Patent ID: 6755718
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
An apparatus for monitoring conditioning of a planarizing medium used for planarizing a microelectronic substrate, comprising:a conditioning body having a conditioning surface configured to engage a planarizing surface of the planarizing medium, at least one of the conditioning body and the planarizing medium being movable relative to the other of the conditioning body and the planarizing medium to condition the planarizing surface; a support member coupled to the conditioning body; a strain gauge sensor coupled to the support member to detect a deflection of the support member resulting from a frictional force in a plane of the planarizing surface, the frictional force being imparted to the conditioning body by the planarizing medium when the one of the conditioning body and the planarizing medium is moved relative to the other of the conditioning body and the planarizing medium.