Patent ID: 6572440
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
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 first support member having first and second ends and being rotatably coupled toward the first end to the conditioning body, the second end of the first support member extending away from the conditioning body; a sensor coupled to the conditioning body to detect 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 and; a second support member coupled at a pivotable coupling to the first support member toward the second end of the first support member, the sensor being positioned between the first and second support members, the first support member being pivotable relative to the second support member to transmit a force to the sensor corresponding to the frictional force.