Patent ID: 6068549
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A three-chambered polishing head for polishing a substrate comprising:a rotatable sub-carrier having a circular shape and an outer diameter for holding said substrate on a substrate mounting surface thereof during a polishing operation;a rotatable retaining ring having an inner diameter disposed concentric with said sub-carrier and extending beyond said substrate mounting surface during said polishing operation;a housing at least partially surrounding said sub-carrier and said retaining ring;a first diaphragm coupling each of said retaining ring said sub-carrier and said housing at a first location while permitting predetermined relative movement between said retaining ring, said sub-carrier, and said housing;a second diaphragm coupling said retaining ring and said sub-carrier to said housing at a second location while permitting predetermined relative movement between said retaining ring and said sub-carrier;said sub-carrier, a first portion of said housing, and said first and second diaphragms defining a first pressure chamber;said sub-carrier, a second portion of said housing, and said first and second diaphragms defining a second pressure chamber;a member coupling said first diaphragm and said second diaphragm and defining an annular shaped third pressure chamber proximate said sub-carrier outer diameter and said retaining ring inner diameter;said first chamber, said second chamber, and said third chamber being pressure isolated from each other and each being coupled to a pressurized fluid source so that the pressure in each of said first, second, and third chambers is separately controllable.