Patent ID: 6242353
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
A wafer polishing apparatus comprising:a polishing pad;a platen having a first surface, wherein said polishing pad is adhered to said first surface of said platen;a wafer holding head both for holding a first face of a wafer to be polished and for allowing a second face of the wafer to contact said polishing pad adhered to said first surface of said platen; anda head driving means for driving said wafer holding head to polish the second face of the wafer, wherein said wafer holding head includes:a head body having a head axis;a diaphragm expanded in a substantially vertical direction relative to said head axis of said head body;a fluid chamber formed between said diaphragm and said head body;a pressure adjusting means for adjusting a pressure of a fluid in said fluid chamber;a disk-shaped carrier for holding the first face of the wafer to be polished, wherein said carrier is fixed to said diaphragm so that together said carrier and said diaphragm are displaceable along a direction of said head axis;a retainer ring disposed in a concentric relationship with respect to an outer circumference of said carrier, wherein said retainer ring is fixed to said diaphragm so that together said retainer ring and said diaphragm are displaceable along said direction of said head axis, and wherein said retainer ring comes into contact with said polishing pad during polishing operations; andat least first and second guide members engaging each other at an engaging portion, wherein said at least first guide member is provided on said head body and said at least second guide member is provided on any one of said carrier and said retainer ring, and wherein said engaging portion of said at least first and second guide members is freely slidable along said direction of said head axis so that sliding movement of said engaging portion of said at least first and second guide members is limited in a direction of rotation of said wafer holding head.