Patent ID: 7118456
Filing Date: 2006-10-10
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A polishing head for positioning a surface of a substrate against a polishing surface, the polishing head comprising: a subcarrier adapted to hold the substrate during a polishing operation; and a retaining ring having an inner edge disposed about the subcarrier and a lower surface in contact with the polishing surface during the polishing operation, the lower surface of the retaining ring having a number of radial recesses formed therein to distribute a chemical between the substrate held on the subcarrier and the polishing surface when there is relative motion between the substrate and the polishing surface, at least two of said recesses define a segment of the retaining ring, the segment having a leading edge comprising a chevron shape and a trailing edge comprising a chevron shape, wherein the leading edge chevron shape and the trailing edge chevron shape are oriented in opposite directions, and wherein each chevron shape comprises an inner groove portion from the inner edge of the retaining ring to an apex and an outer groove portion from an outer edge of the retaining ring to the apex, said inner groove portion and said outer groove portion forming the only outlets from the apex.