Patent ID: 6099386
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
A control device for maintaining a CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) machine in a wet mode, the CMP machine comprising a polishing pad, a slurry sprinkler for sprinkling liquid on the polishing pad, and at least one carrier head for holding a semiconductor wafer and bringing the semiconductor wafer in contact with the polishing pad for performing a CMP process, the control device comprising:a sensor for sensing the opening and closing of the slurry sprinkler and generating a corresponding sensing signal; anda control unit electrically connected to the sensor for measuring a time period over which the slurry sprinkler is closed wherein when the measured time period exceeds a predetermined length, the control unit will either send a warning signal or turn on the slurry sprinkler to sprinkle liquid onto the polishing pad according to a predetermined process so as to maintain the polishing pad in a wet mode.