Patent ID: 6527625
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A polishing head for positioning a substrate having a surface on a polishing surface of a polishing apparatus having a drive mechanism to rotate the polishing head during the polishing operation, the polishing head comprising:a carrier adapted to hold the substrate during a polishing operation, the carrier having a lower surface; a flexible member secured to the carrier and extending across the lower surface thereof, the flexible member having a receiving surface adapted to engage the substrate, and a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the flexible member to the receiving surface; a spacer disposed between the flexible member and the lower surface to form a cavity defined by the lower surface of the carrier, the spacer, the flexible member and the substrate; a passageway in communication with the lower surface for introducing a pressurized fluid into the cavity so as to press the substrate against the polishing surface during the polishing operation; wherein the number and size of the plurality of openings are selected to enable the pressurized fluid to be applied directly to the substrate; and wherein at least one of the plurality of openings has an edge angled in relation to a direction of rotation of the polishing head to stiffen the flexible member to increase coupling of rotational energy to substrate.