Patent ID: 6472325
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
A method for determining drag forces between a microelectronic-device substrate assembly and polishing pad during mechanical or chemical-mechanical planarization of microelectronic-device substrate assemblies, comprising:moving at least one of the substrate assembly and the polishing pad relative to the other in a planarizing plane to generate lateral drag forces on the substrate assembly and on the pad; transferring the lateral drag forces to at least one of a force detection and force measuring assembly; sensing the peak forces of a force vector transferred to the at least one of a force detection and force measuring assembly; processing the sensed peak drag forces to generate a force-time relationship between the peak drag forces and time; and assessing an onset of planarity of the substrate assembly by monitoring a change from an increasing slope in the force-time relationship to a relatively flat slope.