Patent ID: 6409585
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A substrate holding apparatus comprising:a substrate holder for holding a substrate to be polished and urging the substrate against a polishing surface, with said substrate holder having an axis for rotation; a drive shaft for drivingly rotating said substrate holder about said axis for rotation; and a joint for connecting said substrate holder to said drive shaft in such a manner that said substrate holder can tilt relative to said drive shaft; wherein said substrate holder includes (i) a substrate holding member having a lower surface for holding the substrate and an upper surface defining a curved recess, with said upper surface including a bottom portion that defines a bottom of said curved recess; and (ii) a cover member secured to said substrate holding member, with said cover member having a lower surface with a protrusion extending therefrom which is received within said curved recess, and also having an upper surface having a cavity therein which extends towards said protrusion, with said cavity having a bottom surface through which said axis for rotation vertically extends; wherein said joint is provided at said bottom surface of said cavity; wherein said bottom of said curved recess is a central bottom portion and corresponds to a deepest portion of said curved recess; and wherein said cavity extends into said protrusion such that said bottom surface of said cavity is positioned below the level of said upper surface of said substrate holding member.