Patent ID: 6258205
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
An apparatus for polishing a semiconductor wafer down to a catalyst material of said wafer, said wafer having a first side and a second side, comprising:a polishing platen having a polishing surface;a wafer carrier configured to (i) engage said wafer by said second side of said wafer and (ii) press said first side of said wafer against said polishing surface of said polishing platen;a slurry supply system configured to apply a chemical slurry to said first side of said wafer which (i) facilities removal of material from said wafer, and (ii) receives said material removed from said wafer carrier, wherein said polishing platen and said wafer carrier are configured to rub said first side of said wafer against said polishing surface in the presence of said chemical slurry in order to remove said material from said wafer; anda polishing endpoint detector that is operable to (i) detect based upon said chemical slurry whether a catalytic reaction has occurred due to said polishing platen removing a portion of said catalyst material from said wafer, and (ii) cause said polishing of said wafer to terminate in response to detecting said catalytic reaction.