Patent ID: 6926587
Filing Date: 2005-08-09
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A CMP apparatus for polishing a substrate to be polished by CMP, the CMP apparatus comprising: a rotatable stage selectively holding a substrate to be polished; a polishing head holding section that holds a polishing head equipped with a polishing pad over the stage; a storage section that stores a replacement polishing head equipped with a polishing pad; a polishing head replacement mechanism that replaces the polishing head held by the polishing head holding section with the replacement polishing head stored in the storage section; a pure water circulation system that circulates pure water at the storage section such that the polishing pad stored in the storage section remains wet; and at least one of a mechanism that submerges the polishing pad in the storage section in pure water and a mechanism that sprays mist on the polishing pad in the storage section.