Patent ID: 6602110
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
An apparatus for polishing a surface of a substrate, comprising:a polishing spindle assembly adapted to support a rotating polishing tool and operable to move in at least one of a direction toward and away from the substrate to contact the polishing tool on the surface of the substrate with a predetermined torque on the polishing tool during a polishing cycle; a positioning mechanism operatively connected to said polishing spindle assembly and operable to move said polishing spindle assembly toward and away from the substrate; a torque sensor associated with said polishing spindle assembly and operable to sense a torque on the polishing tool during the polishing cycle, at least a portion of said torque sensor being mounted to rotate during the polishing cycle; and a control operatively coupled to said positioning mechanism and said torque sensor, said control being responsive to the torque sensed by said torque sensor to adjust positioning of said polishing spindle assembly in at least one of a direction toward and away from the substrate to maintain the torque on the polishing tool substantially constant during the polishing cycle.