Patent ID: 11890717
Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Field: Machine tools (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A polishing system, comprising:
a platen having a top surface to support a main polishing pad, the platen rotatable about an axis of rotation that passes through approximately a center of the platen;
an annular flange projecting radially outward from the platen to support an outer polishing pad, the annular flange being a unitary body having an inner edge secured to and rotatable with the platen and vertically fixed relative to the top surface of the platen, the annular flange being deformable and vertically deflectable such that an outer edge of the annular flange is vertically movable relative to the inner edge;
an actuator configured to apply pressure to an underside of the annular flange in an angularly limited region such that the angularly limited region of the annular flange and an angularly limited portion of the outer polishing pad are lifted relative to the platen, an undeformed portion of annular flange, and main polishing pad; and
a carrier head to hold a substrate in contact with the main polishing pad and movable to selectively position a portion of the substrate over the angularly limited portion of the outer polishing pad.