Patent ID: 7033252
Filing Date: 2006-04-25
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A wafer carrier comprising: a housing having a plate; a retaining ring characterized by an inner diameter and coupled to the plate of the housing, said retaining ring having a groove disposed therein; a retaining ring actuator disposed within the groove, said retaining ring actuator sized and dimensioned to substantially conform to the size and dimensions of the groove, said retaining ring actuator able to be pressurized; an edge control bladder disposed within the wafer carrier, said bladder further disposed such that pressure changes in the bladder will change the force applied to the edge of a wafer held by the wafer carrier; and a soft membrane extending across a bottom surface of a piston plate in the wafer carrier, said membrane further disposed within the inner diameter of the retaining ring and able to be pressurized.