Patent ID: 6454637
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
An edge instability suppressing device for use in planarizing a surface topography on a wafer in a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system, the CMP system including a wafer carrier for holding and rotating a wafer on a polishing surface of a polishing pad, the polishing pad being arranged to move in a first direction, the device comprising:a front process unit disposed around a first portion of the wafer facing the first direction and arranged to align to the polishing surface of the polishing pad independent of the wafer during CMP processing; and a back process unit disposed around a second portion of the wafer opposite the first portion, the back process unit being arranged to align to the polishing surface of the polishing pad independent of the wafer during the CMP processing, wherein the aligned front and back process units substantially reduce edge effects on the wafer during the CMP processing, wherein the front process unit includes, a plurality of first channels formed in the front process unit for receiving slurry; and a plurality of first slots formed on a bottom portion of the front process unit adjacent to the wafer and being arranged to receive the slurry through the first channels, wherein the slurry from the first slots is provided under the wafer for planarizing the surface topography of the wafer.