Patent ID: 7560017

Claim:
A method for detecting characteristics of a microelectronic substrate, comprising: positioning the microelectronic substrate proximate to and spaced apart from a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being spaced apart from each other; contacting the microelectronic substrate with a polishing surface of a polishing medium; removing conductive material from the microelectronic substrate by moving at least one of the microelectronic substrate and the electrodes relative to the other of the microelectronic substrate and the electrodes while passing a variable electrical signal through the electrodes and at least a portion of the microelectronic substrate and while the microelectronic substrate contacts the polishing surface; detecting a change in the electrical signal corresponding to a change in the amount of conductive material remaining on the microelectronic substrate; and changing a rate at which material is removed from the microelectronic substrate based at least in part on the change in the electrical signal.