Patent ID: 9358658
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: B24B

Claim Text:
1. A polishing apparatus, comprising: a platen rotatable about an axis of rotation, the platen including a first surface to support a polishing pad, a second surface on a side of the platen opposite the first surface, and a plurality of through-holes defined in the platen extending from the first surface to the second surface, the through-holes having input ends at the second surface and output ends at the first surface; a carrier head to hold a substrate against the polishing pad; and a pad pressure control assembly including a body positioned on the side of the platen opposite the carrier head and having a third surface adjacent and parallel to the second surface, the pad pressure control assembly further including a plurality of channels through the body, the plurality of channels connected to a fluid source and having outlets on the third surface of the body, the body of the pad pressure control assembly laterally movable relative to the axis of rotation of the platen such that the outlets on the third surface move laterally relative to the through-holes in the platen, and wherein the third surface is positioned relative to the second surface such that in operation the outlets of the channels in the body are fluidically coupled to the input ends of the through-holes in the platen and a through-hole to which a particular outlet is fluidically coupled changes as the body moves laterally relative to the platen.