Patent ID: 6776871
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting the endpoint of a planarizing process comprising microelectronic substrate having a top surface formed of a first substance, and a second substance, the second substance being implanted at a concentration of approximately 0.001% to approximately 0.1% of the first substance, and at a distance d as a layer with a thickness t beneath the top surface of the microelectronic substrate, the microelectronic substrate being configured with;a planarizing device having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion to remove material from the microelectronic substrate positioned therebetween, the material including atoms of the first and second substances; transport means to move the material from the planarizing device, the transport means further comprising a vaporizer having an inlet coupled to the transport means to receive the material, a heat source to vaporize the atoms of the first and second substances and form a vapor therefrom; a mass spectrometer coupled to the transport means to receive the vaporized material and detect the atomic mass of the second substance; and a controller operatively coupled to the planarizing device and the mass spectrometer to control motion of the planarizing device upon receiving a control signal from the mass spectrometer.