Patent ID: 6506105
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A carrier for a substrate polishing apparatus, comprising:a housing; a retaining ring flexibly coupled to said housing; a first pressure chamber for exerting a first force to urge said retaining ring in a first predetermined direction relative to said housing; a subcarrier plate having an outer surface and flexibly coupled to said housing; a second pressure chamber for exerting a second force to urge said subcarrier plate in a second predetermined direction relative to said housing; said retaining ring circumscribing a portion of said subcarrier plate and defining a circular recess; a spacer coupled to a peripheral outer edge of said subcarrier plate outer surface within said retaining ring circular recess; a membrane coupled to said subcarrier plate via said spacer and disposed within said circular recess, said membrane separated from said subcarrier plate outer surface by a thickness of said spacer; and a third pressure chamber defined between said membrane and said outer subcarrier plate surface for exerting a third force to urge said membrane in a third predetermined direction relative to said housing.