Patent ID: 6306014
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A method of planarizing a microelectronic substrate assembly on a planarizing machine, comprising:providing a planarizing machine that includes a table, a pad advancing mechanism and a pad tensioning system, the table having a support surface with a planarizing zone, the pad advancing mechanism being coupled to the pad, the pad advancing mechanism including a first roller about which an unused portion of the pad is wrapped and a second roller about which a used portion of the pad is wrapped, at least one of the rollers being driven to advance the pad across the table along a pad travel path for positioning a desired active section of the pad in the planarizing zone, and the pad tensioning system being between the planarizing zone of the table and either the first roller or the second roller, the tensioning system including a pneumatic or mechanical stretching assembly configured to act against the medial region of the pad;pressing a microelectronic substrate assembly against a polishing pad having an elongated first side region along an elongated first edge of the pad, an elongated second side region along an elongated second edge of the pad opposite the first edge, and an elongated medial region having a width between the first and second side regions;moving the substrate assembly and/or the polishing pad relative to the other to move the substrate assembly across the polishing pad; andstretching a portion of the medial region of the pad more than the first and second side regions by pushing the medial region of the pad away from the table at a tensioning site between the planarizing zone and the second roller.