Patent ID: 6358131
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A polishing apparatus comprising:a polishing table having a polishing surface; a substrate carrier having an axis about which the substrate carrier is rotatable, the substrate carrier including a plurality of substrate holders positioned around a circle about the axis of the substrate carrier and spaced apart from each other at equal angular distances, with each of said substrate holders being adapted to hold a substrate and bring it into contact with the polishing surface; a substrate loading device laterally spaced apart from the polishing table, in which device a substrate is picked up by one of the substrate holders which is positioned at the substrate loading device; and a substrate unloading device laterally spaced apart from the polishing table, in which device one of the substrate holders which is positioned at the substrate unloading device releases a wafer onto the unloading device; the substrate carrier being indexably rotated about the stated axis in such a manner that one of the substrate holders is selectively positioned at the loading device, while another substrate holder is positioned at the unloading device and at least one of the other substrate holders is positioned over the polishing surface.