Patent ID: 8021566
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
1. A method of pre-conditioning a polishing pad, comprising the steps of: providing a polishing pad, said polishing pad for polishing a semiconductor production wafer surface comprising a first material; providing an ingot consisting of said first material, said ingot not comprising a dummy wafer, said ingot having a thickness of from about 1 cm to about 10 cm; providing relative motion between said ingot and the polishing pad; causing contact between said ingot and the polishing pad at a selected contact pressure and period of time prior to applying slurry to the polishing pad to heat said polishing pad and achieve a stable operating temperature of said polishing pad, said heated stable operating polishing pad temperature used for subsequent polishing, said ingot fixedly mounted on a pre-conditioning arm and swept across said polishing pad by said preconditioning arm; removing said ingot from the polishing pad following said achieving a stable operating temperature; and polishing a said semiconductor production wafer surface with said heated polishing pad.