Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a platen to support a polishing pad having a polishing surface, a conduit having an inlet to be coupled to a gas source, and a dispenser coupled to the conduit and having a convergent-divergent nozzle suspended over the platen to direct gas from the gas source onto the polishing surface of the polishing pad.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pad surface cleaning system to be used with a conditioning module to condition a polishing surface of a polishing pad. The pad surface cleaning system may be used to spray the polishing surface with a high-pressure fluid spray to loosen debris from the polishing surface. The pad surface cleaning system may also be used to remove the loosened debris. Further, the pad surface cleaning system may isolate a conditioning disk from a polishing fluid to protect the conditioning disk from reacting with the polishing fluid.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a platen to support a polishing pad having a polishing surface, a source of coolant, a dispenser having one or more apertures suspended over the platen to direct coolant from the source of coolant onto the polishing surface of the polishing pad; and a controller coupled to the source of coolant and configured to cause the source of coolant to deliver the coolant through the nozzles onto the polishing surface during a selected step of a polishing operation.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a platen to support a polishing pad having a polishing surface, a source of coolant, a dispenser having one or more apertures suspended over the platen to direct coolant from the source of coolant onto the polishing surface of the polishing pad; and a controller coupled to the source of coolant and configured to cause the source of coolant to deliver the coolant through the nozzles onto the polishing surface during a selected step of a polishing operation.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus has a heating system, a purge gas source, a purge liquid source, and a controller. The heating system includes a source of heated gas, an arm extending over a platen, and a manifold in the arm with an a plurality of openings positioned over the platen and separated from a polishing pad for delivering the heated gas onto the polishing pad. The controller is configured to cause the heated gas to flow from the source of heated gas through the manifold and the plurality of openings to heat the polishing pad during a polishing operation, and to cause the apparatus to perform a purging operation which alternates between flowing purge gas from the purge gas source and flowing purge liquid from the purge liquid source through the manifold and the plurality of openings.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a polishing a port to dispense polishing liquid onto a polishing pad and a liquid flow controller to control a flow rate of the polishing liquid to the port, a temperature control system to control a temperature of the polishing pad, and a control system. The control system is configured to obtain a baseline removal rate, a baseline temperature and a baseline polishing liquid flow rate. A function is stored relating removal rate to polishing liquid flow rate and temperature. The function is used to determine a reduced polishing liquid flow rate and an adjusted temperature such that a resulting removal rate is not below the baseline removal rate. The liquid flow controller is controlled to dispense the polishing liquid at the reduced polishing liquid flow rate and control the temperature control system so that the polishing process reaches the adjusted temperature.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a platen to hold a polishing pad, a carrier laterally movable by an actuator across the polishing pad to hold a substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad during a polishing process, a thermal control system including a plurality of independently controllable heaters and coolers to independently control temperatures of a plurality of zones on the polishing pad, and a controller configured to cause the thermal control system to generate a first zone having a first temperature and a second zone having a different second temperature on the polishing pad.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a steam generator with a heating element to apply heat to a vessel to generate steam, an opening to deliver steam onto a polishing pad, a first valve in a fluid line between the opening and the vessel, a sensor to monitor a steam parameter, and a control system. The control system causes the valve to open and close in accordance with a steam delivery schedule in a recipe, receive a measured value for the steam parameter from the sensor, receive a target value for the steam parameter, and perform a proportional integral derivative control algorithm with the target value and measured value as inputs so as to control the first valve and/or a second pressure release valve and/or the heating element such that the measured value reaches the target value substantially just before the valve is opened according to the steam delivery schedule.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a platen to hold a polishing pad, a carrier to hold a substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad during a polishing process, and a temperature control system including a source of a fluid medium and one or more openings positioned over the platen and separated from the polishing pad and configured for the fluid medium to flow onto the polishing pad to heat or cool the polishing pad.

Abstract: A polishing system includes a platen to hold a polishing pad, a carrier head to hold a substrate against the polishing pad, a conditioner including a conditioner head to hold a conditioner disk against the polishing pad, a motor to move the conditioner head laterally movable relative to the platen, a conditioning disk cleaning station positioned adjacent the platen to clean the conditioning disk, and a controller configured to cause the motor to, during polishing of the substrate, move the conditioner head back and forth between a first position with the conditioner head over the polishing pad and a second position with the conditioner head in the conditioner disk cleaning station.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a steam generator with a heating element to apply heat to a vessel to generate steam, an opening to deliver steam onto a polishing pad, a first valve in a fluid line between the opening and the vessel, a sensor to monitor a steam parameter, and a control system. The control system causes the valve to open and close in accordance with a steam delivery schedule in a recipe, receive a measured value for the steam parameter from the sensor, receive a target value for the steam parameter, and perform a proportional integral derivative control algorithm with the target value and measured value as inputs so as to control the first valve and/or a second pressure release valve and/or the heating element such that the measured value reaches the target value substantially just before the valve is opened according to the steam delivery schedule.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing assembly includes a chemical mechanical polishing system, a fluid source, and a fluid delivery conduit to carry a fluid from the fluid source into the chemical mechanical polishing system. The polishing system has a platen to support a polishing pad, a carrier head to support a substrate and bring the substrate into contact with the polishing pad, and a motor to cause relative motion between platen and the carrier head. The fluid delivery conduit includes a conductive wire extending through an interior of the conduit to flow electrostatic discharge to a ground, and a wire extraction fitting covering and sealing a location where the conductive wire passes through a wall of the fluid delivery conduit.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing assembly includes a chemical mechanical polishing system, a fluid source, and a fluid delivery conduit to carry a fluid from the fluid source into the chemical mechanical polishing system. The polishing system has a platen to support a polishing pad, a carrier head to support a substrate and bring the substrate into contact with the polishing pad, and a motor to cause relative motion between platen and the carrier head. The fluid delivery conduit includes a conductive wire extending through an interior of the conduit to flow electrostatic discharge to a ground, and a wire extraction fitting covering and sealing a location where the conductive wire passes through a wall of the fluid delivery conduit.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a polishing a port to dispense polishing liquid onto a polishing pad and a liquid flow controller to control a flow rate of the polishing liquid to the port, a temperature control system to control a temperature of the polishing pad, and a control system. The control system is configured to obtain a baseline removal rate, a baseline temperature and a baseline polishing liquid flow rate. A function is stored relating removal rate to polishing liquid flow rate and temperature. The function is used to determine a reduced polishing liquid flow rate and an adjusted temperature such that a resulting removal rate is not below the baseline removal rate. The liquid flow controller is controlled to dispense the polishing liquid at the reduced polishing liquid flow rate and control the temperature control system so that the polishing process reaches the adjusted temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed are an endoscope handle and a driving apparatus. The driving apparatus includes a motor module, the motor module being provided with a protruding motor shaft; a starting sliding block connected to the motor shaft and capable of being driven by the motor shaft to move along a straight line, the starting sliding block being provided with a first coupling portion, and the first coupling portion being in coupling contact with a follow-up sliding block externally disposed so as to drive, by the follow-up sliding block, a bending control wire of an endoscope to be tightened and released; a force sensor disposed on the motor module and configured to measure a tensile force borne by the bending control wire and generate a stress signal; and a controller communicatively connected to the motor module and the force sensor and configured to adjust the output of the motor module.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a platen having a top surface to hold a polishing pad, a carrier head to hold a substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad during a polishing process, and a temperature monitoring system. The temperature monitoring system includes a non-contact thermal sensor positioned above the platen that has a field of view of a portion of the polishing pad on the platen. The sensor is rotatable by the motor around an axis of rotation so as to move the field of view across the polishing pad.

Abstract: An apparatus for chemical mechanical polishing includes a rotatable platen having a surface to support a polishing pad, a carrier head to hold a substrate in contact with the polishing pad, and a polishing liquid distribution system. The polishing liquid distribution system includes a dispenser positioned to deliver a polishing liquid to a portion of a polishing surface of the polishing pad, and a first barrier positioned before the portion of the polishing surface and configured to block used polishing liquid from reaching the portion of the polishing surface.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a steam generator with a heating element to apply heat to a vessel to generate steam, an opening to deliver steam onto a polishing pad, a first valve in a fluid line between the opening and the vessel, a sensor to monitor a steam parameter, and a control system. The control system causes the valve to open and close in accordance with a steam delivery schedule in a recipe, receive a measured value for the steam parameter from the sensor, receive a target value for the steam parameter, and perform a proportional integral derivative control algorithm with the target value and measured value as inputs so as to control the first valve and/or a second pressure release valve and/or the heating element such that the measured value reaches the target value substantially just before the valve is opened according to the steam delivery schedule.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning a substrate. The method includes rotating a substrate disposed on a substrate support and spraying a front side of the substrate using steam through a front side nozzle assembly. A back side of the substrate is sprayed using steam through a back side dispenser assembly. A heated chemical is dispensed over the front side of the substrate.

Abstract: A body is brought into contact with a polishing pad of a polishing system, a polishing liquid is supplied to the polishing pad, relative motion between the body and the polishing pad is generated while the body contacts the polishing pad, a signal from an in-situ eddy current monitoring system during the relative motion while the body contacts the polishing pad, generating, and mechanical vibrations in the polishing system are detected based on a signal from the in-situ eddy current monitoring system.