Patent ID: 8172647
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A mechanical polishing apparatus, comprising: a polishing pad; at least one carrier head positioned over and off center relative to the polishing pad, said carrier head configured for holding at least one substrate against said polishing pad within a first annular region of said polishing pad when said polishing pad is rotating; and at least one conditioning head positionable over and off center relative the polishing pad at a plurality of first positions, said conditioning head configured for applying a contacting surface of at least one conditioning pad against said polishing pad when said polishing pad is rotating, said conditioning pad applied to a second annular region of said polishing pad and moving between said plurality of first positions, wherein a diameter of said conditioning pad ≦a difference between a radius of said polishing pad and a width of said first annular region wherein the first annular region is defined by the area of the substrate contacting the polishing pad, and wherein the second annular region is defined by: