Patent ID: 6042454
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A polisher comprising:a turntable assembly including a turntable with a polishing surface, said turntable assembly being rotated around a turntable axis passing through the center of and substantially normal to said polishing surface:a rotatable carrier assembly which is rotatable around a carrier axis substantially parallel to said turntable axis of said turntable assembly and including a carrier for holding an article in contact with said polishing surface to polish the article;a vibration detection unit provided on one of said turntable assembly and said rotatable carrier assembly, said vibration detection unit including a vibration detector for detecting a vibration caused by rubbing of the article against said polishing surface and a light signal emission device for emitting a light signal representing the vibration detected by said vibration detector;a light signal processing assembly provided on a stationary part of the polisher and including a light signal receiving device for receiving said light signal emitted from said light signal emission device.