Patent ID: 6712676
Filing Date: 2004-03-30
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
A method of planarizing a microelectronic-device substrate assembly, comprising:removing material from a substrate assembly by retaining the substrate in a substrate carrier assembly that presses the substrate assembly against a planarizing surface of a planarizing pad and moving the substrate assembly across the planarizing surface; and replacing at least a portion of a used volume of planarizing solution on the planarizing surface with fresh planarizing solution by actively removing used planarizing solution from an accumulation zone on the planarizing surface adjacent to a planarizing zone on the planarizing surface by wiping at least a portion of the used planarizing solution from the accumulation zone by rotating a wiper blade attached to the substrate carrier assembly, the a wiper blade extending across at least a portion of the accumulation zone in which the used planarizing solution accumulates.