Patent ID: 7040954
Filing Date: 2006-05-09
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), comprising: a carrier for rotating a wafer to be polished; a polishing surface movable in relation to and in contact with the wafer; a drive for one of the carrier and the polishing surface, wherein the drive is configured with a motor having a rotor and a 1:1 connection of the rotor to the one of the carrier and the polishing surface; circuitry connected to the drive for measuring values of work performed by the drive during CMP of a series of the wafers, the circuitry generating a control signal indicative of whether a polishing characteristic of the polishing surface is within an acceptable range during the CMP of the series of the wafers, wherein the acceptable range is based on the polishing characteristic having a quality that tends to change at a first rate from a first value during performance of the CMP on the series of the wafers, the acceptable range being further based on the quality being restorable to the first value at a second rate; and a conditioner responsive to the control signal for maintaining the polishing characteristic of the polishing surface within the acceptable range by conditioning the polishing surface at the second rate, the second rate being substantially the same as the first rate.