Patent ID: 6190236
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A vacuum removal system for removing polishing by-product particles and efficiently removing conditioning by-product particles from a surface of a polishing pad in a wafer polishing machine, comprising:a vacuum removal nozzle adapted to dislodge and remove polishing by-product particles from a textured surface of a polishing pad by suction;a mounting attachment connected to said vacuum removal nozzle, said mounting attachment mounted on a conditioner arm of a polishing machine and adapted to maintain close proximity of said vacuum removal nozzle with said textured surface, said mounting attachment adapted to mount said vacuum removal nozzle onto said conditioner arm such that conditioning by-product particles are efficiently removed;a vacuum line connected to said vacuum nozzle to convey a vacuum to said vacuum nozzle and to receive said polishing by-product particles and said conditioning by-product particles from said vacuum nozzle; anda vacuum source connected to said vacuum line to generate said vacuum.