Patent ID: 8512099
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A method for the simultaneous double-sided material removal processing of a plurality of semiconductor wafers, comprising abrading front and rear surfaces of the semiconductor wafers, each semiconductor wafer lying freely mobile in a recess in one of a plurality of carrier disks positioned in a working gap delineated by lower and upper annular working layers of respective lower and upper annular working disks, each working disk having at least one outer annular peripheral portion or inner annular peripheral portion extending beyond edges of the annular working layers, the inner and outer peripheral annular portions free of a working layer; rotating the plurality of carrier disks between an annular outer gear wheel and an inner drive wheel such that semiconductor wafers lying in the plurality of carrier disks traverse a cycloidal path which causes a portion of the carrier disks and optionally also a portion of each of the semiconductor wafers to temporarily exit the working gap; and guiding the carrier disks in a movement plane which extends essentially coplanar relative to a midplane of the working gap by limiting axial movement of the portion of the carrier disk which has temporarily left the working gap, by contact of the portion of the carrier disk which has temporarily left the working gap with the outer annular peripheral portion of the working disk and/or the inner annular peripheral portion of the working disk.