Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a platen to support a polishing pad, a carrier head to hold a surface of a substrate against the polishing pad, a motor to generate relative motion between the platen and the carrier head so as to polish an overlying layer on the substrate, an in-situ acoustic monitoring system comprising an acoustic window having a top surface to contact the substrate, and a controller configured to detect a polishing endpoint based on received acoustic signals from the in-situ acoustic monitoring system.

Abstract: A carrier head includes a base assembly, a substrate mounting surface connected to the base assembly, and a plurality of segments disposed circumferentially around the substrate mounting surface to provide a retaining ring to surround a substrate mounted on the substrate mounting surface. An inner surface of each of the plurality of segments is configured to engage the substrate, and each segment of the plurality of segments of the retaining ring is pivotally connected to the base assembly such that a lower portion of each segment of the retaining ring is swingable toward and away from the substrate.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing touch-up tool includes a pedestal configured to support a substrate, a plurality of jaws configured to center the substrate on the pedestal, a loading ring to apply pressure to an annular region on a back side of the substrate on the pedestal, a polishing ring to bring a polishing material into contact with an annular region on a front side of the substrate that is aligned with the annular region on the back side of the substrate, and a polishing ring actuator to rotate the polishing ring to cause relative motion between the polishing ring and the substrate.

Abstract: Chemical-mechanical polishing assemblies may include an upper platen characterized by a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The upper platen may define a recess in the second surface of the upper platen. The upper platen may define a flexure between the first surface and the second surface within the recess. The assemblies may include a polishing pad coupled with the first surface of the upper platen. The assemblies may include a plate coupled with the upper platen along the second surface of the upper platen. The plate may define a volume within the recess of the upper platen between the second surface of the upper platen and the plate.

Abstract: A carrier head for holding a substrate in a polishing system includes a housing, an annular body that is vertically movable relative to the housing by an actuator, a first annular membrane secured to extending below the annular body to form at least one lower pressurizable chamber between the first annular membrane and the annular body, and at least one pressure supply line connected to the at least one lower pressurizable chamber. The annular body includes an upper portion and at least one lower post projecting downward from the upper portion, with the at least one lower post located inside the at least one lower pressurizable chamber.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus includes a support configured to receive and hold a substrate in a plane, a polishing pad affixed to a cylindrical surface of a rotary drum, a first actuator to rotate the drum about a first axis parallel to the plane, a second actuator to bring the polishing pad on the rotary drum into contact with the substrate, and a port for dispensing a polishing liquid to an interface between the polishing pad and the substrate.

Abstract: A polishing system includes a platen having a top surface to support a main polishing pad. The platen is rotatable about an axis of rotation that passes through approximately the center of the platen. An annular flange projects radially outward from the platen to support an outer polishing pad. The annular flange has an inner edge secured to and rotatable with the platen and vertically fixed relative to the top surface of the platen. The annular flange is vertically deflectable such that an outer edge of the annular flange is vertically moveable relative to the inner edge. An actuator applies pressure to an underside of the annular flange in an angularly limited region, and a carrier head holds a substrate in contact with the polishing pad and is movable to selectively position a portion of the substrate over the outer polishing pad.

Abstract: A carrier head for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a carrier body, an outer membrane assembly, an annular segmented chuck, and an inner membrane assembly. The outer membrane assembly is supported from the carrier body and defines a first plurality of independently pressurizable outer chambers. The annular segmented chuck supported below the outer membrane assembly, and includes a plurality of concentric rings that are independently vertically movable by respective pressurizable chambers of the outer membrane assembly. At least two of the rings having passages therethrough to suction-chuck a substrate to the chuck. The inner membrane assembly is supported from the carrier body and is surrounded by an innermost ring of the plurality of concentric rings of the chuck. The inner membrane assembly defines a second plurality of independently pressurizable inner chambers and has a lower surface to contact the substrate.

Abstract: A polishing system is provided, including a carrier with an offset distance. The offset distance allows a shifted carrier head to cover more surface area of the polishing surface. The offset distance effectively provides an additional rotation of the carrier head about the axis, which allows for a greater area traversed on the polishing surface, improving chemical mechanical polishing uniformity on the substrate.

Abstract: A polishing system includes a carriage arm having an actuator disposed on a lower surface thereof. The actuator includes a piston and a roller coupled to a distal end of the piston. The polishing system includes a polishing pad and a substrate carrier suspended from the carriage arm and configured to apply a pressure between a substrate and the polishing pad. The substrate carrier includes a housing, a retaining ring, and a membrane. The substrate carrier includes an upper load ring disposed in the housing. The roller of the actuator is configured to contact the upper load ring during relative rotation between the substrate carrier and the carriage arm. The actuator is configured to apply a load to a portion of the upper load ring thereby altering the pressure applied between the substrate and the polishing pad.

Abstract: A carrier head for a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a carrier body, an outer membrane assembly, an annular segmented chuck, and an inner membrane assembly. The outer membrane assembly is supported from the carrier body and defines a first plurality of independently pressurizable outer chambers. The annular segmented chuck supported below the outer membrane assembly, and includes a plurality of concentric rings that are independently vertically movable by respective pressurizable chambers of the outer membrane assembly. At least two of the rings having passages therethrough to suction-chuck a substrate to the chuck. The inner membrane assembly is supported from the carrier body and is surrounded by an innermost ring of the plurality of concentric rings of the chuck. The inner membrane assembly defines a second plurality of independently pressurizable inner chambers and has a lower surface to contact the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of a substrate is described herein. The apparatus includes an extension disposed between a retaining ring and a chucking membrane. The extension is disposed radially outward from the edge of the substrate and is configured to contact the retaining ring during substrate processing. The extension provides a repeatable and controlled point of contact between the retaining ring and the chucking membrane. The extension may have multiple configurations, such that the contact point between the retaining ring and the chucking membrane is set at a pre-determined location or such that the contact point is moveable by an adjustable stop.

Abstract: Embodiments herein generally relate to chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) systems used in the manufacturing of electronic devices. In one embodiment, a substrate carrier for polishing a surface of a substrate includes a retaining ring configured to surround a substrate during a polishing process. The retaining ring includes a first surface that is configured to contact a surface of a polishing pad during the polishing process, a second surface that is on a side of the retaining ring that is opposite to the first surface, and an array of recesses formed in the second surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) systems used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a polishing module, a retaining ring, wherein the retaining ring includes a protrusion on a radially outward edge, and a plurality of load pins disposed through the retaining ring.

Abstract: A carrier head for a polishing system includes a housing, a flexible membrane, a first plurality of pressure supply lines, a second plurality of pressure supply lines, and a valve assembly. The flexible membrane defines a multiplicity of independently pressurizable chambers. The valve assembly has a multiplicity of valves with each respective valve of the multiplicity of valves coupled to a respective pressure chamber from the multiplicity of independently pressurizable chambers. Each respective valve is configured to selectively couple the respective pressure chamber to one pressure supply line from a pair of pressure supply lines that include a pressure supply line from the first plurality of pressure supply lines and a pressure supply line from the second plurality of pressure supply lines.

Abstract: A carrier head includes a housing, a support assembly having a support plate flexibly connected to the housing so as to be vertically movable, a plurality of fluid-impermeable barriers projecting from a bottom of the support plate to define a plurality of recesses that are open at bottom sides thereof, and pneumatic control lines. A volume between the support plate and the housing includes one or more independently pressurizable first chambers to apply pressure on a top surface of the support plate in one or more first zones. The barriers are positioned and configured such that when a planar substrate is loaded into the carrier head the barriers contact the substrate and divide a volume between the support plate and the substrate into a plurality of second chambers. The pneumatic control lines are coupled to the plurality of recesses to provide a plurality of independently pressurizable second zones.

Abstract: A carrier head for a polishing system includes a housing, a flexible membrane, a first plurality of pressure supply lines, a second plurality of pressure supply lines, and a valve assembly. The flexible membrane defines a multiplicity of independently pressurizable chambers. The valve assembly has a multiplicity of valves with each respective valve of the multiplicity of valves coupled to a respective pressure chamber from the multiplicity of independently pressurizable chambers. Each respective valve is configured to selectively couple the respective pressure chamber to one pressure supply line from a pair of pressure supply lines that include a pressure supply line from the first plurality of pressure supply lines and a pressure supply line from the second plurality of pressure supply lines.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include high throughput density chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) modules and customizable modular CMP systems formed thereof. In one embodiment, a polishing module features a carrier support module, a carrier loading station, and a polishing station. The carrier support module features a carrier platform and one or more carrier assemblies. The one or more carrier assemblies each comprise a corresponding carrier head suspended from the carrier platform. The carrier loading station is used to transfer substrates to and from the carrier heads. The polishing station comprises a polishing platen. The carrier support module, the substrate loading station, and the polishing station comprise a one-to-one-to-one relationship within each of the polishing modules. The carrier support module is positioned to move the one or more carrier assemblies between a substrate polishing position disposed above the polishing platen and a substrate transfer position disposed above the substrate loading station.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include high throughput density chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) modules and customizable modular CMP systems formed thereof. In one embodiment, a polishing module features a carrier support module, a carrier loading station, and a polishing station. The carrier support module features a carrier platform and one or more carrier assemblies. The one or more carrier assemblies each comprise a corresponding carrier head suspended from the carrier platform. The carrier loading station is used to transfer substrates to and from the carrier heads. The polishing station comprises a polishing platen. The carrier support module, the substrate loading station, and the polishing station comprise a one-to-one-to-one relationship within each of the polishing modules. The carrier support module is positioned to move the one or more carrier assemblies between a substrate polishing position disposed above the polishing platen and a substrate transfer position disposed above the substrate loading station.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include high throughput density chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) modules and customizable modular CMP systems formed thereof. In one embodiment, a polishing module features a carrier support module, a carrier loading station, and a polishing station. The carrier support module features a carrier platform and one or more carrier assemblies. The one or more carrier assemblies each comprise a corresponding carrier head suspended from the carrier platform. The carrier loading station is used to transfer substrates to and from the carrier heads. The polishing station comprises a polishing platen. The carrier support module, the substrate loading station, and the polishing station comprise a one-to-one-to-one relationship within each of the polishing modules. The carrier support module is positioned to move the one or more carrier assemblies between a substrate polishing position disposed above the polishing platen and a substrate transfer position disposed above the substrate loading station.