Patent ID: 6824454
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A polishing apparatus for polishing a substrate comprising:a turntable having a polishing surface; a substrate holder for holding a substrate and bringing the substrate into contact under pressure with said polishing surface; a dresser including a dresser tool adapted to be brought into contact under a pressure with said polishing surface to dress or condition said polishing surface; and a pressure device connected to said dresser for moving said dresser between a raised position where said dresser is spaced away from said polishing surface and a dressing position where said dresser rests on said polishing surface such that said dresser tool is in contact with said polishing surface under only a pressure exerted by the weight of said dresser tool, said pressure device including a member for applying an upward force to said dresser to decrease the pressure during a dressing operation, wherein said dresser further comprises a dresser shaft connected to said dresser tool and extending upward vertically from the dresser tool, and said pressure device comprises a cylinder equipped with a piston to which said dresser shaft is connected, and wherein a kinetic frictional resistance against movement of said piston in said cylinder is 0.5 kg or less.