Patent ID: 8267746
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A substrate holding apparatus, comprising: a top ring body for holding and pressing a substrate against a polishing surface, said top ring body having an upper member and a lower member; a retainer ring portion having a retainer ring body arranged so as to contact the polishing surface and hold an outer circumferential edge of the substrate during a polishing process, said retainer ring portion being vertically movable with respect to said top ring body; and a retainer ring pressing mechanism for pressing only said retainer ring portion against the polishing surface during the polishing process, wherein one of said retainer ring portion and said retainer ring pressing mechanism includes a first member having a magnet arranged at a surface of said first member, and the other of said retainer ring portion and said retainer ring pressing mechanism includes a second member made of a magnetic material, said first member and said second member being secured to each other by magnetic forces acting between said first member and said second member, and wherein said lower member of said top ring body and said retainer ring portion comprise a carrier assembly and are arranged to be separated as a unit from said upper member of said top ring body and said retainer ring pressing mechanism.