Patent ID: 6913513
Filing Date: 2005-07-05
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A polishing apparatus comprising: a polishing table having a polishing surface including an outer peripheral portion and a main part; a top ring adapted to hold a substrate and press a surface of the substrate against said main part of said polishing surface to polish a layer formed on the surface of the substrate, said top ring being swingable on said polishing surface between said main part and said outer peripheral portion of said polishing surface; at least one notch formed in said outer peripheral portion of said polishing surface; and at least one optical measuring device disposed adjacent to said at least one notch for measuring a thickness of a layer formed on the surface of the substrate, said at least one notch allowing light emitted from said at least one optical measuring device to pass therethrough, wherein said top ring is swung radially outwardly to said outer peripheral portion of said polishing surface such that said at least one optical measuring device is able to measure the thickness of the layer formed on the surface of the substrate from an outer circumferential edge of the substrate to a center of the substrate in a continuous manner when the thickness of the layer formed on the surface of the substrate is measured by said at least one optical measuring device.