Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus includes a top ring body for holding the substrate, an elastic pad for contacting the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further includes a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for contacting the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus also includes a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus includes a top ring body for holding the substrate, an elastic pad for contacting the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further includes a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for contacting the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus also includes a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus includes a top ring body for holding the substrate, an elastic pad for contacting the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further includes a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for contacting the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus also includes a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a substrate polishing machine which comprises a polishing surface and a substrate carrier for holding a substrate and bringing it into contact with the polishing surface. The substrate carrier comprises a carrier body, a substrate holding member for holding a substrate with a surface of the substrate to be polished being directed towards the polishing surface. The substrate holding member is mounted on the carrier body in such a manner that the substrate holding member is movable both towards and away from the polishing surface. The substrate polishing machine further comprises a substrate holding member positioning device provided on a side of the substrate holding member opposite to that used for holding the substrate. The substrate holding member positioning device has a flexible member which defines a chamber, and which, upon introduction of a non-compressible fluid, is expanded in a direction towards the polishing surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding a substrate to be polished and pressing the substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a top ring body for holding a substrate, an elastic pad for being brought into contact with the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for being brought into contact with the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding a substrate to be polished and pressing the substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a top ring body for holding a substrate, an elastic pad for being brought into contact with the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for being brought into contact with the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding a substrate to be polished and pressing the substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a top ring body for holding a substrate, an elastic pad for being brought into contact with the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for being brought into contact with the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: A dressing apparatus dresses a polishing surface of a polishing table used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer in a polishing apparatus. The dressing apparatus comprises a dresser body (31) connected to a dresser drive shaft (23) which is vertically movable, a dresser plate (32) which is vertically movable with respect to the dresser body (31), and a dressing member (22) held by the dresser plate (32) for dressing the polishing surface (1a).

Abstract: In a polishing apparatus, a polishing tool including abrasive particles and a binder for bonding together the abrasive particles is pressed against a substrate to polish the substrate. The polishing apparatus has a light source for irradiating a polishing surface with light rays for weakening a bond force of the binder for bonding together the abrasive particles, and a waste matter removing mechanism for forcefully removing waste matter produced by polishing or waste matter produced by irradiation. By irradiating the polishing surface with the light rays, dressing of the polishing surface is performed, and products resulting from dressing and the like are removed. The polishing apparatus supplies abrasive particles to the polishing surface stably by dressing and allows high-speed polishing of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding a substrate to be polished and pressing the substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a top ring body for holding a substrate, an elastic pad for being brought into contact with the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane for being brought into contact with the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into, or creating a vacuum in, the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: There is provided a substrate polishing machine which comprises a polishing surface and a substrate carrier for holding a substrate and bringing it into contact with the polishing surface. The substrate carrier comprises a carrier body, a substrate holding member for holding a substrate with a surface of the substrate to be polished being directed towards the polishing surface. The substrate holding member is mounted on the carrier body in such a manner that the substrate holding member is movable both towards and away from the polishing surface. The substrate polishing machine further comprises a substrate holding member positioning device provided on a side of the substrate holding member opposite to that used for holding the substrate. The substrate holding member positioning device has a flexible member which defines a chamber, and which, upon introduction of a non-compressible fluid, is expanded in a direction towards the polishing surface.

Abstract: An angular substrate polishing method includes the steps of holding an angular substrate having a surface to be polished within a guide ring of a substrate holding head; pressing the substrate surface to be polished, and also one surface of the guide ring, against a polishing pad; and independently rotating the polishing pad and the substrate-holding head together with the substrate it holds while pressing the polishing pad-contacting surface of the guide ring against the polishing pad, to thereby polish the substrate surface. During the polishing step, a pressing force is applied to the guide ring which is separate from the pressing force applied to the substrate, enhancing the flatness of the polished substrate.

Abstract: A dressing apparatus dresses a polishing surface of a polishing table used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer in a polishing apparatus. The dressing apparatus comprises a dresser body (31) connected to a dresser drive shaft (23) which is vertically movable, a dresser plate (32) which is vertically movable with respect to the dresser body (31), and a dressing member (22) held by the dresser plate (32) for dressing the polishing surface (1a).

Abstract: An angular substrate polishing method includes the steps of holding an angular substrate having a surface to be polished within a guide ring of a substrate holding head; pressing the substrate surface to be polished, and also one surface of the guide ring, against a polishing pad; and independently rotating the polishing pad and the substrate-holding head together with the substrate it holds while pressing the polishing pad-contacting surface of the guide ring against the polishing pad, to thereby polish the substrate surface. During the polishing step, a pressing force is applied to the guide ring which is separate from the pressing force applied to the substrate, enhancing the flatness of the polished substrate.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus comprises a turntable having a polishing surface, a top ring for holding a workpiece and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface, a holding surface of the top ring for holding the workpiece, and a retainer ring for retaining the workpiece within the holding surface of the top ring. The holding surface is deformable by fluid having variable pressure, and the retainer ring presses the polishing surface under a variable pressing force.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus, includes a turntable having a polishing surface thereon, and a top ring for holding a workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface on the turntable. A pusher is disposed in a position for transferring the workpiece to and from the top ring, and has a workpiece support which can be lifted to a position close to the top ring for transferring the workpiece to and from the top ring. When the workpiece support receives a polished workpiece and is lowered, a cleaning liquid is ejected substantially simultaneously from three cleaning nozzle units that are disposed in respective three positions to clean the upper and lower surfaces of the workpiece and the lower surface of the top ring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substrate holding apparatus for holding a substrate to be polished and pressing the substrate against a polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a top ring body for holding a substrate, an elastic pad brought into contact with the substrate, and a support member for supporting the elastic pad. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a contact member mounted on a lower surface of the support member and disposed in a space formed by the elastic pad and the support member. The contact member has an elastic membrane brought into contact with the elastic pad. A first pressure chamber is defined in the contact member, and a second pressure chamber is defined outside of the contact member. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a fluid source for independently supplying a fluid into or creating a vacuum in the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish includes a turntable with a polishing cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof and a top ring for polishing a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish by placing the semiconductor wafer between the turntable and the top ring and pressing the semiconductor wafer under a certain pressing force. A presser ring is vertically movably provided around the top ring. A pressing device presses the presser ring against the polishing cloth under a variable pressing force, and the presser ring is supported by the top ring through a bearing.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus has a pusher for transferring the workpiece between a top ring of a polishing apparatus and the pusher. The polishing apparatus includes a turntable having a polishing surface, a top ring for supporting the workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface, and a pusher for transferring the workpiece between the top ring and the pusher. The pusher comprises a workpiece support for supporting the workpiece, an actuating unit for moving the workpiece support in a vertical direction, a sliding mechanism movable within a horizontal plane, and a positioning mechanism for positioning the workpiece support and the top ring with respect to each other in association with the sliding mechanism when the workpiece is transferred between the workpiece support and the top ring.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a turntable having a polishing surface thereon, and a top ring for holding a workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface on the turntable. A pusher is disposed in a position for transferring the workpiece to and from the top ring, and has a workpiece support which can be lifted to a position close to the top ring for transferring the workpiece to and from the top ring. When the workpiece support receives a polished workpiece and is lowered, a cleaning liquid is ejected substantially simultaneously from three cleaning nozzle units that are disposed in respective three positions to clean the upper and lower surfaces of the workpiece and the lower surface of the top ring.