Patent ID: 8209833

Claim:
A method of processing a wafer comprising: a) positioning the wafer on a support surface in a processing chamber comprising a plurality of support pins, a plurality of sensor pins, and a support ring having a plurality of vacuum holding elements; b) determining a first wafer curvature model for the wafer using a first set of sensor pins in contact with a backside surface of the wafer; c) performing a first holding procedure using the first wafer curvature model, wherein the wafer is coupled to the support surface at a first holding location using at least one of the vacuum holding elements; d) determining a new wafer curvature model for the wafer using a new set of sensor pins in contact with the backside surface of the wafer; e) performing a new holding procedure, wherein the wafer is coupled to the support surface at one or more new holding locations using at least one new vacuum holding element; f) determining a flatness state for the wafer; g) repeating steps d)-f) when the flatness state is within a first range; h) heating the wafer when the flatness state is within a second range; and i) performing a corrective action when the flatness state is within a third range.