Patents Examined by David Nelma
  • Patent number: 6762135
    Abstract: A polishing pad conditioner cleaning method and an apparatus for effectively removing particles from a polishing pad conditioner. The polishing pad conditioner is immersed into a cleaning liquid contained in a cleaning bath. The cleaning liquid is continuously supplied into the cleaning bath. An inert gas is injected into the cleaning liquid from a bottom of the cleaning bath. The injected inert gas bubbles the cleaning liquid, so that the particles sticking to the polishing pad conditioner are removed and overflow from the cleaning bath. The polishing pad conditioner is effectively cleaned, so that formation of particles and scratches on a wafer are reduced when a polishing process is subsequently carried out using the cleaned polishing pad conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Soo Yang, Min-Gyu Kim