Patent ID: 7354337
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A pad conditioner for dressing a surface of a polishing pad which is used in a polishing apparatus for polishing works, comprising: a bending or deflecting or elastic member having a base end and a tip end located opposite the base end for contacting the polishing pad; and a supporting section to support the base end of the bending or deflecting or elastic member, wherein the bending or deflecting or elastic member is comprised of a plurality of rows of elongated bending or deflecting or elastic elements; wherein a separate tip piece is fixed to the vicinity of the tip end of the bending or deflecting or elastic member, and the tip piece is coated with a material having a high hardness and wear resistance; wherein upon contact of a tip end portion of the bending or deflecting or elastic member with the polishing pad, the bending or deflecting or elastic member elastically deforms, so that a pad conditioning of the polishing pad is performed by scraping off a surface of the polishing pad with the tip end portion of the bending or deflecting or elastic member pressed against the surface of the polishing pad at a predetermined pad conditioning pressure.