Patent ID: 6786799
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for transmitting signals from a planarizing device, the planarizing device having a support, a platen assembly connected to the support, and a carrier movable relative to the platen assembly and the support to remove material from a semiconductor substrate positioned between the carrier and the platen assembly, the apparatus comprising:a sensor connected to one of the platen assembly, the carrier, and the semiconductor substrate, the sensor generating a signal corresponding to a value of a selected property of one of the planarizing device and the semiconductor substrate; an electronic device spaced apart from the sensor; and a wireless communication link coupled between the sensor and the electronic device to transmit the signal from the sensor to the electronic device, the communication link including a plurality of acoustic transmitting transducers coupled to the carrier and coupled to a transmitter spaced apart from the at least one acoustic transmitting transducer, the communication link further including at least one acoustic receiving transducer spaced apart from the acoustic transmitting transducers, the acoustic transmitting transducer moving relative to the acoustic receiving transducer while the semiconductor substrate is planarized.