Patent ID: 8079894
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: B08B,B24B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A polishing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of rotatable substrate head assemblies, each capable of supporting thereon a respective substrate; exactly four stations disposed at approximately equal angular intervals about an axis, the four stations including a transfer station and exactly three polishing stations, each polishing station including a rotatable platen to provide three rotatable platens, each platen of the three rotatable platens substantially the same size and including a polishing surface engageable with a substrate supported on one of the substrate head assemblies, wherein there is a greater number of substrate head assemblies than platens; a head transport system to transport each of the substrate head assemblies serially from the transfer station to a first of the three rotatable platens, from the first of the three rotatable platens to a second of the three rotatable platens, from the second of the three rotatable platens to a third of the three rotatable platens, and from the third of the three rotatable platens to the transfer station; wherein the plurality of substrate head assemblies are operable to impart relative oscillatory lateral movement between the polishing surfaces of the platens and the substrates supported by the substrate head assemblies; and a controller configured to operate the apparatus such that during polishing the substrates are rotated and laterally translated by the substrate head assemblies and the platens rotate.