Patent ID: 6890402

Claim:
A substrate holding apparatus for holding a substrate and bringing it into contact with a polishing surface so that the substrate is subjected to polishing by causing relative movement between the substrate and the polishing surface, said apparatus comprising: a substrate holder body having a substrate holding side facing the polishing surface and holding a substrate on said substrate holding side; a retainer ring integrally formed with or fixedly secured to said substrate holder body on said substrate holding side, the retainer ring being arranged to surround an outer periphery of the substrate held by said substrate holder body so that the retainer ring engages with the polishing surface radially outside said substrate as the polishing of the substrate is effected, wherein said substrate holder body is provided on said substrate holding side with a membrane having opposite surfaces including inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface engaging with the substrate held by said substrate holder body, said substrate holder body and said retainer ring cooperate to define an inner space, and said membrane is provided in said inner space; a membrane support member provided in said inner space and connected to the outer periphery of said membrane and a flexible seal member connected between said membrane support member and said substrate holder body so that a fluid pressure chamber is defined by said membrane, said membrane support member, said flexible seal member and said substrate holder body; and a drive shaft connected to said substrate holder body for rotating said substrate holder body while the substrate is kept urged against the polishing surface, said drive shaft being operable to urge the retainer ring against the polishing surface through said substrate holder body.