Patent ID: 7210984

Claim:
A method for removing material from a microfeature workpiece, comprising: carrying a microfeature workpiece having a first face, a second face facing generally opposite from the first face, an edge surface between the first and second faces, and an edge at a juncture between the edge surface and one of the first and second faces; contacting the edge of the microfeature workpiece with a first polishing surface of an at least partially compliant polishing pad material while the first polishing surface is non-parallel to the first face; removing material from the edge of the microfeature workpiece by rotating at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the polishing pad material relative to the other about an axis generally normal to the first face of the microfeature workpiece while the edge contacts the polishing surface; reducing or eliminating removal of material from the first face of the microfeature workpiece by controlling a downforce applied to the microfeature workpiece while removing material from the edge of the microfeature workpiece; contacting the first face of the microfeature workpiece with a second polishing surface of an at least partially compliant polishing pad material while the second polishing surface is parallel to the first face; and removing material from the first face of the microfeature workpiece by rotating at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the polishing pad material relative to the other about an axis generally normal to the first face of the microfeature workpiece while the first face contacts the second polishing surface.