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryder, Ji Zhu, Mark Wilcoxson, Fritz Redeker, John P. Parks, Charles Ditmore, Jeffrey G. Gasparitsch
  • Publication number: 20100163010
    Abstract: The present invention is a slicing method and a wire saw apparatus including winding a wire around a plurality of grooved rollers and pressing the wire against an ingot to be sliced into wafers while supplying a slurry for slicing to the grooved rollers and causing the wire to travel in a reciprocating direction, in which the ingot is sliced with controlling a temperature of the ingot by supplying a slurry for adjusting an ingot temperature to the ingot independently from the slurry for slicing while the slurry for adjusting an ingot temperature is supplied to the ingot only at the exit side of the wire caused to travel in the reciprocating direction. As a result, there is provided a method and a wire saw apparatus in which rapid cooling of an ingot especially in a time close to end of slicing of the ingot can be alleviated, consequently degradation of a nano-topography can be suppressed, and further high-quality wafers having a uniform thickness can be sliced when slicing the ingot by using a wire saw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU HANDOTAI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20100159809
    Abstract: A polishing device for polishing optical lenses having a tiltable base part for directly or indirectly receiving a polishing plate, which base part is connected to a polishing spindle having an axis of rotation D in order to be rotationally driven, wherein a rotary joint for supplying a polishing agent is provided, which rotary joint is at least partly arranged opposite said polishing spindle, relative to the base part, and a coupling element is provided by means of which the rotary joint can be detachably push-fitted or clipped onto a polishing spindle. A method for polishing selected zones of aspherical lenses which are not rotationally symmetric using a polishing plate which is guided by a polishing spindle so as to be tiltable, wherein during polishing, a polishing agent is introduced between said polishing plate and the lens via a rotary joint arranged between said polishing spindle and said polishing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Schneider, Helwig Buchenauer, Klaus Krämer, Ulf Börner
  • Publication number: 20100136886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus for removing surface roughness produced at a peripheral portion of a substrate, or for removing a film formed on a peripheral portion of a substrate. The polishing apparatus includes a housing for forming a polishing chamber therein, a rotational table for holding and rotating a substrate, a polishing tape supply mechanism for supplying a polishing tape into the polishing chamber and taking up the polishing tape which has been supplied to the polishing chamber, a polishing head for pressing the polishing tape against a bevel portion of the substrate, a liquid supply for supplying a liquid to a front surface and a rear surface of the substrate, and a regulation mechanism for making an internal pressure of the polishing chamber being set to be lower than an external pressure of the polishing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Akihisa Hongo, Kenya Ito, Kenji Yamaguchi, Masayuki Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20100126488
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of cutting wafers by wire sawing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a wire sawing apparatus includes a horizontal ingot feeding wire slicing apparatus which includes a vertical wire web, in which sawing wires of the vertical wire web are located substantially in a vertical plane and move in a substantially vertical direction, a top outlet located in top position with respect to a work piece for applying fluid during sawing, and a chute located substantially below the work piece for receiving the fluid, wherein the work piece is impelled against the vertical wire web by horizontal movement and the fluid moves in a vertical direction against and into the work piece. The wire sawing apparatus further includes a frame for holding the horizontal ingot feeding wire slicing apparatus, and a control panel for operating the wire sawing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Abhaya Kumar Bakshi, Bhaskar Chandra Panigrahi
  • Publication number: 20100120336
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polishing method and a polishing apparatus that can secure an even polished shape and can remove slurry that has contributed to polishing and contains polishing by-product to the outside of a pad efficiently to reduce scratches due to the polishing by-product, and can suppress consumption of slurry to the minimum to realize cost reduction during running for mass production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Takashi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20100112917
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a slurry delivery and rinse system for a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus which is capable of self-cleaning, and which can adjustably deliver the slurry agent and rinse agent over a polishing pad. In one embodiment, the fluid delivery system has a distributed slurry delivery arm (DSDA) which contains at least one manifold, usually two or more manifolds attached to the lower surface of the delivery arm. Each DSDA manifold contains a plurality of slurry nozzles disposed along the length of the manifold. The delivery arm also contains a plurality of high pressure rinse nozzles extending from the lower surface of the delivery arm and disposed along the length of the delivery arm, parallel to each DSDA manifold. In one example, the delivery arm contains two DSDA manifolds disposed parallel to each other and a plurality of high pressure rinse nozzles disposed between the manifolds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: JAMIE STUART LEIGHTON, Abhijit Desai, Douglas R. McAllister
  • Publication number: 20100112903
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for polishing or planarzing a substrate by a chemical mechanical polishing process. In one embodiment a method of processing a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method comprises positioning a substrate on a polishing apparatus comprising a polishing pad assembly, delivering a polishing slurry to a surface of the polishing pad assembly, polishing the substrate with the surface of the polishing pad assembly, monitoring the removal rate of material from a plurality of regions on the surface of the substrate, determining whether the plurality of regions on the surface of the substrate are polishing uniformly, and selectively delivering a polishing slurry additive to at least one region of the plurality of regions to obtain a uniform removal rate of material from the plurality of regions on the surface of the substrate, wherein the removal rate of material from the at least one region is different than at least one other region of the plurality of regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: WEN-CHIANG TU, You Wang, Yuchun Wang, Lakshmanan Karuppiah
  • Publication number: 20100112911
    Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus for injecting slurry between the wafer and the pad in chemical mechanical polishing of semiconductor wafers comprising a solid crescent shaped injector the concave trailing edge of which is fitted to the size and shape of the leading edge of the polishing head with a gap of up to 1 inch, the bottom surface of which faces the pad and rests on it with a light load, and through which CMP slurry or components thereof are introduced through one or more openings in the top of the injector and travel through a channel or reservoir the length of the device to the bottom where it or they exit multiple openings in the bottom of the injector, are spread into a thin film, and are introduced between the surface of the polishing pad and the wafer along the leading edge of the wafer in quantities such that all or most of the slurry is introduced between the wafer and the polishing pad and a method of use therefor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Leonard Borucki, Ara Philipossian, Yasa Sampurno, Sian Theng
  • Publication number: 20100099339
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a substantially uniform pressure to a polishing surface from a conditioning element is provided. The method includes urging a conditioning disk against a polishing surface of a rotating polishing pad, moving the conditioning disk across the polishing surface in a sweep pattern that includes at least a portion of the conditioning disk extending over a peripheral edge of the polishing surface, and maintaining a substantially uniform pressure to the polishing surface from the conditioning disk across the sweep pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: HUNG Cih CHEN, Shou-Sung Chang, Stan D. Tsai
  • Patent number: 7695350
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a constant amount of abrasives that can accurately control the amount of the abrasives to be supplied to a blasting machine is provided. A horizontally rotating disc 20 is provided in an abrasive tank 10 so as to be embedded in the abrasives. An opening at one end 11a of an abrasive transport path 11 is formed so as to be close to or in contact with one surface of the disc 20, an opening at one end 12a of a supply channel 12 for transport air flow is formed so as to be close to or in contact with the other surface of the disc 20, and an abrasive retrieve section 5 is formed between the both openings. Furthermore, measuring holes 21 penetrating the disc 20 in the thickness direction are formed at regular intervals along a rotation orbit of the disc 20 passing through the retrieve section 5, and an introduction path 17 for compressed gas which is ejected to the abrasives disposed above the measuring holes 21 and outside the retrieve section 5 is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Mase, Ryoji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7695349
    Abstract: To provide an apparatus for supplying a constant quantity of abrasive that can accurately control abrasive quantity supplied to a blasting machine. A rotating disk 20 that rotates in the horizontal direction is provided inside an abrasive tank 10, with a gap 3 being capable to rotate the rotating disk 20, being formed at an end 11a of a mixed fluid flow path 11 arranged on one surface of the rotating disk 20, and at an end 12a of a gas flow path 12 arranged facing other surface of the rotating disk 20 via the rotating disk 20 at the end 11a of the mixed fluid flow path 11. Hole sections 21 are provided in the rotating disk 20 on a rotation locus passing through the gap 3, equally spaced and passing through in a thickness direction of the rotating disk 20, with stirrer blades 22 protruding from the upper surface of the rotating disk 20, and the rotating disk 20 being immersed in abrasive stored inside the abrasive tank 10, except for a part positioned in the gap 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Mase, Ryoji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7682225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus for removing surface roughness produced at a peripheral portion of a substrate, or for removing a film formed on a peripheral portion of a substrate. The polishing apparatus includes a housing for forming a polishing chamber therein, a rotational table for holding and rotating a substrate, a polishing tape supply mechanism for supplying a polishing tape into the polishing chamber and taking up the polishing tape which has been supplied to the polishing chamber, a polishing head for pressing the polishing tape against a bevel portion of the substrate, a liquid supply for supplying a liquid to a front surface and a rear surface of the substrate, and a regulation mechanism for making an internal pressure of the polishing chamber being set to be lower than an external pressure of the polishing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Hongo, Kenya Ito, Kenji Yamaguchi, Masayuki Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20100048106
    Abstract: A chemical mechanical polisher comprises a polishing platen capable of supporting a polishing pad, and first and second substrate carriers that are each capable of holding a substrate against the polishing pad. First and second slurry dispensers, each comprise (i) an arm comprising a pivoting end and a distal end, (ii) at least one slurry dispensing nozzle on the distal end, and (iii) a dispenser drive capable of rotating the arm about the pivoting end to swing the slurry dispensing nozzle at the distal end to dispense slurry across the polishing platen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: YULIN WANG, Alpay Yilmaz
  • Patent number: 7666063
    Abstract: A rough-polishing method for conducting a rough polishing before mirror-finish polishing on a semiconductor wafer using a polishing apparatus includes a first polishing step for polishing the semiconductor wafer using slurry containing colloidal silica supplied by a slurry supplying unit and a second polishing step for polishing the semiconductor wafer using alkali solution provided by mixing deionized water supplied from a deionized-water supplying unit and alkali concentrate solution supplied by an alkali-concentrate-solution supplying unit. The pH value of the alkali solution and polishing time in the second polishing step are determined based on the load current value of the polishing table in the first polishing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sumco Techxiv Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Kozasa, Tomonori Kawasaki, Kosuke Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 7632170
    Abstract: Chemical mechanical planarization apparatuses with polishing assemblies that provide for the passive removal of slurry are provided. In accordance with an embodiment, a work piece polishing assembly comprises a polishing pad comprising a polishing surface and an exhaust aperture that extends through the polishing pad from the polishing surface and is configured to receive a slurry from the polishing surface. An underlying member is disposed underlying the polishing pad and comprises a peripheral surface. The underlying member comprises a channel that is in fluid communication with the aperture and that opens at the peripheral surface of the underlying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Fergal O'Moore, Steve Schultz, Brian Severson
  • Patent number: 7632169
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polishing method and a polishing apparatus that can secure an even polished shape and can remove slurry that has contributed to polishing and contains polishing by-product to the outside of a pad efficiently to reduce scratches due to the polishing by-product, and can suppress consumption of slurry to the minimum to realize cost reduction during running for mass production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Fujita