Abstract: A polishing surface constituting member capable of polishing an object surface flat and uniformly with minimal overpolishing at the edge of the object is provided, together with a polishing apparatus using the polishing surface constituting member. The polishing surface constituting member polishes the object pressed against it under a predetermined pressure by relative movement therebetween. A surface of the polishing surface constituting member that comes in contact with the object is provided with grooves at a predetermined pitch or provided with projections in a predetermined configuration.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus for polishing a surface of a workpiece includes a housing unit, a partition wall partitioning an interior of the housing unit into a first chamber and a second chamber, a polishing section disposed in the first chamber and having a turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof and a top ring positioned above the turntable for supporting the workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the abrasive cloth, and a cleaning section disposed in the second chamber and cleaning the workpiece which has been polished. The polishing apparatus further includes a transferring device for transferring the workpiece which has been polished from the polishing section to the cleaning section through an opening and an exhaust system for exhausting ambient air from each of the polishing section and cleaning section separately and independently.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a surface of a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate. The polishing apparatus comprises a polishing table having a polishing surface thereon, a plurality of workpiece holders each for holding a workpiece and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface, and a controller for controlling the workpiece holders individually so that polishing operations of the workpiece holders are controlled independently of each other.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a surface of a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate. The polishing apparatus comprises a polishing table having a polishing surface thereon, a plurality of workpiece holders each for holding a workpiece and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface, and a controller for controlling the workpiece holders individually so that polishing operations of the workpiece holders are controlled independently of each other.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a plate-like workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate. The polishing apparatus has a polishing table having a polishing surface thereon, a plurality of workpiece holders each for holding a workpiece and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface, and a dresser for dressing the polishing surface by pressing a desired position of the polishing surface.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus for polishing a substrate comprises a polishing table having a polishing surface, and a substrate holding apparatus for holding a substrate to be polished and pressing the substrate against the polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus comprises a vertically movable top ring body for holding a substrate, and a fluid supply source for supplying a fluid under a positive pressure or a negative pressure to a hermetically sealed chamber which is defined in the top ring body to control the pressure under which the substrate is pressed against the polishing surface. The substrate holding apparatus further comprises a measuring device disposed in a fluid passage interconnecting the hermetically sealed chamber and the fluid supply source for measuring a flow rate of the fluid in the fluid passage.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus applicable to a dry-in/dry-out polishing system is capable of increasing the capacity of processing substrates to be polished, e.g. semiconductor wafers, per unit of time and per unit area of installation. A polishing unit includes a turntable having a polishing surface, and at least two wafer carriers each adapted to hold a wafer and to press the wafer against the polishing surface. Each wafer carrier is supported by a pivot shaft and movable between a polishing position where the wafer is polished on the turntable and a transfer position for transferring the wafer. The at least two wafer carriers can be situated at the polishing position simultaneously and also alternately.

Abstract: A polishing plant including a polishing apparatus having a top ring for holding a workpiece and a turn table for polishing a surface of the workpiece held by the top ring. A cleaning apparatus has cleaning machines for cleaning the workpiece polished by the polishing apparatus. At least one drainage pipe connected to the polishing apparatus discharges a waste liquid from the polishing apparatus, and at least one drainage pipe connected to the cleaning apparatus discharges a waste liquid from the cleaning apparatus are provided as separate plural drainage pipe lines, depending on the type of waste liquid. By use of the polishing plant of the present invention, treatment of waste liquids can be efficiently conducted.

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 having an elongate dressing surface for dressing the polishing surface, and the dressing surface has a flat surface which contacts the polishing surface, and one of a tapered surface extending from the flat surface and inclined so as to be away from the polishing surface and a curved surface extending from the flat surface and curved so as to be away from the polishing surface.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus can produce a uniform quality of polished products by supplying a polishing solution consistently without being affected by any disturbances in the solution supply source. The polishing apparatus comprises: a polishing section for polishing a workpiece by pressing the same against a polishing tool; a solution piping assembly to be connected to an external solution supply device for transferring a polishing solution therefrom to the polishing section; and a solution suction device provided in the solution piping assembly for introducing the polishing solution from the solution supply device to the polishing section at a desired flow rate.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish by a combination of chemical polishing and mechanical polishing. The polishing apparatus includes a turntable with a polishing cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof, a top ring for supporting the workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the polishing cloth, and a dressing tool for dressing the polishing cloth on the turntable. The polishing apparatus further includes a cover which covers an upper surface of the turntable for preventing liquid on the turntable from being scattered, and inserting holes formed in an upper wall of the cover for inserting the top ring and the dressing tool therethrough.

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: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a plate-like workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate. The polishing apparatus has a polishing table having a polishing surface thereon, a plurality of workpiece holders each for holding a workpiece and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface, and a dresser for dressing the polishing surface by pressing a desired position of the polishing surface.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polishing apparatus with a grinding plate that can easily and reliably be installed on and detached from a turntable. The polishing apparatus has a grinding plate tool, fixedly mounted on the turntable, which includes the grinding plate, and a top ring for holding a workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the grinding plate in sliding contact therewith for polishing a surface of the workpiece to a flat, mirror finish. A clamping mechanism is mounted in the turntable for fixing an outer circumferential flange of the grinding plate tool to the turntable.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus has a polishing table having a polishing surface, a carrier for carrying a plate-like member and bringing the plate-like member into contact with the polishing surface, and a dresser including a dressing tool adapted to be brought into contact with the polishing surface to dress or normalize the polishing surface. The carrier is movable along a first path between a work position for bringing into contact the plate-like member with the polishing surface and a rest position. The dresser is movable along a second path between a work position for bringing the dressing tool into contact with the polishing surface and a rest position. The first and second paths have a common overlapping area. A contact prevention device is provided to prevent the carrier and the dresser from coming into contact with each other.

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 to polish the workpiece, at least three cleaning apparatuses for cleaning polished workpieces, and a transfer structure for transferring the polished workpieces between at least three cleaning apparatuses. The polishing apparatus further includes a rotary transporter disposed in a position which can be accessed by said top rings and having a plurality of portions positioned on a predetermined circumference from a center of rotation of the rotary transporter for holding the workpieces.

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 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 to polish the workpiece, at least three cleaning apparatuses for cleaning polished workpieces, and a transfer structure for transferring the polished workpieces between at least three cleaning apparatuses. The polishing apparatus further includes a rotary transporter disposed in a position which can be accessed by said top rings and having a plurality of portions positioned on a predetermined circumference from a center of rotation of the rotary transporter for holding the workpieces.

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, a top ring for holding a workpiece and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface to polish the workpiece. The polishing apparatus further includes a rotary transporter disposed in a position which can be accessed by the top ring and having a plurality of stages positioned on a predetermined circumference from a center of rotation of the rotary transporter for holding the workpieces. The polishing apparatus further includes a plurality of support tables removably held by the respective stages of the rotary transporter for supporting the workpieces, and a pusher for transferring the workpiece between the support table and the top ring.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polishing apparatus comprising a polishing table having a polishing surface, a substrate carrier having an axis about which the substrate carrier is rotatable. The substrate carrier includes a plurality of substrate holders positioned around a circle about the axis of the substrate carrier and spaced apart from each other at equal angular distances, with each of the substrate holders being adapted to hold a substrate and bring it into contact with the polishing surface. The apparatus further comprises a substrate loading device laterally spaced apart from the polishing table, in which device a substrate is picked up by one of the substrate holders which is positioned at the substrate loading device, and a substrate unloading device laterally spaced apart from the polishing table, in which device one of the substrate holders which is positioned at the substrate unloading device releases a wafer onto the unloading device.