Patent ID: 6328641
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A system for polishing an outer edge ring of a semiconductor wafer having at least one layer of material deposited thereon during fabrication of integrated circuits on said semiconductor wafer, the system comprising:a wafer chuck for holding said semiconductor wafer mounted thereon, wherein said wafer chuck is rotated with said semiconductor wafer thereon; anda polishing pad that is moved toward said semiconductor wafer as said semiconductor wafer is rotating, said polishing pad having a polishing surface that faces and contacts said outer edge ring of said semiconductor wafer as said polishing pad is moved toward said semiconductor wafer to polish said outer edge ring of said semiconductor wafer, said outer edge ring having said at least one layer of material that is polished off by said polishing surface of said polishing pad,wherein said polishing surface of said polishing pad is tapered such that an upper portion of the polishing surface, that is to contact an upper layer of material disposed further away from the semiconductor wafer, extends further toward the semiconductor wafer such that said polishing surface forms a taper angle with respect to a plane of the semiconductor wafer.