Patent ID: 6190494
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting removal of conductive material from a microelectronic substrate during planarization of the microelectronic substrate with a planarizing medium, the microelectronic substrate having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface having the conductive material, the microelectronic substrate further having a conductive structure extending between and electrically coupled to the first and second surfaces, the apparatus comprising:a source of electrical power;a first electrical contact coupled to the source of electrical power and configured to be removably electrically coupled to the first surface of the microelectronic substrate;a second electrical contact coupled to the source of electrical power and in contact with the planarizing medium substrate and spaced apart from a polishing pad, and spaced apart from a platen, the second electrical contact being connected to a carrier assembly biasing the microelectronic substrate toward the planarizing medium when the microelectronic substrate is planarized;a measuring device coupled to the source of electrical power, the measuring device being operative to determine a characteristic of power provided by the source of electrical power to a conductive path extending between the first and second electrical contacts.