Patent ID: 6273804
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
An apparatus for polishing the surface of a wafer by holding the wafer by a holder head and pushing the wafer onto a polishing pad on a rotary polishing table, wherein:said holder head includes a head body that rotates and is arranged opposed to said polishing table, a carrier loosely supported by said body so as to be able to move up and down, and a retainer ring that surrounds the periphery of said wafer and comes in contact with said polishing pad together with said wafer; andsaid retainer ring is held by said carrier using an O-ring;wherein an air-blow member is provided on the lower surface of said carrier, a protection sheet is provided on the outer surface of said air-blow member, and said wafer is pushed onto said polishing pad by a layer of the air blown from said air-blow member via said protection sheet.