Patent ID: 7056194
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: B23H,B24B,C25F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor processing apparatus to electrochemical-mechanical remove at least some of a conductive material from over an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, the apparatus comprising: a rotatable semiconductor substrate support; a rotatable polishing pad sufficiently spaced apart from the substrate support to allow the substrate therebetween during electrochemical-mechanical removal, the polishing pad being displaceable separately from rotation and across the upper surface of the substrate from a central region of the substrate toward a periphery of the substrate, the polishing pad having a polishing surface that abrasively contacts only a portion of the conductive material, the portion of the conductive material in abrasive contact with the polishing surface being defined as a polishing operation location, and the polishing pad extending over the conductive material to cover more of the conductive material than the polishing operation location; at least one first electrical contact in electrical connection with an outermost edge of only an outer peripheral portion of the conductive material; at least one second electrical contact in electrical connection with the polishing surface; and a power source through which the first and second electrical contacts are in electrical connection, the power source and first and second electrical contacts defining a circuit that extends through the conductive material.