Patent ID: 6042457
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A method for conditioning a moving polishing pad of a polishing apparatus, said polishing pad moving in a first direction, comprising:a) providing a conditioner assembly comprising a conditioning head assembly supporting a conditioning pad, a shaft assembly supporting said conditioning head assembly, and a linear torque bearing assembly having a structure defined by a hollow cylindrical casing which houses at least a portion of said shaft assembly, wherein said shaft assembly is capable of sliding within said hollow cylindrical casing in opposing directions along an axis longitudinal to said hollow cylindrical casing, and said linear torque bearing assembly is capable of operatively rotating said shaft assembly by applying rotational force to said shaft assembly;b) applying a compressive pressure by said conditioning pad to said polishing pad;c) rotating said linear torque bearing assembly to operatively rotate said conditioning pad; andd) oscillating said conditioner assembly in a second direction different from said first direction to condition said moving polishing pad.