Patent ID: 6302770
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A method for rejuvenating a pad used for polishing, the method comprising:placing a pad on an upper surface of a platen;placing a workpiece in a carrier so that the workpiece faces the upper surface of the platen;positioning a conditioning structure along a bottom perimeter of the carrier, the conditioning structure opposing the upper surface of the platen;rejuvenating an upper surface of the pad using the conditioning structure, the rejuvenating including:rotating the conditioning structure attached to the carrier by rotating the carrier around an axis normal to the upper surface of the platen;lowering the carrier so that a surface of the workpiece contacts the upper surface of the pad to polish the surface of the workpiece;lowering the conditioning structure so that the conditioning structure contacts the upper surface of the pad; andconditioning the upper surface of the pad using the conditioning structure; andraising the conditioning structure from the upper surface of the pad to stop rejuvenating while the polishing is continued.