Patent ID: 6425809
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A polishing apparatus comprising:a turntable having a surface; a polishing pad provided on said surface of said turntable, said polishing pad having a polishing surface provided with grooves formed therein to divide said polishing surface into a number of sections; an article carrier having an article holding surface for holding thereon a plate-like article having a surface to be polished, said article carrier being adapted to press the surface of the plate-like article against said polishing surface of said polishing pad to polish and flatten the surface of the plate-like article by relative movement between the plate-like article and said polishing surface; an annular member to be positioned between said article holding surface and the plate-like article to form a chamber defined by said annular member, said article holding surface and the plate-like article when the plate-like article is held by said article carrier; and a pressure control system to be fluidly connected to the chamber for controlling a pressure in the chamber.