Patent ID: 6291350
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A method of polishing a semiconductor wafer using a polishing slurry having abrasive particles therein, said method comprising the steps of:supplying said polishing slurry from a tank for reserving said polishing slurry to a surface of a polishing cloth via a supply path;pressing a surface of said semiconductor wafer against the surface of said polishing cloth supplied with said polishing slurry, moving said semiconductor wafer relative to said polishing cloth, and thereby polishing the surface of said semiconductor wafer;discharging a discharged slurry flown out of the surface of said polishing pad via a discharge path and refluxing the discharged slurry to a portion of said supply path, said portion being positioned downstream from an outlet of said tank; andapplying an ultrasonic oscillation to said discharged slurry on said discharge path,wherein said discharged slurry does not comprise any unused slurry from said tank.